活体荧光成像对裸鼠肝癌细胞系MHCC97-H原位移植模型的动态量化分析

目的:利用生物自发光的裸鼠肝癌原位移植模型,以活体荧光成像技术对肝癌的生长和转移情况进行动态、量化分析.方法:将稳定转染了荧光素酶(luciferase)基因的人肝癌细胞株MHCC97-H-LUC细胞,移植至裸鼠肝脏包膜下,每周利用活体荧光成像系统对裸鼠体内移植瘤的生长部位和范围进行成像,测量肿瘤细胞生物发光量,动态观察肝癌细胞在裸鼠体内的肿瘤数量、生长速度和转移情况.结果:建立可稳定表达荧光素酶的人肝癌细胞株MHCC97-H-LUC并用于进行生物自发光的裸鼠原位移植模型;利用活体荧光成像系统对裸鼠体内的移植瘤成像,见发光部位由肝脏向腹腔扩散,发光量随时间呈指数级增长;病理学观察证实肿瘤细胞长.结论:利用活体荧光成像技术的动态量化分析可灵敏、准确地监测裸鼠肝癌原位移植模型中肿瘤细胞的生长及转移情况,为肿瘤发生、生长、转移机制及对抗肿瘤生长和转移的体内研究提供了科学的量化手段.     

基于双荧光系统的HepG2肝细胞癌原位移植裸鼠模型建立及活体荧光成像动态定量分析

目的:建立一种可以实时、定量、动态监测的肝细胞癌原位移植模型,并利用活体荧光成像系统对裸鼠体内原位肝细胞癌生长进行分析。方法:利用慢病毒包装系统包装pCDH-GFP-Luc质粒,将绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)和萤光素酶(Luc)基因通过病毒感染的方式整合到HepG2肝癌细胞染色体中,利用流式细胞术分选GFP+细胞,扩增培养后,将该细胞注射到裸鼠皮下进行成瘤,成瘤后分离肿瘤组织接种裸鼠肝脏,将造模成功的裸鼠分为对照组和治疗组,分别灌胃给与0.5%羧甲基纤维素钠(CMC-Na)和50 mg/kg索拉非尼,2/d,连续28 d,每7 d利用活体荧光成像系统观察肝癌细胞在对照组和治疗组裸鼠肝脏内的生长情况。实验结束后,分离裸鼠肝脏肿瘤,拍照称重。结果:建立了稳定表达双荧光的人肝癌细胞系HepG2-GFP-Luc,体外发光强度与表达萤光素酶的细胞数量呈正相关(R2=0.9945);建立了肝细胞癌原位移植活体荧光成像模型,对照组和治疗组肝脏内肿瘤细胞荧光强度随时间的延长逐渐增加,治疗组荧光强度明显低于对照组。定量分析结果显示,在第24、31和38 d,治疗组荧光总光子数值显著低于对照组;治疗组平均瘤重显著低于对照组。结论:建立了一种肝细胞癌原位移植荧光成像模型,可通过活体成像系统对肿瘤大小进行动态定量分析,为抗肝癌药物的药效学评价提供了实时定量分析动物模型。     

间充质干细胞双标记光学成像的体内试验研究

目的:验证双标记生物发光成像活体观测MSCs在肝癌裸鼠模型向肿瘤病灶的趋化作用的可行性。方法:应用fluorescence(荧光)与bioluminescence(生物发光)两种成像方法,对MSCs进行CM-Di I荧光标记及对人肝癌细胞Hep G2进行Fluc-慢病毒感染并由此建立裸鼠肝癌模型,构建双标记成像系统,应用精诺真小动物光学成像仪在裸鼠肝癌模型中观测间充质干细胞向肿瘤的趋化作用。结果:在鼠尾静脉注射标记MSCs细胞后21天荧光成像可见MSCs主要积聚于肿瘤病灶处及肝脏。生物发光成像后可监测到病灶处由luciferase标记肿瘤细胞(Hep G2)发出荧光;将荧光成像与生物发光成像所得图像经后处理融合后,可见证间充质干细胞像肿瘤病灶定向迁徙的生物过程。经肿瘤病理切片证实间充质干细胞成功迁徙至肿瘤病灶中。结论:应用间充质干细胞双标记光学成像系统实现MSCs在活体内对肿瘤的趋化过程进行观测是可行的。这种成像方法可作为下一步以MSCs为载体的肿瘤基因治疗的有效监测手段。     

用于活体成像的小鼠肺癌移植瘤模型的建立

本研究旨在建立可用于活体成像的小鼠肺癌移植瘤模型。利用脂质体将荧光素酶表达载体pGL4.17(luc2/neo)转染至人非小细胞肺癌细胞株A549,经G418筛选获得稳定表达荧光素酶的细胞克隆。根据体外生物发光情况及细胞的生长特性,从中挑选合适克隆,进行裸鼠皮下接种,SCID鼠尾静脉接种,建立肺癌移植瘤模型。利用活体成像系统监测肿瘤的生长转移情况,并用切片HE染色进一步验证小鼠模型移植瘤的原位成瘤和转移能力。实验结果表明:本研究成功地构建了可用于活体成像的小鼠肺癌移植瘤模型,模型稳定可靠、直观、灵敏,为肿瘤生长转移机制的研究及抗肿瘤药物的研发提供了重要工具。     

SW1990和Capan-2红色荧光标记胰腺癌移植肿瘤模型的建立和比较

目的建立稳定表达红色荧光蛋白基因的人胰腺癌细胞系,为体内监测肿瘤的早期生长及抗肿瘤药物的药效评价建立一种新的肿瘤动物模型。方法以Lipofectamine 2000介导chickenβ-actin-RFP-NEO转染人胰腺癌细胞SW1990和Capan-2,经梯度浓度G418筛选获得稳定表达红色荧光蛋白的细胞克隆并扩大培养。BALB/cA-nu裸鼠皮下接种1×106个发光细胞使其成瘤,活体荧光成像系统观察肿瘤的生长情况。结果获得了稳定表达RFP的两种不同的人胰腺癌细胞株,将其接种到裸鼠体内可成瘤,利用活体成像系统观察了肿瘤的生长动态过程,并且SW1990肿瘤细胞的生长速度较Capan-2细胞快。结论用红色荧光蛋白标记的人胰腺癌细胞建立的裸鼠肿瘤模型为胰腺癌的研究和相关药物筛选提供了可进行荧光影像活体、动态分析的动物模型。     

人黑色素瘤细胞裸鼠肺转移模型的建立

目的建立整合素αvβ3高表达的黑色素瘤细胞肺转移模型。方法通过将不同数目的M21细胞经尾静脉接种裸鼠,适时处死后计数肺表面癌结节。通过实时定量PCR和明胶酶谱的方法比较肺转移灶细胞与亲代M21细胞差异。结果M21细胞1×10^6、2×10^6、5×10^6尾静脉接种裸鼠,均能形成肺转移灶,癌结节数目均值分别为：84±8、70±6、88±12,三组之间没有明显差异,阴性对照组未形成转移灶。M21肺转移灶细胞与亲代细胞相比,增殖增快,MMP-2活性增高,整合素αv和β3mRNA表达水平明显增高。结论M21细胞1×10^6经尾静脉接种裸鼠50d内即可100%成瘤。M21肺转移灶细胞具有更快的增殖能力,整合素αvβ3和MMP-2表达水平明显增高。本实验建立了稳定的肺转移模型,为黑色素瘤和整合素αvβ3的研究提供重要的动物模型。     

基于临床肿瘤标本的胃癌转移模型建立

目的建立基于临床肿瘤标本的胃癌转移模型,为胃癌的转移研究提供个体化动物模型。方法将胃癌新鲜的手术标本移植到裸鼠皮下,建立胃癌患者异种移植(patient-derived xenograft,PDX)模型。进一步通过手术将皮下瘤组织原位移植到裸鼠胃部肌层,连续观察裸鼠的体征状态,通过近红外荧光活体成像技术检测肿瘤转移的发生。解剖荷瘤小鼠,将肺部转移灶进一步移植裸鼠皮下获得实体瘤。HE染色观察原发瘤与转移瘤的结构特征,(short tandem repeat) STR分析原发瘤和转移瘤的遗传特性。PCR-Array分析转移瘤和原发瘤中转移相关基因的表达。结果成功建立胃癌PDX模型,移植瘤组织结构与患者保持基本一致;通过胃部原位移植发现编号C19751的小鼠发生肺和肝的转移。其中肺转移灶皮下移植后获得了实体瘤,STR分析显示原发瘤保持了与肺转移瘤一致的遗传特征。PCR-Array结果显示,与原发瘤相比,转移瘤中CXCL12,IGF1和MMP2基因表达均显著上调。结论利用临床肿瘤标本成功建立胃癌转移模型,为胃癌转移研究提供了良好的个体化模型。     

裸鼠体内高转移人肺癌模型的筛选

将人肺巨细胞癌ＰＬＡ－８０１Ｄ裸鼠皮下移植瘤作为瘤源,建立了ＰＬＡ－８０１Ｄ－ＡＳ裸鼠腹水鼠模型,其转移率及转移程度明显增高;以ＰＬＡ－８０１Ｄ－ＡＳ腹水瘤模型的肺转移灶细胞进行裸鼠皮下连续传代,建立了肺转移率及程度高于ＰＬＡ－８０１Ｄ的ＰＬＡ－８０１ＤＬ皮下移植瘤株。本文从肿瘤的异质性以及肿瘤与宿主相互作用的角度讨论了其肺转移提高的原因。     

绿色荧光裸鼠的建立和验证

目的建立系统性表达绿色荧光蛋白的裸鼠,接种人源肺癌细胞验证该模型是否具有免疫缺陷性,并观察双色荧光的成像效果。方法利用系统性表达绿色荧光蛋白的C57BL/6J小鼠与BALB/C裸小鼠多代杂交和互交,建立稳定表达绿色荧光蛋白的裸鼠。大体解剖观察胸腺生长情况,整体和器官荧光成像验证绿色荧光蛋白的表达情况。以2×106/只的剂量对其皮下腋下接种表达红色荧光蛋白的人类A549肺癌细胞（RFP-A549）,通过观测肿瘤生长来验证模型的免疫缺陷性。同时,利用红色荧光标记的肿瘤和绿色宿主鼠,对双色的整体成像效果进行观测。结果构建出系统性表达绿色荧光蛋白的裸鼠,大体解剖可见胸腺缺失。在激发光的激发下,绿色荧光裸鼠全身发出清晰的绿色荧光,脑、心脏、肺脏、肝脏、肾脏,肠胃及胰腺等主要器官可见明显绿色荧光。接种RFP-A549细胞后,成瘤率达到100%,整体动物荧光成像表现出清晰的双色。结论本研究构建出的绿色荧光裸鼠,动物整体可以清晰地表达绿色荧光并具有免疫缺陷性     

肺腺癌脑转移动物模型的生物发光成像和SPECT/CT的比较

目的利用稳定表达荧光素酶的luc+-PC-9人肺腺癌细胞建立肺癌脑转移动物模型,比较生物发光成像和18F-FDG(18F-fluorodeoxyglucose,18F-氟代脱氧葡糖)SPECT/CT在肺癌转移模型中的评估作用。方法将luc+-PC-9细胞悬液经左心室注入BALB/c裸鼠建立肺癌脑转移模型,分别在第4、5周行生物发光成像、~(18)F-FDG SPECT/CT检查观察裸鼠成瘤情况,以HE染色病理结果为金标准比较两种方法在肺癌转移模型中的作用。结果经左心室注射luc+-PC-9细胞建立肺癌脑转移模型,脑转移成功率85%。肿瘤细胞的个数与发光强度呈正相关,具有较好的线性关系(R2=0.96)。生物发光成像能在颅脑、脊柱和股骨观察到荧光信号,病理结果证实为转移灶。~(18)F-FDG SPECT/CT在脑组织未见明显的代谢浓聚灶,在股骨或脊柱发现代谢浓聚灶,且病理证实均有骨髓转移。结论左心室注射法是建立人肺腺癌脑转移模型的可靠方法。生物发光成像系统在检测脑转移和骨转移具有较高的灵敏度和特异度,能实现实时、动态、无创观察转移瘤的生长情况;~(18)F-FDG SPECT/CT在检测脑转移灶并不具有优势,更适合于检测骨转移灶。     

肺癌转移瘤动物模型的建立

目的通过尾静脉注射,建立一种符合临床特征的肺腺癌转移瘤动物模型,为下一步的肺腺癌转移机制的研究提供可靠的实验造模方法。方法取对数生长期的A549细胞,11只SPF级、4~6周龄BALB/c裸鼠,分别以1×106个细胞/只注射入裸鼠尾静脉。接种后每天观察小鼠状态。分别于接种肿瘤细胞后第4、5、6、7周随机处死2只,余3只小鼠处于濒死状态时处死。解剖小鼠,观察肺部有无转移、转移结节的数目及全身其他器官的转移情况,并做病理取材,HE染色观察。结果注射过程中小鼠均存活。未处死的3只分别于第11、13、14周出现恶液质。第4周肺部未见转移结节;第5周出现镜下肺部转移结节;第6周肉眼可见肺部转移结节;第7周转移结节数增多;第11周出现纵隔淋巴结转移。第11、13、14周出现肺部结构大量破坏,弥漫性的肿瘤细胞浸润,出现淋巴结浸润,病理证实为腺癌。结论通过尾静脉注射A549细胞可以成功建立人肺腺癌转移瘤模型。     

7-Allyl-8-oxoguanosine (loxoribine) inhibits the metastasis of B16 melanoma cells and has adjuvant activity in mice immunized with a B16 tumor vaccine

We have shown previously that loxoribine exhibits adjuvant activity for B cells, activates natural killer (NK) cells, and enhances the activation of lymphokine-activated killer cells by interleukin-2 (IL-2). In this study, we examined loxoribine for protective effects in a B16 melanoma lung tumor metastasis model. Significant inhibition of B16 metastasis was seen in mice given a single injection of 2 mg loxoribine as late as day 3 of tumor growth but the greatest inhibition (96%) was seen in mice given four injections of loxoribine on alternate days starting the day before tumor injection. In experiments in which both IL-2 and loxoribine were administered, both agents were active when tested alone, but the combination of IL-2 and loxoribine gave significantly greater inhibition of metastasis. Loxoribine partially inhibited the development of tumors in mice that had been depleted of NK cells by the administration of anti-asialo-GM1 or anti-NK1. 1 antibodies and in NK-deficient beige mice. In all cases, protection was seen only when smaller tumor inocula were injected. Taken together, these data suggest that both NK and non-NK cell populations or effector mechanisms with antitumor activity were activated by loxoribine. Since substituted guanosine analogs have been shown to have adjuvant activity in B cell systems, we evaluated whether loxoribine was active as an adjuvant in a tumor protection model. Mice immunized with both irradiated tumor cells and loxoribine developed a significantly lower number of lung tumors when challenged by live B16 tumor cells, whereas mice injected with either vaccine or loxoribine alone were not protected. There was a clear dose response seen with both loxoribine and the vaccine preparations. These data suggest that loxoribine may be useful in tumor therapy as an immunomodulator or as an adjuvant for use with tumor vaccines.     

Comparison of simian virus 40 large T antigen recombinant protein and DNA immunization in the induction of protective immunity from experimental pulmonary metastasis

In this report we examine the ability of a recombinant tumor antigen preparation to prevent the establishment of experimental pulmonary metastasis. Baculovirus-derived recombinant simian virus 40 (SV40) large tumor antigen (T-Ag) was injected into BALB/c mice followed by challenge with an intravenous injection of syngeneic SV40-transformed tumorigenic cells. The experimental murine pulmonary metastasis model allows for the accurate measurement of metastatic lessions in the lungs at various times after the challenge, using computer-assisted video image analysis. Following challenge, lung metastasis and survival data for the groups of mice were obtained. Animals immunized with recombinant SV40 T-Ag showed no detectable sign of lung metastasis and survived for more than 120 days after challenge. Antibodies specific for SV40 T-Ag were detected in the serum of immunized mice by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Splenocytes obtained from mice immunized with recombinant SV40 T-Ag did not lyse syngeneic tumor cells, indicating that no cytotoxic T lymphocyte response was induced. Control mice developed extensive lung metastasis and succumbed to lethal tumor within 4 weeks after challenge. These data indicate that immunization with the recombinant SV40␣T-Ag induces protective, T-Ag-specific immunity in an experimental pulmonary tumor metastasis model. Received: 20 August 1998 / Accepted: 25 November 1998     

Simultaneous transfer of tumorigenic and metastatic phenotypes by transfection with genomic DNA from a human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

High-molecular-weight genomic DNA isolated from a human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (AS) was assayed for its ability to induce tumorigenic transformation of NIH 3T3 cells. Subcutaneous injection of NIH 3T3 cells cotransfected with DNAs from AS tumor and pSV2-neo plasmid not only induced tumors at the site of injection, but also metastasized spontaneously to the lungs in 100% of nude mice injected. DNA isolated from a representative primary tumor and a metastasis was again used in a second round of transfection. Injection of secondary transfectants into nude mice again resulted in induction of both subcutaneous tumors and spontaneous long metastases. Southern blot hybridization with ras-specific probes revealed that DNA from both primary tumors and metastases induced by AS tumor DNA contained highly amplified Ha-ras oncogene. Furthermore, DNAs from secondary tumors and metastases induced by DNA from a primary tumor and a metastasis also contained similar highly amplified Ha-ras oncogene. These results suggest that the amplified Ha-ras oncogene may be responsible for induction of both tumorigenic and metastatic phenotypes in NIH 3T3 cells transfected with DNA from AS tumor.     

Factors influencing phenotypic diversity of human prostate carcinoma cells metastasizing in athymic nude mice

Three related human prostate carcinoma cell lines, PC-3, 1-LN-PC-3-1A (1-LN), and 1-LN-PC-3-1A clone 4 (clone 4) were compared in terms of relative metastatic capacity in adult and young male nude mice. Only 1-LN produced lung metastases after intravenous injection into both 6- to 8-week-old and 4-week-old nude mice, as well as in mice injected intraperitoneally. The extent of the phenotypic diversity exhibited by these human prostate tumor lines was influenced by inherent dissemination ability, age of the host, and route of injection. These lines provide a useful system for the analysis of the biology of human tumor metastasis in nude mice.     

Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 promotes tumor formation and lung metastasis in an intratibial injection osteosarcoma mouse model

Proteolytic degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important process during tumor invasion. Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) is one of the proteases that degrade collagen type I, a major component of bone ECM. In the present study, the biological relevance of MMP-1 in osteosarcoma (OS) tumor growth and metastasis was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Human OS cells in primary culture expressed MMP-1 encoding mRNA at considerably higher levels than normal human bone cells. In addition, MMP-1 mRNA and protein expression in the highly metastatic human osteosarcoma 143-B cell line was remarkably higher than in the non-metastatic parental HOS cell line. Stable shRNA-mediated downregulation of MMP-1 in 143-B cells impaired adhesion to collagen I and anchorage-independent growth, reflected by a reduced ability to grow in soft agar. Upon intratibial injection into SCID mice, 143-B cells with shRNA-downregulated MMP-1 expression formed smaller primary tumors and significantly lower numbers of lung micro- and macrometastases than control cells. Conversely, HOS cells stably overexpressing MMP-1 showed an enhanced adhesion capability to collagen I and accelerated anchorage-independent growth compared to empty vector-transduced control cells. Furthermore, and most importantly, individual MMP-1 overexpression in HOS cells enabled the formation of osteolytic primary tumors and lung metastasis while the HOS control cells did not develop any tumors or metastases after intratibial injection. The findings of the present study reveal an important role of MMP-1 in OS primary tumor and metastasis formation to the lung, the major organ of OS metastasis.     

Growth of a human carcinoma (HEp3) in nude mice: rapid and efficient metastasis

Our aim was to identify conditions which would permit the development of spontaneous metastasis of a human tumor in nude mice in a rapid and predictable manner and to explore ways to quantitate metastasis. Using a human squamous carcinoma--HEp3--we determined that invasiveness and metastasis were influenced by the host. HEp3 cells grew very rapidly and without a significant lag period in Balb/c and NIH(S)-II nude mice kept in aseptic conditions; a much longer lag period was observed in NIH-Swiss mice kept in conventional conditions. The HEp3 tumor displayed a highly invasive behavior in N-NIH(S)-II mice, in which it invaded the body wall, gaining access to the peritoneal cavity. Microinvasion was noted in all strains of mice inoculated with HEp3 cells. To prolong survival of the mice until metastases became evident, primary tumors were excised when they weighed 1-2 gm. N-NIH(S)-II and Balb/c nude mice, maintained in germ-free conditions, were most receptive to the development of metastases-lung metastases developed in 80% of these mice. Over 60% of all metastases were present within 4 weeks following the removal of the primary. Only 26% of tumor bearing NIH-Swiss developed lung metastases. Lung metastases were observed in some mice in the absence of local microinvasion, local tumor recurrence, and regardless of the presence of lymph node involvement. They were also noted in mice from which primary tumors were not excised. We compared three methods of lung metastasis detection: histology, detection of tumor cells in the cultures of lung minces, and the measurement of the levels of human urokinase-type plasminogen activator directly in the lysates of lungs. The detection of tumor cells in cultures of lung minces appeared to be the most sensitive of these methods and the determination of enzyme in lung lysates seemed to hold most promise for a quantitative approach. These data indicate that, the type of tumor, as well as the genetic background and the maintenance conditions of the host, have to be carefully selected to ensure the successful outcome of the particular tumor-host interaction being studied. Adherence to these guidelines allowed us, in the case of the HEp3 tumor, to develop a rapid, predictable, and efficient model in which to study factors affecting metastasis of this human tumor.     

Immunosurveillance of lung melanoma metastasis in EBI-3-deficient mice mediated by CD8+ T cells

EBV-induced gene 3 (EBI-3) codes for a soluble type I receptor homologous to the p40 subunit of IL-12 that is expressed by APCs following activation. In this study, we assessed the role of EBI-3 in a model of lung melanoma metastasis. Intravenous injection of the B16-F10 cell line resulted in a significant reduction of lung tumor metastasis in EBI-3(-/-) recipient mice compared with wild-type mice. The immunological finding accompanying this effect was the expansion of a newly described cell subset called IFN-gamma producing killer dendritic cells associated with CD8(+) T cell responses in the lung of EBI-3(-/-) mice including IFN-gamma release and TNF-alpha-induced programmed tumor cell death. Depletion of CD8(+) T cells as well as targeting T-bet abrogated the protective effects of EBI-3 deficiency on lung melanoma metastases. Finally, adoptive transfer of EBI-3(-/-) CD8(+) T cells into tumor bearing wild-type mice inhibited lung metastasis in recipient mice. Taken together, these data demonstrate that targeting EBI-3 leads to a T-bet-mediated antitumor CD8(+) T cell responses in the lung.     

Perforin is a major contributor to NK cell control of tumor metastasis.

We provide the first demonstration, using experimental and spontaneous models of metastasis in C57BL/6 (B6) (RM-1 prostate carcinoma) and BALB/c (DA3 mammary carcinoma) mice, that tumor metastasis is primarily controlled by perforin-dependent cytotoxicity mediated by NK1.1+ cells. MHC class Ilow RM-1 and DA3 tumor cells were sensitive in vitro to Fas-mediated lysis or spleen NK cells in a perforin-dependent fashion. Perforin-deficient NK cells did not lyse these tumors, and perforin-deficient mice were 10-100-fold less proficient than wild-type mice in rejecting the metastasis of tumor cells to the lung. Fas ligand mutant gld mice displayed uncompromised protection against tumor metastasis. Depletion of NK subsets resulted in greater numbers of metastases than observed in perforin-deficient mice, suggesting that perforin-independent effector functions of NK cells may also contribute to protection from tumor metastasis.     

Biomarkers of Residual Disease,Disseminated Tumor Cells,and Metastases in the MMTV-PyMT Breast Cancer Model

Cancer metastases arise in part from disseminated tumor cells originating from the primary tumor and from residual disease persisting after therapy. The identification of biomarkers on micro-metastases, disseminated tumors, and residual disease may yield novel tools for early detection and treatment of these disease states prior to their development into metastases and recurrent tumors. Here we describe the molecular profiling of disseminated tumor cells in lungs, lung metastases, and residual tumor cells in the MMTV-PyMT breast cancer model. MMTV-PyMT mice were bred with actin-GFP mice, and focal hyperplastic lesions from pubertal MMTV-PyMT;actin-GFP mice were orthotopically transplanted into FVB/n mice to track single tumor foci. Tumor-bearing mice were treated with TAC chemotherapy (docetaxel, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide), and residual and relapsed tumor cells were sorted and profiled by mRNA microarray analysis. Data analysis revealed enrichment of the Jak/Stat pathway, Notch pathway, and epigenetic regulators in residual tumors. Stat1 was significantly up-regulated in a DNA-damage-resistant population of residual tumor cells, and a pre-existing Stat1 sub-population was identified in untreated tumors. Tumor cells from adenomas, carcinomas, lung disseminated tumor cells, and lung metastases were also sorted from MMTV-PyMT transplant mice and profiled by mRNA microarray. Whereas disseminated tumors cells appeared similar to carcinoma cells at the mRNA level, lung metastases were genotypically very different from disseminated cells and primary tumors. Lung metastases were enriched for a number of chromatin-modifying genes and stem cell-associated genes. Histone analysis of H3K4 and H3K9 suggested that lung metastases had been reprogrammed during malignant progression. These data identify novel biomarkers of residual tumor cells and disseminated tumor cells and implicate pathways that may mediate metastasis formation and tumor relapse after therapy.