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U87-MG-luc orthotopic animal model

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Glioblastoma123

Introduction to the U87-MG-luc Orthotopic Brain Tumor Animal Model

The U87-MG‑luc orthotopic brain tumor animal model is established by stably expressing luciferase in the human glioblastoma cell line U87‑MG and then implanting these tumor cells into the brains of immunocompromised mice via stereotactic injection. This orthotopic model enables real-time, dynamic monitoring of tumor growth and progression through in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI), accurately mimicking the locally invasive growth pattern of glioblastoma in the brain. It is widely used for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying gliomagenesis and for evaluating the in vivo efficacy of anti‑tumor agents.

Service Advantages of the Aniphe Biolaboratory U87-MG-luc Orthotopic Brain Tumor Animal Model Platform

Aniphe Biolaboratory U87-MG-luc orthotopic animal model platform, built on a stably luciferase‑expressing U87-MG cell line and a standardized intracranial stereotactic implantation protocol, provides a highly consistent, visually tractable orthotopic tumor model for in vivo studies of glioblastoma and for evaluating therapeutic efficacy.

	Standardized three-dimensional stereotactic modeling system A standardized intracerebral injection protocol is employed to minimize surgical errors and enhance both the success rate of the model and inter‑batch consistency.
	Stable bioluminescence imaging signal U87-MG-luc cells stably express luciferase, enabling real-time, dynamic monitoring of tumor growth.
	Higher clinical relevance Simulating the local invasion and microenvironmental characteristics of glioblastoma in the brain brings the model closer to the actual disease progression.
	Suitable for a variety of pharmacological efficacy evaluations. It can be used for in vivo efficacy validation of chemotherapeutic agents, targeted therapies, and combination treatment regimens.
	A comprehensive endpoint analysis system Integrate imaging, pathology, and molecular testing to enable multidimensional assessment and a closed-loop data system.

Modeling cycle	About one week
Laboratory animals	Female Balb/c nude mice
Positive drug	TMZ (Temozolomide)
Application areas	Brain‑in‑a‑box models are central to research on the mechanisms of brain tumors, preclinical efficacy evaluation, the development of drug delivery systems, validation of immunotherapies, and the study of neurological disorders, serving as a critical bridge between basic research and clinical translation.

Experimental results

Construction of an orthotopic U87-MG-luc brain tumor animal model

Tumor cells were quantitatively injected into the brain using a stereotaxic apparatus to establish the animal model.

References: Dang Ming’an, Zhao Yunxia, Wang Yuanyuan, et al. Study on the inhibitory effects of the bispecific anti-tumor antibody PD‑L1/TGF‑β in an orthotopic human glioma mouse model [J]. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica, 2025, 60(03): 739–746. DOI: 10.16438/j.0513-4870.2024-0788.

Schematic diagram of model construction

Weight curve

The body weight results for U87-MG-luc orthotopic glioma–bearing mice showed that, over the 21-day treatment period, both the control group and the temozolomide‑treated group exhibited stable, fluctuating body weights, with no significant weight suppression observed in the temozolomide‑treated group, indicating good tolerability.

Survival curve

Survival analysis revealed that one mouse in the Comtrol group died on day 19, whereas no deaths occurred in the TMZ group throughout the entire treatment period, indicating that TMZ can prolong the survival of mice bearing an orthotopic brain tumor model.

Tumor Volume Measurement

TMZ slowed the growth rate of gliomas and reduced tumor volume.

Tumor volume in the control group and the TMZ group. Data are presented as mean ± SEM, with N = 5 mice per group.

P<0.05 is denoted by *, P<0.01 by **, and P<0.001 by ***.

In vivo imaging results

In vivo imaging results demonstrated that all orthotopic brain tumor models were successfully established. In the control group, tumor growth was relatively rapid; in the TMZ‑treated group, tumor growth was significantly slowed, and fluorescence intensity was markedly reduced compared with the control group.

HE staining results

HE staining revealed that the control group exhibited a larger tumor volume, occupying a substantial portion of the brain parenchyma with well-defined borders between the tumor and the surrounding brain tissue. In contrast, the TMZ-treated group showed a marked reduction in both tumor size and extent, accompanied by diminished tumor cell infiltration. These findings indicate that TMZ exerts a significant antitumor effect in a glioma model.

Behavioral changes

In the control group, mice subsequently developed severe hemiplegia, unilateral weakness, body tilting, and seizures. In the TMZ group, a few mice exhibited mild unilateral weakness, with body tilting being rare or only mild, and seizures occurring significantly later or not at all. Compared with the control group, the TMZ group demonstrated better preservation of overall motor function, prolonged survival, and a delayed onset of severe late‑stage behavioral deficits.

Summary of Experience:

01 This model exhibits stable tumorigenesis and a relatively short experimental duration, enabling it to closely mimic human glioma. Tumor growth occurs within the authentic intracranial microenvironment, replicating the invasive behavior of gliomas, the intracranial mass effect, and the influence of the blood–brain barrier. Compared with subcutaneous models, this approach more accurately reflects the real‑world pathological processes observed in clinical patients, thereby yielding more reliable predictions of the clinical efficacy of TMZ.

02 The model exhibits excellent stability and reproducibility, with controllable growth curves, thereby effectively minimizing inherent inter‑individual variability.

03 The pharmacological efficacy validation system offers distinct advantages, enabling a comprehensive assessment of a drug’s antitumor activity through analyses of tumor volume, tumor growth rate, trends in fluorescence intensity, and hematoxylin–eosin staining.

04 It can be directly applied to drug evaluation and mechanistic studies, with a well-established methodology and highly reliable data.