@article {TASHIRO2277, author = {YOSHIHIKO TASHIRO and HANNAH M. HOLLANDSWORTH and HIROTO NISHINO and JUN YAMAMOTO and SIAMAK AMIRFAKHRI and FILEMONI FILEMONI and NORIHIKO SUGISAWA and TAKESHI AOKI and MASAHIKO MURAKAMI and ROBERT M. HOFFMAN and MICHAEL BOUVET}, title = {Indocyanine Green Labels an Orthotopic Nude-Mouse Model of Very-Early Colon-Cancer Liver Metastases}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {2277--2280}, year = {2020}, doi = {10.21873/invivo.12038}, publisher = {International Institute of Anticancer Research}, abstract = {Background/Aim: Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging using indocyanine green (ICG) is used to visualize colon-cancer liver metastases (CCLM) during surgery. The present study aimed to use ICG to visualize small CCLM in an orthotopic mouse model. Materials and Methods: A 3-mm fragment of HT29 human colon cancer was implanted to the liver of 5 athymic nude mice (nu/nu). The Pearl Trilogy Small Animal Fluorescence Imaging system was used 24 h after intravenous (IV) injection of 0.025 mg (0.25 mg/ml) ICG. Results: In four of the five mice, tumor fluorescence was detected. Small tumors (approximately 3 mm) were distinctly visualized with a minimal fluorescence liver signal, with a mean tumor to liver signal ratio of 1.81 (SD{\textpm}0.167). Conclusion: Small CCLM can be clearly identified by ICG fluorescence in an orthotopic nude-mouse model. This model is translatable to the clinic for the detection of occult early CCLM.}, issn = {0258-851X}, URL = {https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/34/5/2277}, eprint = {https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/34/5/2277.full.pdf}, journal = {In Vivo} }