Fig. 1.

Tumor growth and metastasis of orthotopic neuroblastoma model. Tumor developed at adrenal inoculation site at Day 28, Day 49 and Day 56 after SK-N-LP cell transplantation, which could be directly observed in mice (a). Significant increase (P < 0.05) in bioluminescent detection of the tumor growth was demonstrated from Day 28 (n = 4) to (b(i)) and Day 56 (n = 3) in (b (ii)) in vivo by IVIS in vivo imaging system, respectively. Unpaired one-tailed t-test was used to compare bio-luminescence of the two groups. ^* indicates P = 0.0456 < 0.05. The color bar on right hand side showed the gradient of tumor activity from the highest (red) to the lowest (dark blue). Local and distant metastasis in brain, lung, liver, gut and bone was observed by detecting the bioluminescent signal, the representative result of one mouse was shown (c(i)). Involvement of bone and spine as major organs rather than liver and lung was observed in one mouse (c (ii)). Gastrointestinal tract, kidney, liver and lower spine encompassed by tumor could be shown in (d). The statistical analysis and data graphs were conducted by GraphPad Prism 5