A bioluminescence imaging based in vivo model for preclinical testing of novel cellular immunotherapy strategies to improve the graft-versus-myeloma effect.

Background: The development and preclinical testing of novel immunotherapy strategies for multiple myeloma can benefit substantially from a humanized animal model that enables quantitative real-time monitoring of tumor progression. Here we have explored the feasibility of establishing such a model in immunodeficient RAG2(-/-)gammac(-/-) mice, by utilizing non-invasive bioluminescent imaging for real-time monitoring of multiple myeloma cell growth.

Design And Methods: Seven multiple myeloma cell lines, marked with a green fluorescent protein firefly luciferase fusion gene, were intravenously injected into RAG2(-/-)gammac(-/-) mice.