Abstract: Objective To establish a mouse model of spinal metastasis of human prostate cancer using fluorescence-labeled PC-3
cells to allow direct observation by in vivo imaging. Methods PC-3 cells were infected with a lentivirus carrying green
fluorescence protein (GFP) gene. The GFP-positive cell clone was expanded and prepared into cell suspension for injection into
the inferior vena cava of nude mice. The tumor growth and metastasis in the mice was directly observed using an in vivo
fluorescence imaging system. The tumor-bearing mice were sacrificed after 3 months for histological examination with HE
staining. Results The labeled cells showed stable GFP expression both in vitro and in vivo. One week after cell injection, green
fluorescence signals were detected by the in vivo fluorescence imaging system in the lower back of the mice, and at 4 weeks,
the fluorescent tumor mass increased with a bone metastasis rate of 19% (3/16). Dissection of the mice at 3 months revealed
lumbar tumor infiltration in 3 mice, showing a consistent result with in vivo fluorescence imaging. Conclusion The nude
mouse model of spinal bone metastasis of human prostate cancer established using GFP-labeled PC-3 cells facilitates further
study of bone metastasis of prostate cancer.