Inducing primary brainstem gliomas in genetically engineered mice using RCAS/TVA retroviruses and Cre/loxP recombination
Loren B. Weidenhammer, Harrison Q. Liu, Lixia Luo, Nerissa T. Williams, Katherine Deland, David G. Kirsch, Zachary J. Reitman
Abstract
Genetically engineered mice are commonly used to model brainstem gliomas in pre-clinical research. One technique for inducing primary tumors in these genetically engineered mice involves delivering viral vectors containing the code for gene-editing proteins. We present a protocol for generating primary brainstem gliomas using the RCAS-TVA retroviral delivery system and the Cre/loxP gene editing system. We describe steps for transfecting and harvesting chicken fibroblast cells, intracranially injecting cells into mice, imaging primary tumors, and treating primary tumors with focal, image-guided brain irradiation. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Deland et al. (2021).1