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Molecular Imaging for Cancer Research |
Recent developments in molecular imaging have uncovered a world of possibilities for tumor imaging.
Yet, imaging procedures still have a certain number of limitations,
that optical imaging with the Photon Imager aims at answering. Below is a list of the requirements
met by most researchers who image tumors in small animals, and how the Photon Imager can help ease procedures and increase performances.
>> The Photon Imager is a totally non invasive solution for whole body imaging which offers excellent repeatability. Furthermore, the Photon Imager provides you not only with signal quantification, but also with the signal kinetics, which makes the control of repeatability over time and between individuals much more reliable and easier.
>> Special focus on ergonomics: the Photon Imager was designed with a special care for ergonomics and user friendliness. In addition to its noninvasiveness, the following features makes it perfectly adapted for procedures with large numbers of animals, with a special care for physiology and ease of manipulation:
Photon Imager Dynamic Detection Range. Click to enlarge
Longitudinal studies with great repeatability
Studying cancer means being able to follow and study the growth of tumors, with minimal disturbance for the tumor biology. A great repeatability is essential for accurate comparison of tumors at different time points, in different animals, and in different conditions.>> The Photon Imager is a totally non invasive solution for whole body imaging which offers excellent repeatability. Furthermore, the Photon Imager provides you not only with signal quantification, but also with the signal kinetics, which makes the control of repeatability over time and between individuals much more reliable and easier.
Great numbers of animals
Since many parameters may impact the tumor growth or physiology, and with the always increasing versatility of therapies, experimental protocols usually require large numbers of animals; this is not possible when imaging procedures include time-consuming and tedious manipulations. This can be a limit to the maximum number of animals imaged per experiment, as well as a risk of degraded repeatability for the results.>> Special focus on ergonomics: the Photon Imager was designed with a special care for ergonomics and user friendliness. In addition to its noninvasiveness, the following features makes it perfectly adapted for procedures with large numbers of animals, with a special care for physiology and ease of manipulation:
- 5 mice capacity
- Sliding stage
- Heating table
- Anesthesia bar
From early detection to tumor growth monitoring
The importance of early diagnosis for cancer treatment is regularly emphasized in clinics; treatments have often a much greater impact when started at an early stage. To be in line with today’s medicine requirements, imaging systems in research must allow them to study tumor biology from the earliest stage, or when detection relies on subtle differences in molecular affinity. The possibility to detect early tumors gives researchers a step ahead in their fight against cancer.
Photon Imager Dynamic Detection Range. Click to enlarge
>> Outstanding sensitivity and dynamic range:
the technological design of the Photon Imager relies on an intensification of the signal by a factor 106;
as a consequence, the Photon Imager is the most sensitive system on the market for detection of weak signals.
Furthermore, users of the Photon Imager can rely on its outstandingly large dynamic range:
Tumors and metastases luminescence expression can therefore be followed, quantified and compared,
from early detection with weak signals, to large-size tumors with great signals.
Tumor metabolism
Tumor protease activity
In vivo imaging of a tumor using VisEn Medical optical probe ProSense. Fluorescence intensity is linked with the tumor protease activity (especially cathepsin B's activity).
Courtesy of F. Ducongé, CEA/SHFJ, Orsay, France.
In vivo imaging of a tumor using VisEn Medical optical probe ProSense. Fluorescence intensity is linked with the tumor protease activity (especially cathepsin B's activity).
Courtesy of F. Ducongé, CEA/SHFJ, Orsay, France.
Tumor vascularization
Angiogenesis
In vivo imaging of a tumor vascularization using VisEn Medical optical probe Superhance. The dye is injected IV in the vascularization of the animal, and act as a blood pool agent. Since tumor vessels created by angiogenesis are particularly leaky due to windowed endotheliums and erractic architecure, and since Superhance is a small molecule, it accumulates in the tumor and provides a mean to evaluate the tumoral angiogenesis activity.In this example, three mice show increasing dye accumulation on the tumor site.
Courtesy of F. Ducongé, CEA/SHFJ, Orsay, France.
In vivo imaging of a tumor vascularization using VisEn Medical optical probe Superhance. The dye is injected IV in the vascularization of the animal, and act as a blood pool agent. Since tumor vessels created by angiogenesis are particularly leaky due to windowed endotheliums and erractic architecure, and since Superhance is a small molecule, it accumulates in the tumor and provides a mean to evaluate the tumoral angiogenesis activity.In this example, three mice show increasing dye accumulation on the tumor site.
Courtesy of F. Ducongé, CEA/SHFJ, Orsay, France.
