Cancer Imaging and Therapy Platform

Summary We will create a preclinical quantitative Cancer Imaging and Therapy Platform CITP which will allow one to study cancer biology and optimize pipelines of technologies imaging agents imaging methods targeted nano therapeutics tumor models etc especially for metastatic and invasive cancers Today primary tumor mass es are clinically controlled with surgical drug and radiation therapies but the ability to control metastatic can cer is limited and patients most often die from metastases Arguably metastatic cancer as the most important front in the war on cancer but it is hampered by an inability to see the enemy Preclinical research on micro metastases cell to mm and larger scattered throughout the body is limited because histology is impracti cal and because traditional in vivo imaging has insufficient resolution and contrast for reliable detection CITP will provide unique quantitative assessments for optimization of technologies targeting metastatic cancer The central technology will be cryo imaging a section and image technique which provides anatomical color and molecular fluorescence single cell sensitivity D microscopic imaging over vast volumes as large as an entire mouse This will be linked via registration software to small animal medical imaging modalities PET MRI SPECT fluorescence ultrasound etc and to histology The platform will include experimental methods small animal imaging cryo imaging histology and software glue With visualization software a researcher will zoom to a small GFP labeled tumor determine the presence of agent using highly sensitive cryo fluorescence determine if there is detectable MR signal and optionally examine histology for target molecules Software will also provide unique quantitative analyses CITP will add significant value to BioInVisionandapos s product line by providing a quantitative platform for assessments and optimization of innovative cancer technologies Project Narrative Although a primary tumor mass can be controlled the ability to control metastatic cancer is limited and patients most often die from metastases We will create a unique preclinical quantitative Cancer Imaging and Therapy Platform CITP suitable for the evaluation and optimization of pipelines of technologies imaging agents imag ing methods therapeutics tumor models etc important for detecting understanding and treating metastatic and invasive cancers