Micro-imaging characterization of mouse models of metastasis
Abstract
[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Non-invasive imaging techniques have been recently developed to characterize animal models of disease. The overarching hypothesis of this work explores the use of three micro-imaging modalities, including Micro-CT, PET and SPECT, to characterize tumor anatomical progression, metabolism, bone lesion remodeling, and/or gastrin releasing peptide receptor expression in mouse models of metastatic melanoma and prostate and breast cancer bone metastasis. Micro-CT was shown to provide excellent anatomical information about tumor progression in several different tissues including lung, bone, and subcutaneous tissues. Micro-PET imaging demonstrated increased tumor metabolism in melanoma tumors, but was not able to discern bone remodeling in breast cancer bone lesions. Micro-SPECT imaging demonstrated gastrin-releasing peptide receptor expression in a prostate cancer bone metastasis model. The results from this work demonstrate the ability of micro-imaging technologies to non-invasively probe mouse models of disease to obtain information in vivo that is not possible with ex vivo experimental techniques.
Degree
Ph. D.
Thesis Department
Rights
Access is limited to the campuses of the University of Missouri.