Cancer is currently one of the major threats to human health. In the process of conquering cancer, preclinical small animal experiments play a crucial role. Small animal cancer models are widely used to simulate the occurrence, development, and treatment response of cancer in vivo. Precise localization of tumors is of great significance for cancer research. To achieve accurate diagnosis of tumors in live small animals, a common method is tumor-specific bioluminescence imaging. However, traditional 2D optical imaging has limitations in tumor detection, restricting the precise diagnosis of early-stage tumors and metastatic tumors.
The IMAGING 1000 is a 3D multimodal precision imaging system that integrates micro-CT imaging, bioluminescence imaging, and fluorescence molecular imaging. The system achieves a synergistic effect by combining the structural capabilities of micro-CT imaging and the functional advantages of optical molecule imaging, eventually enables precise diagnosis of diseases in three-dimensional space.
A research group in China has achieved precise in vivo diagnosis of deep-seated micro-tumors in mice using IMAGING 1000. Researchers first transfected the gene encoding luciferase into the DNA of tumor cells, ensuring that these tumor cells could stably express luciferase even after proliferation. These luminescent tumor cells were then transplanted into mice via cardiovascular injection to establish a mouse tumor metastasis model. Before imaging, luciferin was injected into the mice, which circulated throughout the body via the bloodstream. When the luciferin reached the tumor regions, it encountered the tumor-specific expressed luciferase and underwent an oxidation reaction, producing photons. These photons traveled through the biological tissues to the surface, where they were captured by high-sensitivity imaging equipment, thereby obtaining tumor-specific optical signals.
Schematic diagram of the tumor detection process using bioluminescence imaging
In this mouse tumor metastasis model, metastatic tumors can occur in any part of the animal's body, making tumor occurrence unpredictable. Researchers used Raycision's 3D multimodality precision imaging system, IMAGING 1000, to image this tumor metastasis model, successfully achieving precise diagnosis of metastatic tumors. The high-sensitivity optical imaging module captured photons reaching the surface of the biological tissue, obtaining tumor-specific optical signals. The high-resolution micro-CT imaging module provided anatomical information of the skeleton and internal organs. After image registration, precise localization and quantification of metastatic tumors in the mouse model were achieved. To confirm the accuracy of tumor detection and localization, double-blind verification using histopathology was performed.
The multimodal images of IMAGING 1000 revealed one tumor in each lobe of the liver, and their diameters were quantified. The locations and diameters of the tumors were verified by histopathology. Additionally, a metastatic tumor was found to have invaded the right tibia, which was also confirmed by histopathology.
The Raycision's 3D multimodality precision imaging system, IMAGING 1000, has demonstrated extraordinary potential in the research field of small animal cancer model. IMAGING 1000 not only possesses high sensitivity but also can precisely localize tumors to specific organs and tissues. Additionally, it can quantify the actual size of tumors rather than merely measuring luminescence intensity, showing great potential in achieving precise diagnosis of early-stage micro-tumors or metastases.
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