Multimodal imaging analysis of tumor progression and bone resorption in a murine cancer model

• Published in: Journal of computer assisted tomography Vol. 30; no. 3; p. 525
• Main Authors: Mouchess, Maria L, Sohara, Yasuyoshi, Nelson, Jr, Marvin D, DeCLerck, Yves A, Moats, Rex A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2006
• Subjects: Animals; Bone Neoplasms - diagnosis; Bone Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Bone Neoplasms - drug therapy; Bone Resorption - diagnosis; Diphosphonates - therapeutic use; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Progression; Genes, Reporter; Humans; Imidazoles - therapeutic use; Luciferases - genetics; Luminescent Measurements; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mice; Mice, Nude; Neoplasm Transplantation; Neuroblastoma - diagnosis; Neuroblastoma - diagnostic imaging; Neuroblastoma - drug therapy; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Zoledronic Acid
• ISSN: 0363-8715
• DOI: 10.1097/00004728-200605000-00030

This study evaluates the use of multimodal imaging to qualitatively and quantitatively measure tumor progression and bone resorption in a xenotransplanted tumor model of human neuroblastoma. Human neuroblastoma cells expressing a luciferase reporter gene were injected into the femur of nu/nu mice. Tumor progression with and without zoledronic acid treatment was monitored using radiographs, D-luciferin-induced luminescence, micro-computer tomography (CT) and micro-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We observed a gradual increase in D-luciferin-based bioluminescence concomitant with detectable osteolytic lesions. Tumor growth was inhibited (P=0.003-0.07) with zoledronic acid treatment. Micro-CT analysis in vivo provided a method to quantify bone loss, and its prevention by zoledronic acid. High-resolution MRI images allowed the observation of tumor cells within the bone marrow cavity, as well as distant metastasis. Multimodal imaging allows to measure tumor growth and bone resorption simultaneously in vivo and also proved useful in the detection distant metastasis.