Targeted Optical Imaging Agents in Cancer: Focus on Clinical Applications

• Published in: Contrast media and molecular imaging Vol. 2018; no. 2018; pp. 1 - 19
• Main Authors: Joshi, Bishnu P., Wang, Thomas D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01.01.2018; Hindawi; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Biological activity; Biopsy; Cancer; Contrast agents; Drug dosages; Epithelium; Fluorescence; Fluorescent indicators; Humans; Image contrast; Image detection; Indicators and Reagents; Lesions; Ligands; Medical imaging; Medical research; Medical screening; Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Optical Imaging - methods; Organs; Review; Surgery; Surveillance; Therapeutic applications; Tumors; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 1555-4309; 1555-4317; 1555-4317
• DOI: 10.1155/2018/2015237

Molecular imaging is an emerging strategy for in vivo visualization of cancer over time based on biological mechanisms of disease activity. Optical imaging methods offer a number of advantages for real-time cancer detection, particularly in the epithelium of hollow organs and ducts, by using a broad spectral range of light that spans from visible to near-infrared. Targeted ligands are being developed for improved molecular specificity. These platforms include small molecule, peptide, affibody, activatable probes, lectin, and antibody. Fluorescence labeling is used to provide high image contrast. This emerging methodology is clinically useful for early cancer detection by identifying and localizing suspicious lesions that may not otherwise be seen and serves as a guide for tissue biopsy and surgical resection. Visualizing molecular expression patterns may also be useful to determine the best choice of therapy and to monitor efficacy. A number of these imaging agents are overcoming key challenges for clinical translation and are being validated in vivo for a wide range of human cancers.