Intravital imaging of tumour vascular networks using multi-photon fluorescence microscopy.
The blood supply of solid tumours affects the outcome of treatment via its influence on the microenvironment of tumour cells and drug delivery. In addition, tumour blood vessels are an important target for cancer therapy. Intravital microscopy of tumours growing in 'window chambers' in animal models provides a means of directly investigating tumour angiogenesis and vascular response to treatment, in terms of both the morphology of blood vessel networks and the function of individual vessels. These techniques allow repeated measurements of the same tumour. Recently, multi-photon fluorescence microscopy techniques have been applied to these model systems to obtain 3D images of the tumour vasculature, whilst simultaneously avoiding some of the problems associated with the use of conventional fluorescence microscopy in living tissues. Here, we review the current status of this work and provide some examples of its use for studying the dynamics of tumour angiogenesis and vascular function.
Tozer
Gillian M
GM
Tumour Microcirculation Group, Gray Cancer Institute, P. O. Box 100, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2JR, UK. tozer@gci.ac.uk
Ameer-Beg
Simon M
SM
Baker
Jennifer
J
Barber
Paul R
PR
Hill
Sally A
SA
Hodgkiss
Richard J
RJ
Locke
Rosalind
R
Prise
Vivien E
VE
Wilson
Ian
I
Vojnovic
Borivoj
B
D000818:Animals; D000840:Anisoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical
D000840:Anisoles; D013267:Stilbenes; C440905:combretastatin A3