title: Cancer modeling: modern imaging applications in the generation of novel animal model systems to study cancer progression and therapy.
abstract: Cancer is the result of a series of genetic and epigenetic mutations that evolve over years even decades and lead to the transformed phenotype. Paradoxically, most methods developed to study these changes are static and do not provide insights on the dynamics of the sequela of steps involved in tumorigenesis. This major shortcoming now can be overcome with the application of reporter genes and imaging technologies, which are providing tools to examine specific molecular events and their role in the carcinogenic process in single cells. In the last decade reporter-based biosensors were created to study gene transcription, protein/protein interactions, sub-cellular trafficking and protease activities; this wealth of systems enable to monitor intracellular signaling pathways at several key check points specifically involved in cancer cell development. The challenge is now to extend cell-based models to the generation of reporter mice, where non-invasive in vivo imaging technologies allow to follow single molecular events. When combined with murine models of cancer, these technologies will give an unprecedented opportunity to spatio-temporally investigate the molecular events resulting in neoplasia. The aim of the present review is to highlight the major changes occurring in this rapidly evolving field and their potential for increasing our knowledge in cancer biology and for the research of novel and more efficacious therapies.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stell
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biserni
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Della Torre
authors.forename: Gianpaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rando
authors.forename: Balaji
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ottobrini
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lucignani
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciana
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D010447:Peptide Hydrolases