Intravital imaging of tumor apoptosis with FRET probes during tumor therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to dynamically and non-invasively monitor the apoptosis events in vivo during photodynamic therapy (PDT) and chemotherapy.


METHODS
A FRET probe, SCAT3, was utilized to determine activation of caspase-3 during tumor cell apoptosis in mice, induced by PDT, and cisplatin treatments. Using this method, dynamics of caspase-3 activation was observed both in vitro and in vivo.


RESULTS
Analysis of the fluorescent missions from tumor cells indicated that the caspase-3 activation started immediately after PDT treatment. In contrast, the caspase-3 activation started about 13 and 36 h after cisplatin treatment in vitro and in vivo, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
FRET could be used effectively to monitor activation of caspase-3 in living organism. This method could be used to provide rapid assessment of apoptosis induced by anti-tumor therapies for improvement of treatment efficacy.
Zhou
Feifan
F
MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science and Institute of Laser Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
Xing
Da
D
Wu
Shengnan
S
Chen
Wei R
WR
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
D053148:Caspase 3; D002945:Cisplatin