title: Non-invasive molecular imaging for preclinical cancer therapeutic development.
abstract: Molecular and non-invasive imaging are rapidly emerging fields in preclinical cancer drug discovery. This is driven by the need to develop more efficacious and safer treatments, the advent of molecular-targeted therapeutics, and the requirements to reduce and refine current preclinical in vivo models. Such bioimaging strategies include MRI, PET, single positron emission computed tomography, ultrasound, and optical approaches such as bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging. These molecular imaging modalities have several advantages over traditional screening methods, not least the ability to quantitatively monitor pharmacodynamic changes at the cellular and molecular level in living animals non-invasively in real time. This review aims to provide an overview of non-invasive molecular imaging techniques, highlighting the strengths, limitations and versatility of these approaches in preclinical cancer drug discovery and development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: O'Farrell
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Shnyder
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marston
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Coletta
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Gill
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000639:trends; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000639:trends; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational