title: A new biometric tool for three-dimensional subcutaneous tumor scanning in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To propose an innovative methodology for the monitoring of the evolution of induced subcutaneous tumors in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A new 3D scanner able to measure the tumor mass volume is presented. The scanner is based on the projection of a fringe pattern onto the sample surface (structured light). The lines are diffused by the sample and then collected by a digital camera. The obtained 2D-image is treated by the scanner's software that extracts the 3D information and evaluates the sample volume.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 3D scanner has been successfully used in the measurement of subcutaneous HT-29 colorectal cancer xenografts treated with 5-fluorouracil, bevacizumab and their combination. Comparison with simple caliper measurements revealed important and significant differences between the two measurement techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed methodology is more effective than the usual approach based on caliper measurements.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy. guido.bocci@med.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bocci
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buffa
authors.forename: Bastianina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Canu
authors.forename: Raimondo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Concu
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fioravanti
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.forename: Tonino
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pisanu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D051379:Mice; D012984:Software; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D005472:Fluorouracil
keywords: 3D scanner; Biometry; colorectal cancer; subcutaneous tumor measurements