title: Multi-modality imaging of a murine mammary window chamber for breast cancer research.
abstract: Window chamber models have been developed and utilized as a means to study the complex microenvironment in which cancers develop, proliferate, and metastasize in small animals. Here we utilize rapid prototyping printer technology to construct a new plastic orthotopic mammary window chamber that is compatible with magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear imaging, and optical imaging. Optical imaging allows for high-resolution cellular and molecular level analysis of tissues; magnetic resonance imaging provides quantitative measures of tumor size, perfusion, diffusion, fat/water content relaxation parameters; and a nuclear imaging technique, called the Beta Imager, supports functional and metabolic imaging. Our demonstration of the multiple imaging capabilities of this model suggests that it can be used as a powerful platform for studying basic cancer biology and developing new cancer therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schafer
authors.affiliation: College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Hui Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Arthur F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Gmitro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal; D016513:Mice, SCID; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
keywords: cancer; imaging; magnetic resonance; nuclear; optical; window chamber