title: Ultrasound molecular imaging: Moving toward clinical translation.
abstract: Ultrasound is a widely available, cost-effective, real-time, non-invasive and safe imaging modality widely used in the clinic for anatomical and functional imaging. With the introduction of novel molecularly-targeted ultrasound contrast agents, another dimension of ultrasound has become a reality: diagnosing and monitoring pathological processes at the molecular level. Most commonly used ultrasound molecular imaging contrast agents are micron sized, gas-containing microbubbles functionalized to recognize and attach to molecules expressed on inflamed or angiogenic vascular endothelial cells. There are several potential clinical applications currently being explored including earlier detection, molecular profiling, and monitoring of cancer, as well as visualization of ischemic memory in transient myocardial ischemia, monitoring of disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease, and assessment of arteriosclerosis. Recently, a first clinical grade ultrasound contrast agent (BR55), targeted at a molecule expressed in neoangiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor type 2; VEGFR2) has been introduced and safety and feasibility of VEGFR2-targeted ultrasound imaging is being explored in first inhuman clinical trials in various cancer types. This review describes the design of ultrasound molecular imaging contrast agents, imaging techniques, and potential future clinical applications of ultrasound molecular imaging.
authors: Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors: Lotfi
authors: L
authors: Abou-Elkacem
authors: Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors: Sunitha V
authors: SV
authors: Bachawal
authors: Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA. Electronic address: willmann@stanford.edu.
authors: Jürgen K
authors: JK
authors: Willmann
mesh_terms: D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007249:Inflammation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D045423:Microbubbles; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Cancer; Clinical translation; Inflammation; Microbubbles; Molecular imaging; Ultrasound