title: Molecular imaging-its current role in cancer.
abstract: Medical imaging has undergone extensive growth over the last few decades and now plays a central role in clinical oncology. The future of imaging in the management of oncology patients is molecularly targeted imaging agents. Molecular imaging differs from conventional anatomical imaging in that imaging probes are utilized to visualize target molecules-of-interest. It is envisioned that molecular imaging will have a major impact on oncology and personalized medicine by allowing earlier diagnosis, assessing early response to treatment and by predicting treatment response. It will, hopefully, also have an impact on drug development by streamlining preclinical and clinical tests for new drug candidates.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114, USA mcdermott.shaunagh@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kilcoyne
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000639:trends; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D057285:Precision Medicine / Q000639:trends; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals