title: Alpha-fetoprotein-targeted reporter gene expression imaging in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in Eastern Asia, and its incidence is increasing globally. Numerous experimental models have been developed to better our understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of HCC and to evaluate novel therapeutic approaches. Molecular imaging is a convenient and up-to-date biomedical tool that enables the visualization, characterization and quantification of biologic processes in a living subject. Molecular imaging based on reporter gene expression, in particular, can elucidate tumor-specific events or processes by acquiring images of a reporter gene's expression driven by tumor-specific enhancers/promoters. In this review, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various experimental HCC mouse models and we present in vivo images of tumor-specific reporter gene expression driven by an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) enhancer/promoter system in a mouse model of HCC. The current mouse models of HCC development are established by xenograft, carcinogen induction and genetic engineering, representing the spectrum of tumor-inducing factors and tumor locations. The imaging analysis approach of reporter genes driven by AFP enhancer/promoter is presented for these different HCC mouse models. Such molecular imaging can provide longitudinal information about carcinogenesis and tumor progression. We expect that clinical application of AFP-targeted reporter gene expression imaging systems will be useful for the detection of AFP-expressing HCC tumors and screening of increased/decreased AFP levels due to disease or drug treatment.
authors.affiliation: Kwang Il Kim, Ju Hui Park, Yong Jin Lee, Joo Hyun Kang, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul 01812, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Il
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Kwang Il Kim, Ju Hui Park, Yong Jin Lee, Joo Hyun Kang, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul 01812, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Kwang Il Kim, Ju Hui Park, Yong Jin Lee, Joo Hyun Kang, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul 01812, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Kwang Il Kim, Ju Hui Park, Yong Jin Lee, Joo Hyun Kang, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul 01812, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Kwang Il Kim, Ju Hui Park, Yong Jin Lee, Joo Hyun Kang, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul 01812, South Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics*; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins
keywords: Alpha-fetoprotein; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Molecular imaging; Reporter gene; Tumor-specific enhancer/promoter