title: The use of thermographic imaging to evaluate therapeutic response in human tumour xenograft models.
abstract: Non-invasive methods to monitor tumour growth are an important goal in cancer drug development. Thermographic imaging systems offer potential in this area, since a change in temperature is known to be induced due to changes within the tumour microenvironment. This study demonstrates that this imaging modality can be applied to a broad range of tumour xenografts and also, for the first time, the methodology's suitability to assess anti-cancer agent efficacy. Mice bearing subcutaneously implanted H460 lung cancer xenografts were treated with a novel vascular disrupting agent, ICT-2552, and the cytotoxin doxorubicin. The effects on tumour temperature were assessed using thermographic imaging over the first 6 hours post-administration and subsequently a further 7 days. For ICT-2552 a significant initial temperature drop was observed, whilst for both agents a significant temperature drop was seen compared to controls over the longer time period. Thus thermographic imaging can detect functional differences (manifesting as temperature reductions) in the tumour response to these anti-cancer agents compared to controls. Importantly, these effects can be detected in the first few hours following treatment and therefore the tumour is observable non-invasively. As discussed, this technique will have considerable 3Rs benefits in terms of reduction and refinement of animal use.
authors.affiliation: University of Bradford, Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nosheen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: University of Bradford, Centre for Visual Computing, Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Connah
authors.affiliation: University of Bradford, Centre for Visual Computing, Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ugail
authors.affiliation: University of Bradford, Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: University of Bradford, Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Falconer
authors.affiliation: University of Bradford, Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Laurence H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: University of Bradford, Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Shnyder
mesh_terms: D023401:Animal Use Alternatives / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013817:Thermography; D013890:Thiourea / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: C552532:ICT 2552; D009842:Oligopeptides; D004317:Doxorubicin; D013890:Thiourea