title: In vivo imaging of the tumor and its associated microenvironment using combined CARS / 2-photon microscopy.
abstract: The use of confocal and multi-photon microscopy for intra-vital cancer imaging has impacted on our understanding of cancer cell behavior and interaction with the surrounding tumor microenvironmentin vivo. However, many studies to-date rely on the use fluorescent dyes or genetically encoded probes that enable visualization of a structure or cell population of interest, but do not illuminate the complexity of the surrounding tumor microenvironment. Here, we show that multi-modal microscopy combining 2-photon fluorescence with CARS can begin to address this deficit, enabling detailed imaging of the tumor niche without the need for additional labeling. This can be performed on live tumor-bearing animals through optical observation windows, permitting real-time and longitudinal imaging of dynamic processes within the tumor niche.
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Cancer Research Center; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine; University of Edinburgh ; Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering; University of Edinburgh ; Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Downes
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine; University of Edinburgh ; Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: You-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Cancer Research Center; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine; University of Edinburgh ; Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Serrels
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine; University of Edinburgh ; Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hastie
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering; University of Edinburgh ; Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elfick
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Cancer Research Center; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine; University of Edinburgh ; Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brunton
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Cancer Research Center; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine; University of Edinburgh ; Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frame
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Cancer Research Center; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine; University of Edinburgh ; Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serrels
keywords: CARS; Cancer; Coherent Raman microscopy; Harmonic generation; Intra-vital microscopy; Invasion; Multi-photon; Optical Window; SHG; Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Tumor microenvironment