Abstract B59: Magnetic resonance imaging monitoring of tumor promotion and tumor progression in mouse model of inflammation-promoted colon cancer

Abstract

Abstract B59 Purpose Early detection of pre-cancerous tissue has significantly increased survival for most cancers including colorectal cancer. Animal models that follow early stages of cancer are valuable for identifying molecular events and response indicators that correlate with the early stages of tumor development. The goal of this work was to generate new methods to monitor over time the early stages of colorectal cancer in mice using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Experimental Design Mice treated with azoxymethane and dextran sulafate sodium (DSS) were imaged by MRI throughout the tumor development. Early inflammation was imaged in T2-weighted MRI. Dark-lumen images were obtained in both T1 and T2-weighted images using a poly-fluorinated liquid enema. Individual tumor volumes were calculated and validated ex vivo. Results Using T2-weighted MRI, inflammation was detected 3 days after DSS exposure and subsided over the next week. The poly-fluorinated liquid enema distended the colon and provided a clear differentiation of the lumen of the colon from the mucosal lining. Tumors were detected as early as 29 days after initiation and as small as 1.2 mm3. Individual tumor growths were followed over time and tumor volumes measured by MRI correlated with volumes measured ex vivo. Conclusions Early detection of tumorigenesis is important for understanding tumor development. The use of MRI for detection of the initial stages of colon cancer allows real time evaluation of preclinical trials for prevention and intervention. The use of the poly-fluorinated liquid enema for Dark-lumen MRI in both T1 and T2-weighted imaging could simplify clinical MRI detection of colon cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):B59.