Can Optical Imaging Assist in Characterization of the Onset of Angiogenesis in Developing Hepatic Metastases in Mice Livers?

Abstract

Optical imaging currently can be used to characterize some of the early steps in the angiogenic pathway in vivo in animals. Liu and Matsui have provided valuable information in regard to the sequential changes in the origin and nature of newly formed blood vessels during progressive stages of growth of hepatic colorectal cancer metastases. The short-term challenge is to image cellular events that precede visible vessel formation and that occur during drug-induced vascular regression.