Abstract
A better understanding of tumor development is crucial for treating cancer. Polarimetric imaging is an interesting alternative for monitoring subcutaneous tumors as it is non-invasive. In this study, a Mueller spectro-polarimeter is used to monitor tumor development on mice injected with non-pigmented breast cancer cells or with pigmented murine melanoma cells. Three stages of non-pigmented tumor development are revealed with three polarimetric parameters. These stages also appear for pigmented tumors, although less clearly. A halo of high depolarization surrounding the non-pigmented tumor in the first stage allows the outlining of the tumor. Considering polarimetric parameters, a biological interpretation is proposed.
Highlights
With an estimated 12.7 million new cases a year [1], cancer is a disease that can affect all populations, regardless of sex and age
Light backscattered on the sample passes through the polarization state analyzer (PSA), constituted of the same elements as the polarization state generator (PSG) placed in reverse order
The evolution of several polarimetric parameters is analyzed throughout tumor development, first for non-pigmented tumors, for pigmented tumors
Summary
With an estimated 12.7 million new cases a year [1], cancer is a disease that can affect all populations, regardless of sex and age It is still not perfectly understood, and a better understanding of tumor development could lead to an improvement in treatment. Mouse models are an ideal platform to improve our understanding of cancers and to develop new drugs [2]: mice are genetically very close to humans and display a great physiological similarity. Their small size, high fecundity and relatively low production and maintenance costs make them an animal of choice for laboratories. Tumor growth is monitored and compared for mice receiving the treatment under investigation and mice without treatment (or with a standard treatment)
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