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.
Highlights
Non-invasive methods to monitor tumour growth are an important goal in cancer drug development
To demonstrate the extent to which tumours can be discriminated based on the temperature differential with the surrounding tissue, corresponding thermal and digital images were taken of the same H460 tumour xenograft
It can be seen that the area of significant temperature drop was contained within the borders of the tumour area as marked out on digital images taken of the same tumour xenograft (Fig. 1a)
Summary
Non-invasive methods to monitor tumour growth are an important goal in cancer drug development. Thermographic imaging can detect functional differences (manifesting as temperature reductions) in the tumour response to these anti-cancer agents compared to controls. These effects can be detected in the first few hours following treatment and the tumour is observable non-invasively. One powerful solution to this problem is to employ non-invasive imaging techniques to monitor tumour growth and vasculature changes. To this end, a wide variety of methods have been explored. We rationalised that measurement of skin temperature may be a way to indirectly measure the vasculature of a particular underlying tumour region, and would be an effective way of monitoring therapy effects
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