MicroPET for Monitoring Targeted Anti-tumor Therapy

MicroPET is a diagnostic tool for studying metabolism in small animals using positron emitting radioactive tracers. This project pursues molecular imaging as a novel approach to the discovery and evaluation of drugs useful in therapy of cancer. The long-term goal of this project is to establish a high-throughput small animal facility ("Mouse Clinic"). The studies monitor the effects of targeted therapies on malignant tumors implanted into SCID mice (mice with congenital severe combined immunodeficiency enabling tolerance of grafts of human cancers). Presently the evaluation is in process what anti-tumor substances are to be tested (at first mostly tyrosine kinases). Treatment effects on tumor proliferation and growth will be monitored by established tracers: F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucse (FDG) for glucose metabolism and F-18 Fluorodeoxythymidine (FLT) for cell replication/cell proliferation. Tumors will be removed and examined for residual tumor, inflammation, scar and necrosis. In addtion targeted drugs can be labeled with 18-F to determine their biodistribution and pharmacokinetics in vivo with the microPET system in living mice. The overall approach is to rapidly identify promising anti-tumor agents and to exclude non-successful ones from further consideration for human use.