Lessons from animal imaging in preclinical models

Abstract

Biomarkers are now an essential component of the process of drug development. Numerous biomarkers are being generated by a diverse range of disciplines but this chapter focuses specifically on the development of in vivo imaging biomarkers of tumour response to VDA therapy in preclinical models. In vivo imaging techniques are particularly attractive to monitor VDA therapies as they (1) are non-invasive, (2) enable longitudinal studies to be performed, (3) can provide functional measurements of tumour perfusion and (4) can be used in the clinic. So far, magnetic resonance has dominated the in vivo imaging area of VDA research, and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) has been the most popular method of choice to evaluate VDAs both preclinically and in the clinic. Nevertheless, alternative MR and non-MR imaging modalities are continually being sought, and existing methodology developed to provide the best possible means to assess efficacy of VDAs in vivo with a view to translating these advances to the clinic, and also gaining further insight into their mechanism of action. This chapter describes the methodology of the different imaging modalities that have been used to assess VDAs in experimental rodent models and discusses the key findings of these studies. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.