[Frontiers in Bioscience E4, 1081-1096, January 1, 2012]

[Frontiers in Bioscience E4, 1081-1096, January 1, 2012]

Functional oncoimaging techniques with potential clinical applications

Thomas C. Kwee¹, Sandip Basu², Babak Saboury³, Abass Alavi³, Drew A. Torigian³

1Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands, ²Radiation Medicine Centre (BARC),

Tata Memorial Hospital Annexe, Parel, Bombay 400012, India, ³Department of Radiology,University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Functional Imaging of Tumor Physiology: 3.1. Perfusion imaging; 3.2. Diffusion imaging; 3.3. Elastography; 3.4. Functional lymph node imaging
4. Functional Imaging of Tumor Molecular Processes: 4.1. Metabolic imaging; 4.2. Cell proliferation imaging; 4.3. Oxygenation imaging; 4.4. Molecular imaging with targeted imaging agents; 4.5. Angiogenesis imaging; 4.6. Apoptosis imaging; 4.7. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy
5. Conclusion
6. Acknowledgement
7. References

1. ABSTRACT

Structural imaging is currently used in standard clinical practice on a daily basis to qualitatively or semiquantitatively detect, characterize stage, assess post-therapeutic change in, and determine recurrence of malignant tumors based on structural features or gross degree of contrast enhancement. Unfortunately, structural imaging does not provide information about tumor physiology, biological processes, and molecular features, and as such tumors cannot be fully characterized and monitored. In order to improve the evaluation of tumors and to reduce cancer-related morbidity and mortality, there is a need for functional imaging modalities which allow visualization and quantification of physiological and biochemical processes in vivo. This article will review a selection of the wide variety of functional imaging methods available for non-invasive evaluation of tumor physiology and molecular processes.