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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Monitoring Functionality and Morphology of Vasculature Recruited by Factors Secreted by Fast-growing Tumor-generating Cells
Published on: November 23, 2014
Multimodality imaging of vascular endothelial growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor
1The Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology and Bio-X Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Abstract:
Angiogenesis is a critical process in both physiological development and many pathological processes. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptor (VEGFR) signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in regulating angiogenesis. Many therapeutic agents targeting VEGF and VEGFR are currently in preclinical and clinical development. The ability to quantitatively image VEGF/VEGFR expression in a non-invasive manner can aid in lesion detection, patient stratification, new drug development/validation, treatment monitoring, and dose optimization. It can also help in decide when or whether to start anti-angiogenic treatment targeting VEGF/VEGFR. This review summarizes the recent advances in multimodality imaging of VEGF/VEGFR expression using ultrasound, optical fluorescence, optical bioluminescence, SPECT, and PET in many diseases such as cancer, myocardial infarction, and ischemia. Much research effort will be needed in the future to improve the in vivo stability, tumor targeting efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of the imaging probes. With the development of new tracers with better targeting efficacy and desirable pharmacokinetics, clinical translation will be critical for the maximum benefit of VEGF/VEGFR targeted imaging agents.
Insights
Non-invasive imaging of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptor (VEGFR) expression aids disease detection and treatment monitoring. Advances in multimodality imaging offer new tools for managing angiogenesis-related conditions.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Angiogenesis, regulated by the VEGF/VEGFR pathway, is crucial in development and disease.
- Targeting VEGF/VEGFR is a key strategy in treating various pathologies, including cancer.
- Current therapeutic development necessitates robust methods for assessing VEGF/VEGFR activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in multimodality imaging techniques for quantifying VEGF/VEGFR expression.
- To highlight the utility of these imaging modalities in disease management and therapeutic development.
- To discuss the challenges and future directions for clinical translation of VEGF/VEGFR imaging agents.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on multimodality imaging (ultrasound, optical, SPECT, PET) of VEGF/VEGFR.
- Analysis of imaging probe development for in vivo assessment of angiogenesis.
- Synthesis of data on applications in cancer, myocardial infarction, and ischemia.
Main Results:
- Multimodality imaging provides non-invasive quantitative assessment of VEGF/VEGFR expression.
- Techniques include ultrasound, optical fluorescence, bioluminescence, SPECT, and PET.
- Imaging aids in lesion detection, patient stratification, drug development, and treatment monitoring.
Conclusions:
- Non-invasive VEGF/VEGFR imaging is vital for optimizing anti-angiogenic therapies.
- Further research is needed to enhance in vivo probe stability, targeting efficacy, and pharmacokinetics.
- Clinical translation of advanced imaging agents is critical for maximizing therapeutic benefits.
