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Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Evaluation of Cancer Stem Cell Migration Using Compartmentalizing Microfluidic Devices and Live Cell Imaging
Published on: December 23, 2011
Imaging mesenchymal stem cell migration and the implications for stem cell-based cancer therapies
1Department of Radiology and Bio-X Program, The Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-95484, USA. wanghui@stanford.edu
Abstract:
Mesenchymal stem cells are promising cellular vehicles for the delivery of therapeutic proteins to sites of cancer growth upon transplantation. To better understand the physiology and biology of the transplanted stem cells, it is necessary and desirable to track the fate of stem cells noninvasively and longitudinally. Reporter gene imaging is a powerful tool to monitor live stem cells in vivo. In this special report, we review currently investigated reporter genes used for tracking stem cells in vivo by optical, radionuclide, magnetic resonance and multimodality imaging techniques. We also discuss the possibility and feasibility of applying reporter gene imaging to monitor stem-cell-based therapeutic gene delivery efficiency and treatment efficacy.
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