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Updated: May 24, 2026
Radionuclide-fluorescence Reporter Gene Imaging to Track Tumor Progression in Rodent Tumor Models
Published on: March 13, 2018
Imaging molecular pathways: reporter genes
John Brogan1, Fang Li, Wenrong Li
1Department of Dermatology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
Abstract:
Molecular imaging is a rapidly advancing field that allows cancer biologists to look deeper into the complex inner workings of tumor cells, or whole tumors, in a non-invasive manner. In this review, we will summarize some recent advances that enable investigators to study various important biological processes in tumors in vivo. We will discuss novel imaging approaches that allow investigators to visualize and quantify molecular pathways, such as receptor tyrosine kinase activation, hypoxia signal transduction, apoptosis, and DNA double-strand breaks. Select examples of these applications will be discussed. Because of the limited scope of this review, we will only focus on natural reporters, such as bioluminescence and fluorescent proteins.
Insights
Molecular imaging advances enable non-invasive study of tumor biology in vivo. This review focuses on natural reporters like bioluminescence and fluorescence for visualizing cancer pathways.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biomedical Imaging
Background:
- Molecular imaging offers non-invasive insights into tumor cell and whole tumor biology.
- Recent advancements facilitate in vivo study of complex biological processes within tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review novel molecular imaging approaches for in vivo tumor research.
- To highlight the visualization and quantification of key cancer pathways.
- To focus on natural reporters like bioluminescence and fluorescent proteins.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent literature on molecular imaging techniques.
- Focus on applications utilizing bioluminescence and fluorescent proteins.
- Discussion of methods for visualizing and quantifying molecular pathways in vivo.
Main Results:
- Novel imaging approaches allow visualization of receptor tyrosine kinase activation, hypoxia, apoptosis, and DNA double-strand breaks.
- Natural reporters (bioluminescence, fluorescence) provide effective tools for in vivo molecular imaging.
- Demonstration of applications for studying critical tumor biological processes.
Conclusions:
- Molecular imaging, particularly with natural reporters, is a powerful tool for cancer research.
- These techniques enhance understanding of tumor biology and molecular pathways in vivo.
- Continued advancements promise deeper insights into cancer mechanisms.
