Micro Ultrasound Scanner to Track Tumor Models

描述(申请人提供)：将购买Visualsonics Vevo 2100高频显微超声仪，以便在Herbert Irving综合癌症中心(HICCC)对携带基因驱动肿瘤模型的小鼠进行无创、高通量、实时体内成像。哥伦比亚大学的跨学科研究团队包括外科、医学、儿科肿瘤学、病理学、妇产科、放射学、遗传学与发育、泌尿学、生物医学工程和化学工程的教授。该团队包括哥伦比亚大学内技术开发人员(工程师)和最终用户(医生)之间的独特合作。这种微型超声仪器将允许在纵向研究中对小鼠的肿瘤进行解剖、功能、生理和分子测量。目前资助的几个NIH研究项目将通过购买微型超声波扫描仪得到支持。研究将集中在(1)治疗毁灭性的儿科疾病，(2)治疗前列腺癌，(3)治疗乳腺癌，(4)治疗胰腺癌，(5)了解血管生成和(6)开发和转化创新的超声技术，如造影剂和弹性成像方法。微型超声仪器将帮助创建和跟踪这些癌症的模型。主要使用者感兴趣的是肿瘤如何随着时间的推移发展以及它们对治疗干预的反应。显微超声成像结果可以为治疗提供信息和指导治疗。此外，Vevo 2100还将开发用于分子成像和弹性成像的新技术，以研究肿瘤模型及其对治疗的反应。例如，一种新的方法将在肿瘤模型上进行测试，该方法使用免疫屏蔽的超声刺激造影剂，旨在提高分子成像期间血管询问的质量。由于超声是一种公认的临床手段，将其扩展到儿科、乳腺、前列腺和胰腺肿瘤的动物模型可能允许开发一套合理的终点来评估新的癌症治疗方法。 公共卫生相关性：微型超声将用于测量儿童、乳腺癌、前列腺癌和胰腺癌模型的解剖学和生理学。其目标是了解肿瘤随时间的发展和进展，并检查肿瘤对新药的反应。该仪器将用于获取关于肿瘤行为和药物反应的非常详细的分子和生理信息 开发新的临床疗法和技术的终极目标

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A Visualsonics Vevo 2100 high-frequency micro-ultrasound instrument will be purchased in order to perform noninvasive, high-throughput, real-time in vivo imaging of mice bearing genetically driven tumor models at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC). The interdisciplinary research team at Columbia University includes professors of surgery, medicine, pediatric oncology, pathology, OB/GYN, radiology, genetics & development, urology, biomedical engineering and chemical engineering. The team includes a unique collaboration between technology developers (engineers) and end users (physicians) within Columbia University. The micro- ultrasound instrument will allow anatomical, functional, physiological and molecular measurements of tumors in mice over longitudinal studies. Several currently funded NIH research projects will be bolstered by the purchase of a micro-ultrasound scanner. Research will focus on (1) treatment of devastating pediatric diseases, (2) treatment of prostate cancer, (3) treatment of breast cancer, (4) treatment of pancreatic cancer, (5) understanding angiogenesis and (6) developing and translating innovative ultrasound technologies, such as contrast agents and elastographic methods. The micro- ultrasound instrument will aid in creating and tracking models for these cancers. The major users are interested in how the tumors develop over time and how they respond to therapeutic intervention. Results from micro-ultrasound imaging could inform and guide therapy. Additionally, new techniques will be developed with the Vevo 2100 for molecular imaging and elastography to investigate the tumor models and their response to therapy. For example, a new method involving immune-shielded, ultrasound- stimulated contrast agents designed to enhance the quality of vascular interrogation during molecular imaging will be tested on the tumor models. Because ultrasound is an established clinical modality, extending its use to animal modeling of pediatric, breast, prostate and pancreatic tumors may allow the development of a set of rational endpoints for assessment of novel cancer therapies. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Micro-ultrasound will be used to measure the anatomy and physiology of models for pediatric, breast, prostate and pancreatic cancers. The goals are to understand the development and progression of tumors over time, and to examine the responses of tumors to new drugs. This instrument will be used to acquire highly detailed molecular and physiological information about tumor behavior and drug responses with the Ultimate goal of developing new clinical therapies and technologies