Download Slide 1

Evaluating new therapies in GIST
using in vivo molecular imaging
Lori Rink, Ph.D
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Molecular imaging and personalized medicine
•
Genome and expression analyses will identify molecules and pathways
activated in individual cancers
•
Opportunity for individually tailored therapy
•
Plethora of available agents – need for prioritization
•
Biological therapies frequently less toxic – tumors may not shrink
•
Resistance – via target mutation or compensatory pathway activation
•
Need for imaging modalities to detect biological/functional response
–
–
–
CT
MRI
PET
Can molecular imaging be used for rapid assessment of drug efficacy?
–
–
Individualization of therapy, dose and/or schedule
Combination of targeted therapeutic agents
In vivo near infrared fluorescent (NIRF)
molecular imaging
• Reduced light absorption by
abundant molecules (e.g.,
hemoglobin)
• Reduced autofluorescence
• Probes - maximum light
penetration and high
sensitivity
• Quantitative
• Detect biological
activities/molecular targets
• Limited tissue penetration
Fluorescent molecular tomography:FMT
•
FMT2500 – VisEn Medical
- 3D quantitative measurements of probe activation and/or retention
Provides non-invasive, whole body, deep tissue imaging in small
animal models to generate 3D, information-rich results.
- Functional imaging of biological and physiological changes
Biological targets and pathways can be monitored and quantified in
real time - giving a deeper understanding of the biology underlying
disease mechanisms and therapeutic response.
Evaluating novel therapeutics using in
vivo molecular imaging
Acknowledgements
von Mehren Group
•Margaret von Mehren, M.D
•Martin Belinsky, Ph.D.
•Alexis Cordero, B.S.
FCCC Facilities
• Laboratory Animal Facility
• Small Animal Imaging Facility
Collaborators
• Andrew K. Godwin, Ph.D
• Harvey Hensley, Ph.D
• Denise Connolly, Ph.D
Support
• National Cancer Institute
• GIST Cancer Research Fund
(Tania Stutman)
• NIH institutional training
grant (LR)
• Merck