Imaging studies offer the potential for non-invasive detection of key molecules that are important in prostatecancer biology and medicine. The goal of the Small Animal Imaging Core is to provide imaging researchsupport to investigators who are involved in defining a prostate cancer signature, often at the molecularlevel. Imaging studies may serve as a non-invasive phenotypic correlate of the molecular changes. Theprimary responsibility of the Small Animal Imaging Core will be to provide positron emission tomography(PET), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), optical, and magnetic resonance imagingand spectroscopy capability at the highest spatial resolution possible to monitor the effect of molecularchanges and for the study of cancer biology in animal models. Available instrumentation include 2 magneticresonance imaging/spectroscopy systems (4.7T/40 cm bore and 7.0T/31 cm bore systems), 2 MIcroPETsystems, MicroCT, MicroSPECT, and optical imaging equipment (IVIS) for fluorescence andbioluminescence imaging. Achievements of the Small Animal Imaging Core during the last interval include14 publications and 2 grants directly related to small animal imaging based on SPORE funded research.Based on our previous experience, a significant portion of the imaging research performed will focus onobtaining high resolution anatomic imaging. The goals of these studies will be to detect tumor at minimalburden, characterize growth rates, and monitor response to novel therapies. Some of these studies (RP4)may utilize novel imaging schemes such as imaging 3'-deoxy-3'-(18)F-fluorothymidine (FLT) as aproliferation marker, MR spectroscopic measurements of proliferation (and correlate the PET and MR datawith each other and Ki67 measurements), and dynamic contrast enhanced MRI to evaluate antiangiogenesisagents. In addition, we will evaluate different PET radionuclide tracers as potential imagingagents including 11C-methionine, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose, 18F-fluorodihydrotestosterone and 1241-iododeoxyuridine) which will be correlated with pathologic data. A major emphasis will be to assure aphysiologically appropriate environment during imaging studies (temperature control, heart and respiratoryrate). Construction of a radiofrequency resonator designed to image multiple mice simultaneously withinhalation anesthesia, temperature monitoring etc. will be done. To enhance spatial resolution, moresensitive resonators coils will be investigated. As a core facility, the main goal will be to provide state of theart imaging capability, improvements in image processing and analysis to enhance the accuracy of multimodalityimaging (supported in collaboration with other grants), and appropriate radiotracers which will beprovided by the Cyclotron and Radiochemistry Core of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
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