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Abstract #0843

In Vivo Monitoring of Caspase-3 Activity with MRI in Response to Different Treatment Modalities

Kimberly Brewer 1 , Adam J Shuhendler 1 , Deju Ye 1 , Prachi Pandit 1 , Magdalena Bazalova 2 , Edward Graves 2 , Jianghong Rao 1 , and Brian K Rutt 1

1 Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States, 2 Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States

Our group has previously reported on the development of a novel MRI caspase-3 activatable contrast agent based on intramolecular cyclization. Introduced into the system as small molecules, it cyclizes and self-assembles into Gd-nanoaggregates inside of target cells. We investigated caspase-3 activity (and thus apoptotic cells) in two different but common treatment modalities, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, that induce apoptosis in cancer cells. We found significant MRI signal enhancement for both sets of treated mice, each with distinct intratumoral localization. By studying the differences in caspase activity and localization we can explore the efficiency of these clinically relevant cancer treatments.

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