Abstract #0682

Granot D, Neeman M

Fibroblasts, as critical components of tumor microenvironment, are vital contributors to tumor progression. With the motivation of studying their biology in tumor angiogenesis, we labeled fibroblasts in-vitro with biotin-BSA-GdDTPA contrast material (CM) to monitor their in-vivo recruitment to ovarian carcinoma tumors. R1 measurements confirmed visibility of pre-labeled fibroblasts and demonstrated their recruitment to tumors after subcutaneous as well as intraperitoneal administration. Increased CM visibility with cell proliferation was detected in-vitro and in-vivo. These studies demonstrate the feasibility for tracking fibroblast recruitment into the tumor stroma by MRI, and would enable determination of the biological contribution of these cells.