Abstract #0442

Investigating the Role of Macromolecular Transport in the Formation of Malignant Ascites and Metastases

Marie-France Penet¹, Zhihang Chen¹, Arvind P. Pathak¹, Dmitri Artemov¹, Zaver M. Bhujwalla²

¹JHU ICMIC Program Division of Cancer Imaging Research The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; ²JHU ICMIC Program Division of Cancer Imaging Research The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States

Malignant ascites and metastatic spread of cancer are major causes of morbidity and mortality in prostate and ovarian cancer patients. Here we combined in vivo MRI and optical imaging to characterize the relationship between tumor vasculature, interstitial fluid transport, malignant ascites formation and metastases. We quantified the transport dynamics of the macromolecular contrast agent albumin-GdDTPA labeled with rhodamine in the tumor and in malignant ascites. Orthotopic, human prostate and ovarian tumor models, that frequently result in metastases and malignant ascites, are being used to better understand metastatic dissemination and malignant ascites formation and to develop new therapeutic strategies.