Mouse Models of Human Cancer: Noninvasive Phenotyping with MRI

Sanaz Jansen¹, Yurong Song¹, Lilia Ileva², Lucy Lu¹, Terry Van Dyke¹

We have established a clinically relevant framework for MRI-based characterization of two distinct cancers in mice, brain astrocytoma and breast ductal carcinoma. We applied this approach in over 200 mice representing a diversity of mouse models, from commonly used xenografts to advanced genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) wherein key molecular pathways relevant to human astrocytoma (Rb,Ras,PTEN) and breast cancer (Rb,p53, BRCA1) are genetically altered. Our approach represents a new strategy for image-based characterization of cancer in mouse models, including acquisition, analysis and pathologic correlation. With this framework, we can embark on further investigation into the biological underpinnings of image-based features. Temp