Abstract #4361

MRI Compatible Orthotopic Breast Cancer Window Chamber Model for Multi-Modality Imaging

Arthur F. Gmitro¹, Rachel L. Schafer², Huimin Leung³

¹Medical Imaging, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States; ²Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States; ³College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States

A new orthotopic breast cancer window chamber animal model system for multi-modality imaging is described and presented. This platform system can be used for MRI, nuclear, photoacoustic, and optical imaging of breast cancer xenografts. High-resolution optical imaging allows cancer processes to be studied at the cellular/molecular level and correlated with observations obtainable with MRI at the tissue level. The new model system is especially applicable to the study of cancer processes such as growth, invasion, metastasis, and therapeutic response. The system is also useful for the validation and application of imaging biomarkers for therapeutic development.