Title: Optical Systems for In Vivo Molecular Imaging of Cancer

Agency: NIH

PI: Rebecca Richards-Kortum

Abstract: The goal of this proposal is to integrate development of optical imaging systems and contrast agents with advances in functional genomics. We will develop molecular-specific, optically active contrast agents that can be applied topically.  We will also develop inexpensive, rugged and portable imaging systems to monitor the three-dimensional profile of targeted biomarkers. These contrast agents and imaging systems will have broad applicability to many types of cancer; here, we will develop and test agents and imaging systems for the cervix, oral cavity and the lung, which represent more than 20% of both tumor incidence and mortality worldwide. We will test the safety and efficacy of these contrast agents and imaging systems in animal models, providing data to support phase I and II clinical trials. The aims of this proposal are to: (1) Develop optically active contrast agents to target four molecular signatures of neoplasia, including EGFR, MMP, telomerase and v integrin; (2) to identify promising new biomarkers for which contrast agents will be developed using SAGE libraries, and to identify promising molecular probes for novel contrast agents using combinatorial methods; (3) to develop inexpensive, portable optical systems to image the morphologic and molecular signatures of neoplasia noninvasively in real time; and (4) to test these agents, delivery formulations and imaging systems in living biological systems of progressively increasing complexity.  (5)  Our final aim is to integrate these studies to develop a miniature imaging system, which when coupled with the contrast agents developed here, can be used for real time, molecular detection of neoplasia and to monitor, at the molecular level, whether a lesion is responding to therapy.

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