Johns Hopkins molecular imaging center delves into various cancers
The team at Johns Hopkins In-Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Center (ICMIC) in Baltimore is using novel imaging tools to discover new early detection methods for cancers existing in cells, and study its prevention and elimination before spreading to other organs and tissues.
A new phase of ICMIC experiments was conducted by researchers from the Johns Hopkins radiology department, Zaver M. Bhujwalla, PhD, and Martin G. Pomper, MD, PhD, who formulated the theranostic imaging approach for prostate cancer. The Hopkins team used a combination of MR scanning and SPECT, along with laser or optical-guided imaging, to detect malignant prostate cells by focusing on an exclusive protein present on the external layer of the cell. Detection of professed prostate-specific membrane antigens led to the discovery of a chemically labeled drug which facilitates tracking while being absorbed into tumors.
Other researchers, Dmitri Artemov, PhD, and Peter C.M. van Zijl, PhD, will consider MRI techniques for breast cancer analysis. Experiments are conducted with laser imaging by Kristine Glunde, PhD, and Xingde Li, PhD, to analyze collagen fibers in breast cancer tumors.
In addition, a series of imaging pilot studies is being conducted, including assessment of the speed of skin cancer progression directed by Steven An; determining the level of tumor shrinkage during pancreatic cancer treatment, led by Anirban Maitra, MD; a study on cancer spreading to the lungs, directed by Phuoc T. Tran, MD, PhD; and novel treatments to preventing spread of kidney cancer to the bones, led by Kristy L. Weber, MD.
Finally, in another project, Richard F. Ambinder, MD, PhD, director of the division of hematologic malignancies, is applying theranostic imaging for Kaposi’s sarcoma. He intends to use PET scans to direct a viral-activated drug to destroy tumor cells.
A new phase of ICMIC experiments was conducted by researchers from the Johns Hopkins radiology department, Zaver M. Bhujwalla, PhD, and Martin G. Pomper, MD, PhD, who formulated the theranostic imaging approach for prostate cancer. The Hopkins team used a combination of MR scanning and SPECT, along with laser or optical-guided imaging, to detect malignant prostate cells by focusing on an exclusive protein present on the external layer of the cell. Detection of professed prostate-specific membrane antigens led to the discovery of a chemically labeled drug which facilitates tracking while being absorbed into tumors.
Other researchers, Dmitri Artemov, PhD, and Peter C.M. van Zijl, PhD, will consider MRI techniques for breast cancer analysis. Experiments are conducted with laser imaging by Kristine Glunde, PhD, and Xingde Li, PhD, to analyze collagen fibers in breast cancer tumors.
In addition, a series of imaging pilot studies is being conducted, including assessment of the speed of skin cancer progression directed by Steven An; determining the level of tumor shrinkage during pancreatic cancer treatment, led by Anirban Maitra, MD; a study on cancer spreading to the lungs, directed by Phuoc T. Tran, MD, PhD; and novel treatments to preventing spread of kidney cancer to the bones, led by Kristy L. Weber, MD.
Finally, in another project, Richard F. Ambinder, MD, PhD, director of the division of hematologic malignancies, is applying theranostic imaging for Kaposi’s sarcoma. He intends to use PET scans to direct a viral-activated drug to destroy tumor cells.