Correlating MALDI and MRI Biomarkers of Breast Cancer
Abstract
The processes of tumor growth and treatment response are associated with the up-regulation of numerous proteins, yet current clinical imaging methods of cancer characterization monitor only gross morphology. This study combines specialized in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) analysis of healthy and tumorous ex vivo specimens in order to examine the proteomic influences on contrast in MRI. During the current research period, protocols were developed to image and correlate data from breast cancer metastases to bone. MRI data acquisition was expanded from that of the previous research period to include gadolinium contrast-enhanced, diffusion-weighted, and relaxometric data in an intra-tibial mouse model of metastatic breast cancer. Multi-parametric MRI data were collected for eight mice at each of three time points. Acquisition of MALDI data for each mouse is currently underway. Coregistration of proteomic and MRI hind limb data will incorporate both rigid and non-rigid methods in order to fuse the two datasets based on fiducial markers in the absence of a non-deformable stereotactic frame. Data analysis will focus on identification of specific (groups of) proteins that most strongly correlate with variations in multi-parametric MRI data. This work represents a basic yet vital step towards the long-term objective of facilitating clinical assessment of tumor status via non-invasive imaging techniques.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA540714
Entities
People
- Amelie R. Gillman
Organizations
- Vanderbilt University