Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine: http://www.expertreviews.org/
DOI: 10.1017/S1462399406000044; 14 July 2006
Arnaud Briat and Georges Vassaux (2006) Preclinical applications of imaging for cancer gene therapy. Expert Rev. Mol. Med. Vol. 8, Issue 16, DOI: 10.1017/S1462399406000044

Preclinical applications of imaging for cancer gene therapy

Arnaud Briat ^{a1 c1} and Georges Vassaux ^a1

^a1 Centre for Molecular Oncology, Institute of Cancer and the CR-UK Clinical Centre, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, John Vane Science Centre, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.

^c1 Corresponding author: Arnaud Briat, Centre for Molecular Oncology, Institute of Cancer and the CR-UK Clinical Centre, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK. Tel: +44 (0)207 0140 0434; Fax: +44 (0)207 014 0431; E-mail: arnaud.briat@cancer.org.uk

Gene therapy is a very attractive strategy in experimental cancer therapy. Ideally, the approach aims to deliver therapeutic genes selectively to cancer cells. However, progress in the improvement of gene therapy formulations has been hampered by difficulties in measuring transgene delivery and in quantifying transgene expression in vivo. In clinical trials, endpoints rely almost exclusively on the analysis of biopsies by molecular and histopathological methods, which provide limited information. Therefore, to ensure the rational development of gene therapy, a crucial issue is the utilisation of technologies for the non-invasive monitoring of spatial and temporal gene expression in vivo upon administration of a gene delivery vector. Such imaging technologies would allow the generation of quantitative information about gene expression and the assessment of cancer gene therapy efficacy. In the past decade, progress has been made in the field of in vivo molecular imaging. This review highlights the various methods currently being developed in preclinical models.

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