Fabrication and Calibration of Fluorescence Diffuse Optical Tomographic System (Iii)

Background:Breast cancer has long-term remained the highest incidence rate, and the 2nd highest mortality rate forwoman cancers no matter in USA, European countries or (the 4th highest mortality rate) in Taiwan.Tumor-related angiogenesis with high hemoglobin concentration plays a critical role in facilitating thegrowth and metastatic potential of primary malignancy. Further, in solid tumors angiogenesis occurs inthe setting of a defective vasculature and impaired lymphatic drainage that is associated with increasedvascular permeability and enhanced tumor permeability. To illustrate optical-coefficient images thatenable to reflect physiological and pathological states of tissue, near infrared diffuse optical tomography(NIR DOT) has drawn intense attention in the medical imaging research field since the late 1990s due toits noninvasive, no radiation, and relatively low-cost natures. Both macro and micro imaging techniquesof DOT are desired in order to effectively detect, screen and diagnose breast cancer. To cope with thediffuse nature of NIR light propagating in tissue, besides the development in sole DOT techniquestremendous efforts have been put in enhancing the quality and usefulness of DOT images, such as theimplementation of multiple modality imaging systems and fluorescence DOT (FDOT). Since late 2005our lab has devoted to the development of DOT imaging techniques. Through the conduction of thisresearch project for the development and implementation of FDOT, we seek to create an image-guidedplatform for the enhancement of breast tumor imaging and the treatment of breast cancer by combining ourunique mammogram based and guided optical imaging quantification system.Method & Features:This proposal is to develop FDOT imaging techniques to optimize cancer detection, as well as to target andtreat cancerous tissue through drug delivery. This research project is composed of(i) development of FDOT computation schemes,(ii) implementation of 3D FDOT image reconstruction,(iii) high modulation frequency, square-wave modulation, multiple modulation frequency, andmulti-wavelength NIR FD measurement system for FDOT,(iv) scanning equipment for excitation and emission light,(v) system calibration of computation and opto-electrical measurement for FDOT,(vi) phantom study and validation test, and(vii) animal test for the validation of imaging enhancement.Specific Aims:This study seeks to create a platform for the detection and treatment of breast cancer eventually bycombining our unique FDOT imaging with drug delivery using novel nanoconstructs for imagingenhancement. Besides phantom test at the lab, in the animal use protocol five groups of severe combinedimmune-deficiency (SCID) nude mice with tumors through implanting MDA-MB-231 human breastadeno-carcinoma cell line are to be schemed and performed to validate the efficacy of proposedmethodologies. The research goal is to use fluorescence imaging for the optimization of cancer detection.