Feasibility of Monitoring Tumor Response by Tracking Nanoparticle-Labelled T Cells Using X-ray Fluorescence Imaging-A Numerical Study.
Henrik KahlTheresa StauferChristian KörnigOliver SchmutzlerKai RothkammFlorian GrünerPublished in: International journal of molecular sciences (2021)
Immunotherapy has been a breakthrough in cancer treatment, yet only a subgroup of patients responds to these novel drugs. Parameters such as cytotoxic T-cell infiltration into the tumor have been proposed for the early evaluation and prediction of therapeutic response, demanded for non-invasive, sensitive and longitudinal imaging. We have evaluated the feasibility of X-ray fluorescence imaging (XFI) to track immune cells and thus monitor the immune response. For that, we have performed Monte Carlo simulations using a mouse voxel model. Spherical targets, enriched with gold or palladium fluorescence agents, were positioned within the model and imaged using a monochromatic photon beam of 53 or 85 keV. Based on our simulation results, XFI may detect as few as 730 to 2400 T cells labelled with 195 pg gold each when imaging subcutaneous tumors in mice, with a spatial resolution of 1 mm. However, the detection threshold is influenced by the depth of the tumor as surrounding tissue increases scattering and absorption, especially when utilizing palladium imaging agents with low-energy characteristic fluorescence photons. Further evaluation and conduction of in vivo animal experiments will be required to validate and advance these promising results.
Keyphrases
- fluorescence imaging
- monte carlo
- high resolution
- photodynamic therapy
- immune response
- dual energy
- single molecule
- ejection fraction
- newly diagnosed
- end stage renal disease
- molecular dynamics
- computed tomography
- metabolic syndrome
- mass spectrometry
- magnetic resonance
- clinical trial
- magnetic resonance imaging
- patient reported outcomes
- prognostic factors
- cross sectional
- type diabetes
- adipose tissue
- dendritic cells
- reduced graphene oxide
- inflammatory response
- label free
- real time pcr