Optical Microscopy and Coherence Tomography of Cancer in Living Subjects

Trends Cancer. 2020 Mar;6(3):205-222. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.01.008. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

Abstract

Intravital microscopy (IVM) and optical coherency tomography (OCT) are two powerful optical imaging tools that allow visualization of dynamic biological activities in living subjects with subcellular resolutions. Recent advances in labeling and label-free techniques empower IVM and OCT for a wide range of preclinical and clinical cancer imaging, providing profound insights into the complex physiological, cellular, and molecular behaviors of tumors. Preclinical IVM and OCT have elucidated many otherwise inscrutable aspects of cancer biology, while clinical applications of IVM and OCT are revolutionizing cancer diagnosis and therapies. We review important progress in the fields of IVM and OCT for cancer imaging in living subjects, highlighting key technological developments and their emerging applications in fundamental cancer biology research and clinical oncology investigation.

Keywords: clinical oncology; contrast agents; in vivo cancer imaging; intravital microscopy; living subjects; optical coherence tomography; tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Endoscopy / methods
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Humans
  • Intravital Microscopy / methods*
  • Lymphangiogenesis
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods
  • Microscopy, Interference / methods
  • Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / diagnostic imaging
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods*
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes