Caliper, contrast enhanced-ultrasound or laser speckle contrast imaging: Techniques to follow mice melanoma growth

J Biophotonics. 2024 Mar;17(3):e202300439. doi: 10.1002/jbio.202300439. Epub 2024 Feb 1.

Abstract

Due to morphological characteristics, metastatic melanoma is a cancer for which vascularization is not a diagnostic criterion. Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) and contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) are two imaging techniques that will be explored in this study, which aims to confirm these two techniques for monitoring tumor vascularization. B16F10 cells were xenografted to C57BL/6 mice treated with anti-PD1 or 0.9% NaCl. Tumor volume was measured daily while CEUS and LSCI were performed weekly. LSCI and CEUS analyses showed a decrease in tumor perfusion in both groups of mice. Although both CEUS and LSCI are useful for measuring tumor volume, LSCI appears to be more robust and effective for monitoring tumor microcirculation. Non-invasive investigations are needed to better predict tumor vascularization: CEUS and LSCI have a good applicability in a mice model.

Keywords: caliper; contrast enhanced ultrasound; laser speckle contrast imaging; melanoma; vascularization.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Flow Velocity
  • Laser-Doppler Flowmetry
  • Lasers
  • Melanoma* / diagnostic imaging
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microcirculation
  • Regional Blood Flow
  • Ultrasonography