CT vs. bioluminescence: A comparison of imaging techniques for orthotopic prostate tumors in mice

Abstract

Prostate cancer is one of the most diagnosed cancers in men in the United States. In mouse models, orthotopic tumors are favored for their biological relevance and simulation of growth in a microenvironment akin to that found in humans. However, to monitor the disease course, animal models require consistent and noninvasive surveillance. In vivo bioluminescent imaging has become a mainstay imaging modality due to its flexibility and ease of use. However, with some orthotopic prostate tumor models, bioluminescence fails to describe disease progression due to optical scattering and signal attenuation. CT scanning, in addition to its utility in human cancer diagnosis and surveillance, can be applied to mouse models with improved results. However, CT imaging has poor definition when imaging soft tissues and is not routinely used in prostate cancer models. Using an orthotopic prostate cancer model, our results demonstrate that, when compared to bioluminescent imaging, CT imaging correlates more closely to orthotopic prostate tumor growth in mice. Based on the data from this study, we conclude that CT imaging can be used as an alternative to the more commonly used bioluminescent imaging for measuring orthotopic prostate cancer growth over time.

Quantitative Assessment on Optical Properties as a Basis for Bioluminescence Imaging: An Experimental and Numerical Approach to the Transport of Optical Photons in Phantom Materials

“…The Geant4 Application for Emission Tomography (GATE) extension, commonly utilized in numerous bioluminescence publications, provides additional capabilities for tomographic applications that are not required in our study [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. By comparing experimental data with simulation results, we aim to provide valuable insights into the underlying physical processes and to improve the accuracy and reliability of BLI measurements [ 15 ].…”