Cancer Imaging

The aim of the Cancer Imaging Section is to foster interdisciplinary research in cancer imaging – combining strengths in probe design with synthetic chemistry, probe validation in pre-clinical models, analytical software development, signal processing/visualisation, and clinical validation to translate biomedical discoveries into health benefits in the short to medium term, particularly in the areas of cancer drug development and therapeutic management of patients.

The Section supports different imaging approaches for cancer research. The major imaging modality is positron emission tomography (PET). In addition, we are developingnew strengths in magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound (MRI and US).

The section is headed by Professor Eric Aboagye who is also Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre. http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/comprehensive_cancer_imaging

The Section has four main themes:

Chemistry Theme

This theme is involved in the design and synthesis of novel probes for imaging cancer covering radiotracers, nanoparticles and microbubbles. This team has recently been responsible for the development of two novel radiotracers, which will be undergoing first-in-man studies in early 2011. This theme interacts and collaborates closely with the Chemistry Department at the South Kensington Campus.

Biology Theme

To better understand and image the tumour microenvironment and cell signalling pathways, the section has a significant biology theme. Closely aligned to the chemistry theme of the biology theme is involved in validating probes and developing in vivo pharmacodynamic imaging of novel anticancer agents and molecular imaging of in vivo functional genomics of drug resistance.

Clinical Theme

Assessment and validation of novel probes and proof of principal studies in man are an important part of the work of the Section. Researchers in this area undertake clinical scans on healthy volunteers and patient populations to assess the effectiveness of new tracers with respect to functional detection of tumour phenotypes, use the tracers to provide a better understand of tumour biology including the microenviroment in humans, as well as assessment of early treatment response. Much of this work is undertaken in collaboration and with the support of the Medical Research Council’s Clinical Sciences Centre.

Signal Processing Theme

Whilst scanning allows visualisation of tumours and their microenvironment, it is important that the data collected are critically evaluated to allow useful information of physiological relevance to be ascertained. Physics development and mathematical modelling are therefore important areas of research. This theme is developing new methodology for mathematical modelling denoising of imaging data, partial volume correction, motion compensation, multi-modal registration and heterogeneity/complexity.