将小动物辐照器与功能成像相结合用于先进的临床前放射治疗研究。

Ghita Mihaela, Brown Kathryn H, Kelada Olivia J, Graves Edward E, Butterworth Karl T

Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7AE, Northern Ireland, UK.

Molecular Imaging Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1088, USA.

Cancers (Basel). 2019 Feb 1;11(2):170. doi: 10.3390/cancers11020170.

Translational research aims to provide direct support for advancing novel treatment approaches in oncology towards improving patient outcomes. Preclinical studies have a central role in this process and the ability to accurately model biological and physical aspects of the clinical scenario in radiation oncology is critical to translational success. The use of small animal irradiators with disease relevant mouse models and advanced in vivo imaging approaches offers unique possibilities to interrogate the radiotherapy response of tumors and normal tissues with high potential to translate to improvements in clinical outcomes. The present review highlights the current technology and applications of small animal irradiators, and explores how these can be combined with molecular and functional imaging in advanced preclinical radiotherapy research.

转化研究旨在为推进肿瘤学新治疗方法以改善患者预后提供直接支持。临床前研究在这一过程中发挥着核心作用，而在放射肿瘤学中准确模拟临床情况的生物学和物理方面的能力对于转化成功至关重要。使用配备与疾病相关小鼠模型的小动物辐照器以及先进的体内成像方法，为研究肿瘤和正常组织的放射治疗反应提供了独特的可能性，极有可能转化为临床疗效的改善。本综述重点介绍了小动物辐照器的当前技术和应用，并探讨了如何在先进的临床前放射治疗研究中将这些技术与分子和功能成像相结合。