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In Vivo Preclinical Imaging

Oncology

Section
Applications
In Vivo Imaging
IVISbrite Bacterial Cell Lines
IVISbrite Lentiviral Particles
IVISbrite Bioluminescent Substrates
IVISense Fluorescent Imaging Probes - Targeted
IVISbrite Tumor Cell Lines
IVISense Fluorescent Imaging Probes - Vascular
IVISense Fluorescent Imaging Probes - Activatable
IVISense Fluorescent Dyes
Applications
Best Practices
Sub Section
Oncology
Acute Inflammation
Angiogenesis
Arthritis
Atherosclerosis
Bone Biology
Oncology
Pulmonary Inflammation
Vascular disease
Radioimaging

Overview

The development of novel and safer cancer therapeutics that target specific molecular targets and broader disease-related processes remains a need. In vivo preclinical studies can help dissect complex biological processes related to cancer (such as angiogenesis and tumor metastasis), validate potential molecular targets, and assess therapeutic response in a whole animal model. Non-invasive preclinical studies enable real-time, quantitative measurements of therapeutic outcomes while reducing the number of animals used in research. Revvity offers IVISense™ targeted, activatable, and vascular fluorescent probes, as well as IVISbrite™ bioluminescent tumor cell lines for preclinical cancer research.

Products for oncology preclinical studies

Angiogenesis
Probe Probe Type Probe Mechanism Available Wavelengths and optimal in vivo imaging time (post-injection) Route of metabolism/ background tissue(s) Validated imaging methods*
IVISenseTM Integrin Receptor Targeted; fluorescent Binds to α5β3 integrin. This integrin is upregulated in activated endothelial cells during angiogenesis. 645 nm (6-24 h), 680 nm (3-48 h), 750 nm (24 h) Bladder/kidneys (645 nm), kidneys/intestine (680 nm), kidneys (750 nm) In vivo/ex vivo; in vitro microscopy
IVISense Hypoxia CA IX Targeted; fluorescent Binds to carbonic anhydrase IX which is expressed in hypoxic tissue, a result of abherrant vasculature. 680 nm (24 h) Kidneys In vivo/ex vivo; flow cytometry; in vitro microscopy
IVISense Tomato Lectin Targeted; fluorescent Binds to tomato lectin, a well-known tool for studying for studying tumor angiogenesis and measuring microvessel density. This Probe provides direct labeling of the vascular endothelial cells. 680 nm (6 h) Overall vascular background In vivo/ex vivo; flow cytometry; in vitro microscopy
IVISense Vascular Vascular; fluorescent A high molecular weight Probe with a moderate blood half-life (7 hours), used to assess vascular leak, with ideal imaging times of 24 hours post-injection. 680 nm (24 hours) 
750 nm (24 hours)
Low liver lung In vivo/ex vivo; flow cytometry; in vitro microscopy
IVISense Vascular NP Vascular; fluorescent Pegylated fluorescent nanoparticles that remain localized in the vasculature for extended periods of time and enable imaging of blood vessels and angiogenesis 680 nm (0 - 4 hours) Long term tissue accumulation In vivo
IVISense Edema Vascular; fluorescent Blood pooling Probe 680 nm (0.5 - 24 h) Bladder In vivo


 

Apoptosis
Probe Probe Type Probe Mechanism Available Wavelengths and optimal in vivo imaging time (post-injection) Route of metabolism/ background tissue(s) Validated imaging methods*
IVISense Annexin-V Targeted; fluorescent Labels cells that are undergoing the early stages of apoptosis 750 nm (2 h) Kidneys (high), liver In vivo/Ex vivo, Flow cytometry, In vitro microscopy


 

Tumor growth
Probe Probe Type Probe Mechanism Available Wavelengths and optimal in vivo imaging time (post-injection) Route of metabolism/ background tissue(s) Validated imaging methods*
IVISense Cat B FAST Activatable; fluorescent Produces fluorescent signal after cleavage by Cathepsin B produced by tumor cells 680: 6-24 hours 
750: 6-24 hours
Salivary glands, liver, kidneys In vivo, flow cyometry, in vitro cell microscopy, frozen tissue labeling
IVISense MMP Activatable; fluorescent Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-activatable Probe that produces fluorescent signal after cleavage by disease related MMP’s. MMP activity is involved in many disease-related processes including cancer progression, invasion and metastasis. 645 FAST*: 24 h (6-24 h) 
680: 24 h (24-36 h) 
750 FAST*: 12 h (12-24 h)
Liver, kidneys (645 FAST, 750 FAST) 
Liver only (680)
In vivo
IVISense Pan Cathepsin Activatable; fluorescent Activated by key disease associated proteases such as Cathepsin B, L, S and Plasmin. Can be used as a marker for disease progression in animal tumor models 680: 24 h (24-48 h) 
750: 24 h 
750 FAST*: 6-24 h
Liver (680) 
Low liver (750) 
Low liver, bladder (750 FAST)
In vivo, flow cytometry, in vitro cell microscopy
IVISense Folate Receptor Targeted; fluorescent Highly specific and sensitive in its detection of Folate Receptor alpha (FRA); can be used to closely monitor and quantitate tumor growth and metabolism 680: 6 h (6-24 h) kidneys In vivo, flow cytometry, in vitro cell microscopy, frozen tissue labeling
IVISense Integrin Receptor Targeted; fluorescent Small molecule αvß3 integrin antagonist that contains a NIR fluorophore reporter. This targeted Probe detects increased integrin expression associated with neovasculature, tumors, and some inflammatory cells associated with atherosclerosis. 645 nm (48 h) 
680 nm (24 h) 
750 nm (24 h)
Bladder/kidneys (645 nm) 
Kidneys/intestine (680 nm) 
Kidneys (750 nm)
In vivo/Ex vivo, Flow cytometry, In vitro microscopy
IVISense Transferrin Receptor Targeted; fluorescent Recombinant transferrin conjugated to VivoTag dye; designed to bind to transferrin receptors expressed in cancer cells. 770: 24 h Liver, kidney In vivo, ex vivo, flow cytometry, in vitro cell microscopy, frozen tissue labeling
IVISense Folate Receptor Targeted; fluorescent Highly specific and sensitive in its detection of Folate Receptor alpha (FRA); can be used to closely monitor and quantitate tumor growth and metabolism 680: 6 h (6-24 h) kidneys In vivo, flow cytometry, in vitro cell microscopy, frozen tissue labeling
IVISense Osteo Targeted; fluorescent Bisphosphonate imaging Probe that enables imaging of bone growth and resorption; can be used to measure bone cancer metastasis. 680: 3-24 h 
750: 3-24 h 
800: 3-24 h
Bladder In vivo
IVISense Tomato Lectin Targeted; fluorescent Targets the vasculature and enables imaging of tumor neo-vasculature, characterized by the development of abnormal, leaky and tortuous blood vessels. 680 nm (6 h) Overall vascular background In vivo/ex vivo; flow cytometry; in vitro microscopy
IVISense Vascular Vascular; fluorescent A high molecular weight Probe with a moderate blood half-life (7 hours), used to assess vascular leak, with ideal imaging times of 24 hours post-injection. 680 nm (24 hours) 
750 nm (24 hours)
Low liver lung In vivo/ex vivo; flow cytometry; in vitro microscopy
IVISense Vascular NP Vascular; fluorescent Pegylated fluorescent nanoparticles that remain localized in the vasculature for extended periods of time and enable imaging of blood vessels and angiogenesis 680 nm (0 - 4 hours) Long term tissue accumulation In vivo
IVISense Edema Vascular; fluorescent Blood pooling Probe 680 nm (0.5 - 24 hours) Bladder In vivo
IVISbriteTM Bioluminescent Tumor Cell Lines Bioluminescence or dual bioluminescence/ fluorescence IVISbrite Bioluminescent Tumor Cell Lines are stably transfected with a luciferase (luc or luc2) reporter gene that allows you to visualize the growth of the cells in vivo. The cell lines are injected into an appropriate mouse model to monitor early tumor development, monitor tumor growth and metastases, quantify tumor burden in a whole animal model, and follow therapeutic responses non-invasively. n/a   In vivo, ex vivo (dual)


 

Metastasis
Probe Probe Type Probe Mechanism Available Wavelengths and optimal in vivo imaging time (post-injection) Route of metabolism/ background tissue(s) Validated imaging methods*
IVISense 2-DG 750 Targeted; fluorescent In vivo targeting of tumors that typically exhibit elevated glucose uptake rate in comparison to surrounding tissues 820: 3 h 
 
Bladder In vivo
IVISense MMP Activatable; fluorescent Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-activatable Probe that produces fluorescent signal after cleavage by disease related MMP’s. MMP activity is involved in many disease-related processes including cancer progression, invasion and metastasis. 645 FAST*: 24 h (6-24 h) 
680: 24 h (24-36 h) 
750 FAST*: 12 h (12-24 h)
Liver, kidneys (645 FAST, 750 FAST) 
Liver only (680)
In vivo
IVISense Osteo Targeted; fluorescent Bisphosphonate imaging Probe that enables imaging of bone growth and resorption; can be used to measure bone cancer metastasis. 680: 3-24 h 
750: 3-24 h 
800: 3-24 h
Bladder In vivo
IVISbrite Bioluminescent Tumor Cell Lines Bioluminescence or dual bioluminescence/ fluorescence IVISbrite Bioluminescent Tumor Cell Lines are stably transfected with a luciferase (luc or luc2) reporter gene that allows you to visualize the growth of the cells in vivo. The cell lines are injected into an appropriate mouse model to monitor early tumor development, monitor tumor growth and metastases, quantify tumor burden in a whole animal model, and follow therapeutic responses non-invasively. n/a   In vivo, ex vivo (dual) 
 


 

Hypoxia
Probe Probe Type Probe Mechanism Available Wavelengths and optimal in vivo imaging time (post-injection) Route of metabolism/ background tissue(s) Validated imaging methods*
IVISense Hypoxia CA IX Targeted; fluorescent Detects the tumor cell surface expression of carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA IX) protein, which increases in hypoxic regions within many tumors, especially in cervical, colorectal, non-small cell lung tumors 680: 24 h Kidney In vivo, flow cytometry, in vitro cell microscopy, frozen tissue labeling


 

Vasculature
Probe Probe Type Probe Mechanism Available Wavelengths and optimal in vivo imaging time (post-injection) Route of metabolism/ background tissue(s) Validated imaging methods*
IVISense Vascular Vascular; fluorescent A high molecular weight Probe with a moderate blood half-life (7 hours), used to assess vascular leak, with ideal imaging times of 24 hours post-injection. 680 nm (24 hours) 
750 nm (24 hours)
Low liver lung In vivo/ex vivo; flow cytometry; in vitro microscopy
IVISense Vascular NP Vascular; fluorescent Pegylated fluorescent nanoparticles that remain localized in the vasculature for extended periods of time and enable imaging of blood vessels and angiogenesis 680 nm (0 - 4 hours) Long term tissue accumulation In vivo
IVISense Cat B FAST Activatable; fluorescent   680: 6-24 hours, 750: 6-24 hours Salivary glands, liver, kidneys In vivo, flow cyometry, in vitro cell microscopy, frozen tissue labeling
IVISense Integrin Receptor Targeted; fluorescent Small molecule αvß3 integrin antagonist that contains a NIR fluorophore reporter. This targeted Probe detects increased integrin expression associated with neovasculature, tumors, and some inflammatory cells associated with atherosclerosis. 645 nm (48 h) 
680 nm (24 h) 
750 nm (24 h)
Bladder/kidneys (645 nm) 
Kidneys/intestine (680 nm) 
Kidneys (750 nm)
In vivo/Ex vivo, Flow cytometry, In vitro microscopy
IVISense Edema Vascular; fluorescent Blood pooling Probe 680 nm (0.5 - 24 h) Bladder In vivo
Choosing the right probe

When choosing a probe for acute inflammation studies, several factors should be taken into consideration:

  • Fluorescent vs. chemiluminscent probes: Be sure to choose the proper Probe for your instrumentation. Some imagers can measure both chemiluminescence and fluorescence, while others can only measure one or the other.  
  • Dye excitation/emission wavelength: Some fluorescent Probes are available with excitation wavelengths that range from 645 nm to 800 nm. Be sure to pick a wavelength that is appropriate for both your instrument and application. Most microscopes filters are not suitable for wavelengths above 680 nm.  However deep tissue imaging typically has less background fluorescence and works better with longer wavelengths (750 nm- 800 nm).  
  • Probe clearance time is typically faster for activatable Probes (particularly the FAST™ platform) which allows for re-injection after shorter time periods.  
  • Probe specificity: For targeted and activatable Probes, it is important to remember that the protein or enzyme that the Probe is targeting needs to be present and well expressed in your mouse model.  
  • In vivo distribution: Some Probes might accumulate in organs at timepoints which could interfere with your study. Be sure to check the biodistribution profile of each Probe of interest.  
  • Type of imaging required for your study: Vascular Probes for example, while useful in assessing vascularity changes in the mouse, do not make good Probes for in vitro cell imaging or tissue analysis. If these types of analyses are desired, targeted or activatable Probes might be a better choice for you. 

Application notes and posters

  • Poster: Non-Invasive Near-Infrared Quantitative Tomography and Probes for Quantification of Early Anti-Angiogenic Treatment Efficacy  
  • Poster: Quantifying Syngeneic Breast Cancer Metastasis to the Lung and Response to Therapy Using Fluorescence Molecular Tomography (FMT)  
  • Poster: Non-invasive FMT quantification of folate receptor expression in mouse tumor xenografts with a new near-infrared fluorescent folate Probe  
  • Poster: In vivo imaging of tumor hypoxia by a new near-infrared fluorescent carbonic anhydrase IX-targeted Probe  
  • Poster: In Vivo Quantification of Integrin-Targeted and Protease-Activated Imaging Probes in Response to Anti-Angiogenic Therapy using Quantitative Fluorescence Tomography 

For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

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