Assessment of angiogenesis: implications for ultrasound imaging

• Published in: Ultrasonics 2004-04, Vol.42 (1), p.325-330
• Main Authors: Forsberg, F., Ro, R.J., Potoczek, M., Liu, J.B., Merritt, C.R.B., James, K.M., Dicker, A.P., Nazarian, L.N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acoustics; Angiogenesis; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - pharmacology; Angiostatins - pharmacology; Animals; Contrast enhanced ultrasound imaging; Contrast Media; Cyclooxygenase 2; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Human anti-angiogenesis therapy; Humans; Isoenzymes - analysis; Linear Models; Melanoma, Experimental - blood; Melanoma, Experimental - blood supply; Melanoma, Experimental - diagnostic imaging; Membrane Proteins; Mice; Mice, Nude; Models, Animal; Murine xenograft models; Neovascularization, Pathologic - diagnostic imaging; Neovascularization, Pathologic - drug therapy; Physics; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases - analysis; Pulse inversion harmonic imaging; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ultrasonics, quantum acoustics, and physical effects of sound; Ultrasonography; Ultrasonography, Doppler; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - analysis; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
• ISSN: 0041-624X; 1874-9968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2003.12.026

In this paper, the fundamentals of tumor angiogenesis and the implications for ultrasound imaging will be described. Twenty-eight athymic nude mice were implanted with the human melanoma cell lines DB-1 or MW-9 (14 mice/group). Ultrasound contrast agents were injected in the tail veins. Power Doppler and pulse inversion harmonic imaging (PI-HI) was performed (in real time and intermittently). Ultrasound results were compared to immunohistochemical stains for endothelial cells (CD31), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Linear regression analysis indicated statistically significant correlations between percent area stained with COX-2 and with VEGF relative to power Doppler ( p