Ashley V Makela1,2, Jeffrey M Gaudet1,2, and Paula J Foster1,2
1Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada, 2Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
Tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) are correlated with an aggressive tumour type and poor outcomes. This study is the first time iron and fluorine-19 (19F) based MRI cell tracking methods have been compared for the detection and quantification of TAMs in an orthotopic model of breast cancer. Imaging was performed at 4 days and 3 weeks post cell implantation. Both cell tracking methods showed a much higher TAM density at 4 days; no other imaging study has examined this at such an early time point. 19F MRI provided quantitative information about TAM density and tumoural distribution that was not possible with iron.
