Giselle Alexandra Suero Abreu1,
Benjamin B. Bartelle1,
1 Skirbal
Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, NYU
School of Medicine, New York, USA; 2Skirbal Institute of
Biomolecular Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, New York, USA; 3Radiology
Department, NYU School of Medicine,
New York, NY, USA
Angiogenesis is a critical feature of tumor growth and metastasis, and endothelial cell activation represents one of its main biomarkers. Molecular imaging represents an unique tool for in vivo visualization of the specific abnormalities underlying tumor development. We utilized novel transgenic mice, Ts-Biotag, that genetically biotinylate developing vascular endothelial cells expressing Tie2, and targeted these cells with multiple avidinated probes to achieve contrast enhancement of vessels involved in angiogenesis in a mouse melanoma model. Ts-Biotag mouse melanomas showed selective labeling of neovasculature and has the potential to provide spatiotemporal information about tumor angiogenesis and its relationship to specific disease stages.