Tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) have been associated with tumour aggressiveness, including tumour growth and metastatic potential. 19F-based MRI is used in this study to track these cells in vivo, revealing the ability to differentiate TAM content between 3 murine models of breast cancer. Highly aggressive tumours had significantly higher 19F signal when compared to the low and non aggressive variants. This information may be of use as a biomarker, to differentiate between tumours with high infiltration of TAMs, which have the propensity to metastasize and progress quicker, versus tumours with less TAMs, which may not advance as quickly.
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