Grant: Operating Grant

We propose to use a newly-developed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast mechanism, 'chemical exchange saturation transfer' (CEST), to study tumour progression and response to therapy. The contrast in CEST images reflects the exchange of protons attached to biologically-relevant molecules such as proteins, peptides, sugars, and lipids with freely moving water molecules. Consequently, CEST is sensitive to the changing environment of the tumour cells, such as increases in mobile proteins with tumour proliferation or changes in pH which could occur if the cells are not adequately close to a blood supply or upon cell death. We will explore this versatile imaging method in an animal study, in which animals will be implanted with tumours and then monitored by CEST MRI before and after treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Once the animal protocol has been optimized, we will make a transition into a clinical study of cancer treatment.