Visualization, quantification and therapeutic evaluation of angiogenic vessels in cancer by synchrotron microangiography

The usefulness of a synchrotron microangiography system for depicting, quan titating and therapeutically evaluating angiogenic vessels in cancer is ill ustrated. In 20 mice transplanted with murine colon cancer, sequential chan ges in the angiogenic vessels were determined by using synchrotron microang iography, using changes in tumor volume for reference. This system allowed the depiction and quantification of angiogenic vessels in the period from o ne to four weeks after transplantation. The effects of antiangiogenic thera py were evaluated by using a neutralizing antibody against vascular endothe lial growth factor. The neutralizing antibody partially suppressed angiogen esis and tumor growth. Synchrotron microangiography is shown to be useful f or the depiction, quantification and evaluation of angiogenic vessels in ca ncer.