Caliper, contrast enhanced-ultrasound (CEUS) or laser speckle contrast
imaging (LSCI): techniques to follow mice melanoma growth
Abstract
Metastatic melanoma is a cancer for which vascularization is not a
diagnostic criterion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
applicabilities of laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) and contrast
enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in a mouse-model. B16F10 cells were
xenografted to C57BL/6 mice. Mice were treated with anti-PD1 or 0.9%
NaCl and tumor volume was measured daily. CEUS and LSCI were performed
weekly. No difference in tumor growth or median survival were observed
between treated and no-treaated mice. No significant difference in tumor
volume measurement comparing caliper and CEUS was observed. LSCI and
CEUS analyses showed a decrease in tumor perfusion in both groups of
mice. Although both CEUS and LSCI are useful for measuring tumor volume,
LSCI appears to be more robust and effective for monitoring tumor
microcirculation. Non-invasive investigations are needed to better
predict tumor vascularization: CEUS and LSCI have a good applicability
in a mice model.