Noninvasive Identification of Viable Cell Populations in Docetaxel-Treated Breast Tumors Using Ferritin-Based Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052931
• Publication Date: 2013-01-03T01:03:27Z
• Authors: YoonSeok Choi; Hoe Suk Kim; Kyoung-Won Cho; Kyung-Min Lee; Yoon Jung Yi; Sung-Jong Eun; Hyun Jin Kim; Jisu Woo; Seung Hong Choi; Taeg-Keun Whangbo; ChulSoo Choi; Dong-Young Noh; Woo Kyung Moon
• Keywords: CD24

Background Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are highly tumorigenic and responsible for tumor progression chemoresistance. Noninvasive imaging methods the visualization of CSC populations within tumors in vivo will have a considerable impact on development new CSC-targeting therapeutics. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, human breast cancer (BCSCs) transduced with dual reporter genes (human ferritin heavy chain [FTH] enhanced green fluorescence protein [EGFP]) were transplanted into NOD/SCID mice to allow noninvasive tracking BCSC-derived populations. No changes properties BCSCs observed due overexpression. Magnetic resonance (MRI) revealed significantly different signal intensities (R2* values) between FTH-BCSCs vitro vivo. addition, distinct pixels high R2* values detected docetaxel-treated FTH-BCSC compared control tumors, even before sizes changed. Histological analysis that areas showing by MRI contained EGFP+/FTH+ viable cell percentages CD44+/CD24− cells. Conclusions/Significance These findings suggest ferritin-based MRI, which provides spatial resolution tissue contrast, can be used as reliable method identify derived from after chemotherapy may serve tool monitor efficacy therapies