Development and validation of optical imaging tools for advanced preclinical cancer research

The main aim of the current project lies in the development of a novel in vivo preclinical imaging system that allows researchers to study in a non-invasive manner interesting oncology-related parameters as a function of time at an unprecedented sensitivity. To reach this goal, a recently established imaging method called Aka-BLI will be used, in combination with existing probes to enable a rapid and cost-efficient method for high-throughput multiparametric analysis.

In order to achieve the overall aim, the following objectives have been put forward:

- Validate the ability to detect low numbers of therapy-resistant cancer cells as a means to study and predict therapeutic efficacy and factors influencing tumor relapse.

- Validate the ability to detect the onset of EMT and formation of metastases as a function of time.

- Validate the ability to detect cancer stem cells and their viability as a function of time as a means to study and predict therapeutic efficacy of various compounds against general cancer cells and cancer stem cells specifically.