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In vivo MRI virtual colonography in a mouse model of colon cancer

Nature Protocols volume 9, pages 2682–2692 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

We have developed a reliable noninvasive method for monitoring colonic tumors and mucosal inflammation in a mouse model of colon cancer using magnetic resonance colonography (MRC). After a mild cleansing enema, the colon is filled with Fluorinert, a perfluorinated liquid that does not produce a proton MR signal. The mouse is placed in a dedicated volume MR receiver coil, and high-resolution images are acquired in three planes. The Fluorinert enema distends the mouse colon, creating an artifact-free black homogeneous background, allowing clear delineation of the inflamed colonic wall and visualization of luminal tumors in various stages of development. A gadolinium-based contrast agent can be administered i.v. to the animal to detect mural inflammation or tumor vascularity. This technique is useful for serial monitoring of the effects of preventive or therapeutic strategies on tumor development without killing the animal or requiring invasive endoscopies. The animal preparation and imaging can be completed in ∼1.5 h.

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Figure 1: Sagittal, coronal and transverse views of the 3D T1w images acquired with different enema media.
Figure 2: Tools setup.
Figure 3: Planning of the 3D slab.
Figure 4: MR images of the mouse colon of healthy and tumor-bearing mice.
Figure 5: Multiplanar reformat package generates transverse and sagittal views of the colon.
Figure 6: Calculation of the volumes of individual tumors with ImageJ.
Figure 7: The digital subtraction of the precontrast and postcontrast T1w images enhances the tumor vascularity, removes the signal from residual stools and improves the sensitivity of the method.
Figure 8

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Acknowledgements

This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the National Cancer Institute, US National Institutes of Health, under contract HHSN261200800001E. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products or organizations imply endorsement by the US Government.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Small Animal Imaging Program, Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA

    Lilia V Ileva, Lisa A Riffle & Joseph D Kalen

  2. Molecular Imaging Program, Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA

    Marcelino Bernardo

  3. Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA

    Matthew R Young

  4. Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, Cancer Imaging Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    James L Tatum

  5. Molecular Imaging Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Peter L Choyke

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  1. Lilia V Ileva
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Contributions

L.V.I. performed the MRC experiments and prepared the manuscript; M.B. designed the imaging protocol, assembled the imaging tools, reconstructed and described the fly-through movie and edited the manuscript; M.R.Y. designed the animal study and edited the manuscript; L.A.R. provided animal support; J.L.T. advised and discussed on the imaging methods; J.D.K. supervised the project and edited the manuscript; P.L.C. developed the project concept and edited the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lilia V Ileva.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Integrated supplementary information

Supplementary Figure 1 MRI equipment setup.

(a) Philips Achieva 3.0T clinical scanner; (b) Mouse solenoid receiver coil with plastic chamber; (c) Mouse imaging bed; and (d) Syringe pumps for contrast media and enema infusion.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Figure 1

MRI equipment setup. (PDF 270 kb)

Fly-through movie.

The 3D image data allow reconstruction of a virtual colonoscopy fly-through movie that enables tumor search inside the walls of the colon. Refer to Box 2 for advice on how to do this. (MOV 9631 kb)

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Ileva, L., Bernardo, M., Young, M. et al. In vivo MRI virtual colonography in a mouse model of colon cancer. Nat Protoc 9, 2682–2692 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2014.178

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