NICE, France, Sept. 10, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cellvizio(r) in vivo cellular imaging technology is helping researchers better understand the cellular dynamics of stem cell development and the relationship between blood clots and cancer, as well as enhance the value of whole body imaging, according to three new animal studies being presented this week at the September 10-13 World Molecular Imaging Congress in Nice, France.
"These new studies aptly demonstrate Cellvizio's utility in advancing the field of molecular imaging which can be applied to improving patient care in the future," said Sacha Loiseau, president and founder of Mauna Kea Technologies, which developed and markets Cellvizio.
Overview of Presentations
Stem Cell Development: Daniel Lewandowski and colleagues from the French Atomic Energy Commission in Fontenay aux roses, France, demonstrated that with Cellvizio they were able to view live in vivo the cellular dynamics of somatic stem cell development without interfering in the process. This is one of most promising techniques for in vivo tracking of somatic stem cells and could lead to valuable insights for improving the success of bone marrow transplants.
Cancer and Blot Clots: Using Cellvizio, Grace Thomas and colleagues from the Center of Research in Biological Oncology and Oncopharmacology in Marseille, France, demonstrated that the development of a cancerous tumor directly influences kinetics of blood clot formation in vivo. Through in vivo cellular imaging of platelets and leukocytes with Cellvizio, they were able to observe that times to blockage of veins and arteries were all significantly reduced in mice developing a tumor in comparison with those observed in control mice. These results may provide insights on how to prevent the risk of blood clot complications associated with cancer.
Whole Body Imaging: Carine Pestourie and colleagues from the French Atomic Energy Commission in France showed that the combination of whole body imaging systems such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Cellvizio provides a new tool to monitor quantitatively and dynamically the in vivo distribution of compounds, such as Quantum Dots, from whole body to cellular scales with low invasiveness. Such a combination could be used in the future to better diagnose human pathologies.
Cellvizio May Increase Pancreatic Cancer Detection Rates
In addition, two recently published studies on Cellvizio imaging of pancreatic cancer describe the targeted molecular imaging approach and vascular monitoring method developed, respectively, by Ken Young Lin and colleagues at the Center for Molecular Imaging Research in Boston and Johannes von Burstin and colleagues at the Technical University of Munich. These methods promise to substantially increase the detection rates of early-stage pancreatic cancer. Because early diagnosis and therapy response evaluation are the prerequisite for curative surgery, the presented translational results offer the prospect of improving overall survival of pancreatic cancer patients. The first study was published in the July 2008 issue of Translational Oncology and the second appeared in the August 15 issue of International Journal of Cancer.
About Mauna Kea Technologies:
Mauna Kea Technologies leads the growing in vivo cellular imaging market enabling physicians to visualize, diagnose and treat pathologies that can not be seen using other imaging techniques. The Cellvizio(r) system provides microscopic visualization of mucosal tissue and improves clinical outcomes by increasing the diagnostic yield of existing endoscopic procedures. The company is currently focused on the gastroenterology and pulmonology markets. It plans to expand into other markets and diseases indications in the future and also has a distribution agreement with Leica Microsystems to sell products for the Small Animal Imaging market in Europe, the U.S. and Japan.
For more information about Cellvizio, go to: www.cellvizio.com.
Cellvizio WMIC Presentation Times and Locations: Title: In vivo cellular imaging of adult hematopoietic reconstitution Lead author: Daniel Lewandowski, CEA/DSV/iRCM Fontenay aux roses, France Session number: P07 Session title: Stem cells and tissue regeneration Session type: Poster session 1 Presentation number: 1081 Date: September 11, 2008 Time: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. local time Location: Agora 3 Title: In vivo imaging of cancer cells, platelets and leukocytes participating to thrombus formation in mice Lead author: Grace M. Thomas, INSERM UMR911, Centre de Recherchen en Oncologie Biologique et Oncopharmacologie (CR02), Marseille, France Session number: P29 Session title: Animal Models of Diseases Session type: Poster Session 3 Presentation number: 0921 Date: September 13, 2008 Time: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. local time Location: Agora 3 Title: In vivo imaging of 2'fluoropyrimidine-RNA aptamers Lead author: Carine Pestourie, CEA 12BM, SHFJ, LIME, INSERM U803, France Session number: P32 Session title: Advances in PET/SPECT Probes Session type: Poster Session 3 Presentation number: 1708 Date: September 13, 2008 Time: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. local time Location: Les Muses