Comparing contrast-enhanced ultrasound to immunohistochemical markers of angiogenesis in a @entity1 XXXX xenograft model: preliminary results.

@entity1 @entity7 @entity5 @entity19 @entity2279 @entity540 @entity3840 @entity320
This study compared contrast-enhanced ultrasound (US) measures of @entity5 with molecular markers of angiogenesis in a @entity1 @entity320 xenograft model. A total of 14 @entity19 were implanted with a @entity1 @entity320 cell line (WM-9) in the thigh. After 2 to 3 weeks, a @entity5 , approximately 12 mm in diameter, developed. The US contrast agent Optison (Mallinckrodt, St. Louis, MO) was injected in a tail vein (dose: 0.4 to 0.6 mL/kg). Power Doppler and pulse-inversion harmonic imaging (HI) were performed with an Elegra scanner (Siemens Medical Systems, Issaquah, WA) and a 7.5 MHz linear array. Frame-rates of 30 Hz and 0.5 Hz (intermittent imaging) were used for pulse-inversion HI. After surgical removal, specimens were sectioned in the same planes as the US images. Immunohistochemical stains for endothelial cells ( @entity2279 ), @entity7 ( @entity7 ), @entity540 ( @entity540 ) and @entity3840 ( @entity3840 ) were performed. Two observers graded the stains (for intensity and percent area), and two other observers graded the US imaging modes (for fractional @entity5 ) on the same scale from 0 to 3. Of the 14 @entity19 , 4 failed for technical reasons (i.e., n = 10). Linear regressions indicated statistically significant correlations between percent area stained with @entity3840 and power Doppler (r = -0.789; p < 0.01), as well as intermittent pulse-inversion HI (r = -0.795; p < 0.05). There was a trend toward significance between percent area stained with @entity7 and intermittent pulse-inversion HI (r = -0.720; 0.05 < p < 0.10). No other comparisons were significant. In conclusion, contrast-enhanced US measures of @entity5 in a @entity1 @entity320 xenograft model appear to provide a noninvasive marker of angiogenesis corresponding to expression of @entity3840 . However, the sample size of this study is small and, until further studies have been conducted, these conclusions are preliminary.
