Theranostics 2012; 2(4):355-362. doi:10.7150/thno.3903 This issue Cite
Review
Departments of Pathology-Tumor Biology, Cancer Biology, Microbiology & Immunology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157-1092, USA
Immune responses to cancer are dynamic processes which take place through the concerted activity of innate and adaptive cell populations. In order to fully understand the efficacy of immune therapies for cancer, it is critical to understand how the treatment modulates the function of each cell type involved in the anti-tumor immune response. Molecular imaging is a versatile method for longitudinal studies of cellular localization and function. The development of reporter genes for tracking cell movement and function was a powerful addition to the immunologist's toolbox. This review will highlight the advances and challenges in the use of reporter gene imaging to track immune cell localization and function in cancer.
Keywords: reporter gene imaging, immune responses, cancer