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Abstract:
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Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancers diagnosed among North American men . Chemotherapy is generally used to target advanced metastatic prostate cancer . Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS ) has been previously investigated to monitor the hemodynamic changes in rat prostate tumors ; however , the previous study with NIRS is limited by its spatial resolution . The goal of this study is to characterize an NIR , CCD imager and to explore the feasibility of using the CCD imager to non -invasively monitor hemodynamic changes in rat prostate tumors during gas intervention . Firstly , studies were conducted to characterize the CCD imager and understand the propagation of photons through simulated tissue phantoms . These results aid our understanding of light propagation through a uniform medium and detection of photons by the NIR , CCD imager . Secondly , experiments were performed to study the feasibility of the imager to monitor hemodynamic changes in rat prostate tumors during gas intervention . Adult male Copenhagen rats implanted with prostate carcinoma on the fore back were used in this study . Cyclophosphamide , a chemotherapeutic agent , was administered to treat the rat prostate tumors , and pure oxygen was used as gas intervention to introduce hemodynamic perturbation in the tumors during the measurements . After the CCD images were taken at multiple NIR wavelengths , for comparison with the previous records , the images were processed and integrated to provide global temporal files of various hemodynamic parameters for three different groups of rats . A few topographic hemodynamic maps were also obtained , showing spatial heterogeneity within the tumors . The animal experimental results also support the efficacy of cyclophosphamide to be effective in inhibiting the growth of prostate carcinoma . Furthermore , the animal data reveals possible experimental sources causing instability of the measured NIR signals . Overall , this initial study basically demonstrates the feasibility of using a multi -wavelength NIR CCD imager for non -invasively monitoring tumor regional hemodynamics . |