Molecular Imaging in Cancer Studies: A Review

Advancements in cancer imaging are rapidly moving from the detection and size measurement of a lesion to the quantitative assessment of metabolic processes and cellular and molecular interactions. Tumor stroma as an important factor in tumor pathophysiology plays an important role in treatment strategies and targeting the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, successful cancer control requires the study of complex cellular and molecular interactions in cancer tissue. The integration of advances in molecular biology, synthetic chemistry, and imaging techniques has shifted imaging-based diagnosis to molecular function. Therefore, imaging science seeks to find applications in basic science, preclinical, and translational research in cancer. Positron emission tomography, single-photon emission computed tomography, optical imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging are the primary tools being developed for oncologic imaging. These techniques are being developed due to the development of molecular probes that have recently been improved to record in vivo molecular and physiological properties. Herein, we review molecular imaging techniques and common probes in preclinical studies, as well as their application strategies.