Researcher: Melissa Cadena
Summary
Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) is a powerful immunotherapy that harnesses a patient’s own immune cells to target and destroy cancer. While effective in some cases, one of the main challenges with this treatment is the lack of noninvasive ways to see how tumors and lymph nodes change during therapy. Current methods, like histology and flow cytometry, require tissue collection and only give endpoint information. To address this, we are developing ultrasound and photoacoustic (US/PA) imaging approaches that allow real-time, repeated monitoring of tumor and lymph node changes in living subjects.
Methods
In this project, mice were implanted with tumors (B16-OVA and B16-F10) and treated with ACT using OT-I T cells delivered intravenously. Ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging were performed at multiple time points before and after treatment. B-mode ultrasound measured tumor size, photoacoustic imaging quantified oxygen saturation, and Doppler techniques measured vascular density, blood flow, and perfusion. Together, these imaging tools provided both structural and functional information during therapy.
Results and Impact
With this approach, US/PA imaging detected changes in oxygen saturation, hemoglobin levels, and vascular remodeling in tumors treated with ACT, as well as changes in blood flow in draining lymph nodes. These findings show that ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging can provide a noninvasive way to track tumor response and immune activity over time. This work highlights the potential of US/PA imaging to improve how ACT is monitored, guide treatment decisions, and support the translation of immunotherapy into the clinic.