In Vivo Cell Tracking Using Micron-Sized Iron Oxide Particle (MPIO) Labeling in Rat Model of Liver Tumor Metastasis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and aggressive human malignancies with high rate of recurrence and extrahepatic metastases that spread to other parts of the body. To improve prognosis and treatment of HCC, information regarding the biology of metastasis of this disease must be determined. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with the use of iron-containing contrast agents such as micron-sized iron oxide particles (MPIOs), is a suitable candidate to monitor the growth and metastasis of cancer cells longitudinally and noninvasively. In this study, we illustrated the feasibility of detecting and tracking of MPIO-labeled hepatoma cells injected via portal vein in a rat model of liver tumor metastasis