Johns Hopkins progresses on a research initiative for a five- year period with a group of cancer imaging specialists to hasten the improvement of early detection, diagnosis and advanced, innovative treatments for prostate, breast, and other widespread cancers.
Johns Hopkins In-Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Center (ICMIC), along with its team employs the formerly used advanced imaging tools to discover new early detection methods for cancers existing in cells, its prevention and elimination before spreading to other organs and tissues.
A new phase of ICMIC experiments was conducted by researchers Zaver Bhujwalla, and Pomper who formulated the theranostic imaging for prostate cancer. The Hopkins team used a combination of magnetic resonance scanning and SPECT , along with laser or optical-guided imaging in order to detect malignant prostate cells by focusing on an exclusive protein present on the external layer of the cell. Detection of professed prostate-specific membrane antigens (PSMAs), led to the discovery of a chemically labeled drug which facilitates tracking while being absorbed into tumors.
Researcher Richard Ambinder, in another project, applies theranostic imaging for Kaposi’s sarcoma. Involving PET scans, he intends to direct a viral-activated drug called bortezomib, to destroy tumor cells.
Other researchers, Dmitri Artemov and Peter van Zijl will consider magnetic resonance imaging techniques, for breast cancer analysis. Experiments are conducted with laser imaging by researchers Kristine Glunde and Xingde Li, to analyze collagen fibers in breast cancer tumors. In addition, a series of imaging pilot studies is being conducted, including assessment of the speed of skin cancer progression directed by Steven An; determining the level of tumor shrinkage during pancreatic cancer treatment, led by Anirban Maitra; a study on cancer spreading to the lungs, directed by Phuoc Tran; and novel treatments to preventing spread of kidney cancer to the bones, led by Kristy Weber.