Digital Imaging of pO2 for squamous cell carcinoma in vivo and vitro

Introduction The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) is an important indicator of normal cell function.

The presented study shows data from fluorescence imaging applications for two dimensional determination of OCR. Using a camera with microscopic view (MIC), cancer cells were visualized with respect to their oxygen consumption. Aim of the further investigations is now to transfer this technology from bench to bedside to distinguish cancer from healthy tissue.

Methods Using a previously described prototype, OCR was evaluted in co-cultures (n=6) of tumor cells (FaDu, Kyse, Cal 33) and healthy cells (human fibroblast). The cells were seeded into 2-well culture plates with ibidi-inserts.

Additional measurements with a handheld camera (VisiSens, Presens, Regensburg, Germany) were performed on patients suffering from squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and the floor of the mouth. OCR was evaluted over the time.

Results After cell adherence (8-12h), the inserts were removed and O2 measurements initiated. It was possible to detect significant differences of OCR in cell lines of squamous cell carcinoma and normal fibroblasts.

The time series (15 pictures with10s intervalls) from cancer patients were determined from regions of interest (ROI). The evaluation of data was performed over the time and visualized as plot. Those data show that also in vivo, O2 measurements are suitable to determine differences between tumor and healthy tissues.

Conclusion The OCR in tumor cells is higher than in healthy cells due to the switch in glycolisis.

The presented data confirm this hypothesis and show that OCR is suitable to distinguish between healthy and cancer tissue, in vitro and in vivo.

Publication History

Article published online:
24 May 2022