Melanoma to brain metastasis: Photoacousticmicroscopy

Of skin malignancies, cutaneous melanoma carries the highest mortality due to its metastatic potential. This malignancy is known to metastasize to the brain, often leading to death. The ability to image the growth of melanoma brain metastases in vivo provides new insights into disease progression and response to therapies. We have recently used a reflection-mode photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) system to detect the growth of melanoma brain tumor in a small animal model. B16F10 murine melanoma tumor cells were stereotactically implanted in the brains of several Balb/C mice at the beginning of the study. Then, PAMwas used to scan the region of implantation in the mouse brain, and growth of the melanoma was monitored until the disease became fatal. Results of the study demonstrated that PAMcan be used to accurately detect and monitor melanoma brain metastasis growth noninvasively and transcranially in vivo.