Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Medical Biophysics

Supervisor

Scholl, Timothy J.

2nd Supervisor

Ronald, John A.

Joint Supervisor

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a lethal and incurable disease. The C6 rat model of GBM shares several similarities to human GBM and longitudinal non-invasive imaging may allow tumour features to be studied. In this thesis, a multimodality imaging framework, consisting of bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), was applied to the C6 rat model to characterize the growth of orthotopic tumours. BLI signal, a measure of cell viability, tended to increase and then decrease in the majority of animals, whereas tumour volume (from MRI) continually increased. Cellular viability and tumour volume did not correlate across all days, highlighting the value of using complimentary imaging modalities. Apparent diffusion coefficient maps and immunohistochemistry suggests decreases in BLI signal are in part due to decreased tumour cellularity (i.e. necrosis). This is the first use of BLI and mpMRI to characterize this model, and highlights the inter-subject variability in tumour growth.

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