Small animal imaging is increasingly recognized as an important facet of preclinical and translational cancer research. Among the most significant advantages of imaging experimental lab animals is that pathology, physiology and novel phenotypes are observed in an intact, living system. For example, xenograph mouse cancer models are simple to develop, but are not considered particularly useful to understand molecular interactions involved with carcinogenesis.
Another important consideration of in-vivo imaging is fewer animals are needed to acquire data and achieve results, thus tremendously reducing animal use and the costs associated with animals and housing, especially genetically manipulated mice. Innumerable data points can be collected from the same animal, therefore more accurately mimicking a clinical study. An already important biological study can leap forward when its results can be extended into the in-vivo case, often a necessary and sufficient precondition for clinical success.
