Supporting data for "Development of a NPC tumor model platform for quantitative evaluation of 18F-FDG on a microPET/MRI system"

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most prevalent malignant diseases in southern China. Despite most NPC is sensitive to radiation therapy, the recurrent rate is high. Therefore, investigations of novel therapy in NPC tumor models are still needed. To choose appropriate models for assessment of novel therapies, it is necessary to have a comprehensive understanding of the tumor growth characteristics and metabolism. 

MicroPET/MRI is a novel imaging modality that has been increasingly used in preclinical and translational studies due to the advantages of excellent soft tissue contrast and functional information. 

In this thesis, we aim to establish a NPC animal model PET/MR imaging platform and demonstrate the preclinical value of this platform in monitoring tumor growth and for treatment response assessment. Our results demonstrated the ability of microPET/MR to produce reliable and robust results in healthy mice and multiple animal models. We established a powerful investigation platform for these well-characterized NPC tumor models that will facilitate novel drug discovery and evaluation of NPC translational studies.