Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world (cite 1). It is a disease that is caused by genetic changes due to either hereditary disorders or alterations caused by stress from one’s environment. Once these variations have occurred at a molecular level, they are then seen at the anatomic level. Understanding these genetic changes that occur in cancer cells and their properties will enable us to improve early detection of cancer diagnosis and develop an effective treatment plan (source: in vivo photoacoustic molecular imaging with simultaneous). Giving us the opportunity to further improve gene therapy. Having the capability to visualize the gene expression could significantly impact cancer research, but all so the future of medicine. …show more content…
PAT is an imaging modality that uses a combination of light and sound to produce an image. A laser is normally used as a light source to emit light into the body. That light is absorbed by the molecules in the area causing thermo-elastic expansion. This mechanical response causes a pressure change, leading to propagating ultrasonic waves that are received by an ultrasound transducer; which can then be processed to generate an image. These images not only map out the structural composition, but the functional, molecular, and metabolism information as well. The contrast of the image is due to optical absorption of the molecules. According to Kim et al. (2010) current imaging technologies for gene expression such as positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), optical coherence tomography, and confocal microscopy, are limited by light scattering, imaging depth, spatial and temporal resolution, and time. These limitations make it difficult to further the progress of research in the field. A review conducted by Wang and Hu (2012) proving that PAT is able to overcome these limitations. Its imaging depth is able to go deeper in biological tissue, has better spatial and temporal resolution, and short imaging processing time; making it an ideal method of imaging within the cancer research