In vivo molecular imaging of gastric cancer by targeting MG7 antigen with confocal laser endomicroscopy.

Background and study aims: In vivo molecular imaging represents a powerful tool for the immediate diagnosis of gastric cancer. In this study, the monoclonal antibody MG7, which is a specific molecular marker against gastric cancer, was labeled with fluorescent agents to enable in vivo real-time imaging by confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE). Patients and methods: In vivo molecular imaging was performed in tumor-bearing mice from two kinds of human gastric cancer cell lines. Xenograft tumors were visualized in vivo first with a whole-body fluorescent imaging device and then by CLE using fluorescently labeled MG7 antibody. Gastric cancerous tissue and noncancerous mucosa from human biopsies o…