Professor Gigin Lin and his team from the Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital have developed an "Immune Precision Metabolic Imaging System." This system utilizes hyperpolarized carbon-13 magnetic resonance imaging (HP 13C MRI) to provide real-time imaging and precise measurement of cellular metabolic flux without radiation and in a non-invasive manner. Additionally, it allows monitoring of the immune activation response in cervical cancer patients following radiation therapy.

Breaking the Limitations of Traditional Imaging: Real-Time Insights into Cellular Dynamics

Current medical imaging technologies, such as computed tomography (CT), primarily focus on anatomical structures or blood flow changes. However, they lack the ability to capture real-time changes in cellular metabolic flux, limiting their usefulness in evaluating and adjusting treatment outcomes.

The Immune Precision Metabolic Imaging System employs Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) technology, where microwave irradiation is used to induce hyperpolarization in carbon-13 labeled pyruvate, enhancing the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal by 100,000 times. Pyruvate, a critical molecule in many metabolic pathways, is injected into the body, where its metabolic conversion can be tracked dynamically in real-time using hyperpolarized carbon-13. This enables precise observation of cellular metabolic states, assessment of energy demands and metabolic pathway shifts, providing deeper insights into disease progression, treatment efficacy, and even patient prognosis. The system is applicable to various cancers and other diseases requiring metabolic monitoring and research.

Advantages of This Technology:

-No Radiation: Enhances MRI signals using dynamic nuclear polarization, allowing direct measurement of cellular metabolic flux without radiation exposure.

-Real-Time Imaging: Provides dynamic monitoring of metabolic processes, offering real-time information.

-High Sensitivity: Signal enhancement by 100,000 times significantly boosts detection capabilities.

Expanding Applications: Leading the New Era of Precision Medicine

Professor Gigin Lin stated that this technology has already been successfully applied in clinical research, demonstrating its effectiveness in monitoring immune activation in cervical cancer patients post-radiation therapy. The team is actively working to expand its application to other cancer types and conditions involving significant metabolic changes, such as organ transplantation, heart disease, and neuromuscular disorders. They also aim to develop it into a powerful tool for drug development, particularly in supporting immunotherapy by directly measuring the impact of drugs on cellular metabolism.

Resource (mandarin): 超極化碳13磁振造影 動態監測細胞代謝評估癌友預後！