'Omics'-based imaging in cancer detection and therapy

Genomics, proteomics and metabolomics, which can be also summarized as ‘omics’, have become increasingly inter-related with imaging. Gene expression profiling may be assessed using high-density microarrays for the detection of overexpression patterns, followed by the development of histochemical assays. Next, antibodies to the gene-corresponding proteins (for example, receptors) can be produced, leading to serum immunoassays for follow-up, as well as antibody-guided in vivo imaging or therapy. In vivo imaging for cancer detection and/or therapy can be performed by applying nonlabeled antibodies, by using radiolabeled antibodies for detection using single-photon tomography or positron emission tomography (PET), or by other tracers, for example, for magnetic resonance imaging tomography (MRI, MRT). Protein profiles from protein chips can be derived from mass maps obtained through mass spectrometry (MS). Electrophoretic separation of proteins has also been combined with MS to produce a two-dimensional assign...