Radioimaging of Activated T Cells in Preclinical and Clinical Cancer Investigations

This chapter is meant to present readers with detailed accounts of studies that have used either directly labeled or indirectly labeled activated T cells to gain insights into the complex nature of cancer immunotherapy (CIT). The goal of CIT is to achieve specific tumor cell eradication while imposing minimal systemic toxicity. Yet, the high cost of CIT and the challenges associated with patient stratification present clinicians with significant hurdles. The use of combined CITs further elevates the level of complexity of these cellular interactions. The complex nature of CIT, thus, demands a clear understanding of how immune cell functions and migration patterns relate to treatment effectiveness. The goal of T cell tracking investigations, therefore, is to provide accurate insights for linking migration patterns of activated T cells to clinical therapeutic outcomes. Moreover, accurate assessments of T cell migration and function during the course of CIT may allow clinicians to develop methods for stratifying patient populations and selecting ideal treatments.