Gash, EN, Schulze, J, Barnett, SE 
ORCID: 0000-0002-3470-7528, Maguire, ML ORCID: 0009-0004-5578-7231, Batie, M, Moothanchery, M ORCID: 0000-0002-6109-3760, Pickup, S, Scott, I ORCID: 0000-0003-1266-9521, Zakaria, R ORCID: 0000-0001-6826-2662, Coulson, JM ORCID: 0000-0003-2191-2001 et al (show 2 more authors)
(2026)
Imaging vascular characteristics and glycolytic metabolism of glioblastoma in a chick embryo model using 1H MRI and [18F]FDG-PET
Molecular Imaging and Biology.
pp. 1-13.
ISSN 1536-1632, 1860-2002
Abstract
Purpose: To assess hypoxia-associated host-tumour vascular adaptations and glycolytic metabolism in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) glioblastoma model. Procedures: U251 GBM cells were conditioned under normoxia (21% O₂) or hypoxia (1% O₂) for 72 h before implantation onto the CAM on embryonic day 7 (E7). Imaging was performed on E13 using MRI (control-CAM n = 8, normoxic-tumour n = 7, hypoxic-tumour n = 6) and brightfield microscopy (control-CAM n = 7, normoxic-tumour n = 8, hypoxic-tumour n = 7). Tumours were harvested on E14 for histology and gene expression analyses. In a separate cohort of 25 GBM-CAM tumours grown under normoxic conditioning, the correlation of glucose metabolism was assessed using [18F]FDG-PET on E12 followed by lactate MRS on E13 (n = 8). Results: Normoxia- and hypoxia-conditioned tumour-bearing CAMs exhibited vascular remodelling and significant upregulation of VEGFA and ADM compared to cultured cells. αSMA staining confirmed vessel infiltration in normoxia-conditioned tumours. CAIX staining revealed a hypoxic core in these tumours while hypoxia-conditioned tumours displayed heterogeneous staining. In both conditions, GLUT1 staining colocalised with CAIX staining, indicating hypoxia-associated glycolysis. GLUT1, PDK1 and LDHA expression was elevated in CAM tumours relative to tumour cells in vitro. In the metabolic imaging cohort, most tumours exhibited [18F]FDG uptake and lactate signal. However, no statistically significant relationship was observed between the two methods. Conclusions: The CAM model provides a versatile platform for investigating GBM vascularisation and metabolism. Hypoxic conditioning amplifies transcriptional and vascular changes to the CAM. Although both [18F]FDG uptake and lactate were measurable, no significant correlation between the two was observed, potentially reflecting variability in tumour engraftment, vascular delivery of [18F]FDG, and microenvironmental influences on lactate accumulation.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Chick chorioallantoic membrane, Glioblastoma, MRI, PET, Metabolism, Vasculature |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology (T&R Staff) Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology > Molecular & Clinical Cancer Medicine Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Tech, Infrastructure & Env Directorate Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Tech, Infrastructure & Env Directorate > Liverpool Shared Research Facilities Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology > Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Mar 2026 10:40 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Mar 2026 12:49 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s11307-026-02084-x |
| Open Access URL: | https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s11307-026-... |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3197282 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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