Intravital Imaging of Immune Responses in the Cancer Microenvironment

Abstract

Background

To date, many types of immune cells have been identified, but their precise role in cancer immunity remains unclear. Understanding the immune responses involved in cancer and the cancer microenvironment is becoming increasingly important for elucidating disease mechanisms. In recent years, the application of intravital imaging in cancer research has provided new insights into the mechanisms of cancer-specific immune events, including innate and adaptive immunity.

Results

In this review, we focus on the emerging role of intravital imaging in cancer research and describe how cancer and immune cells can be observed using intravital imaging in vivo. We also discuss new insights gained by this state-of-the-art technique.

Conclusions

Intravital imaging is a relatively new field of research that offers significant advantages, including the ability to directly capture cell–cell interactions, pathophysiology, and immune cell dynamics in the cancer microenvironment in vivo.