We review recent progress in tumor imaging in vivo using fluorescent tags, highlight the problems of fluorescence imaging in small animals, discuss recent advances in near-infrared fluorochromes and quantum dots, and point to some future possibilities. GFP-based fluorescence imaging is briefly discussed. The authors believe that improvements in near-infrared fluorochromes are required to enable practical imaging in tissues at centimeter depths.

animals, antibodies, monoclonal, antigens, neoplasm, fluorescent dyes, green fluorescent protein, imaging, nanotechnology, quantum dots

Molecular Biosensor and Imaging Center, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.