Abstract: An agent for use in detecting, monitoring, and/or imaging cancer cells and/or cancer cell metastasis, migration, dispersal, and/or invasion, and/or for treating cancer in a subject includes a targeting peptide, at least one of a detectable moiety, therapeutic agent, or a theranostic agent, and a peptide or peptidomimetic spacer that directly or indirectly links the targeting peptide to the at least one of the detectable moiety, therapeutic agent, or theranostic agent.

Abstract: Early stage, rapid, low-cost detection of disease components in a biological sample is critically important. A point of care device can include a collection region and can be used to hold a sample that is combined with a fluorescent dye and a plurality of magnetic particles such that disease components in the sample are tagged with the fluorescent dye and the plurality of magnetic particles. At least one magnet can be located next to the collection region to establish a magnetic field gradient to draw the tagged disease components into the collection region from the device. A fluorescence microscope can image the small collection region based on the fluorescent dye to detect the disease components. The fluorescence microscope uses light to excite the fluorescent dye and a filter to transmit light emitted by the fluorescent dye to the fluorescence microscope, while restricting light used to excite the fluorescent dye.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of DDCE-MRF. The method can include: a) introducing two or more contrast agents to a region of interest (ROI) of a subject, the two or more contrast agents having different relaxivities; b) measuring a T1 relaxation time and a T2 relaxation time for locations within the ROI using magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF); c) determining, using equations that relate the different relaxivities, the T1 relaxation time, the T2 relaxation time, and concentrations of the two or more contrast agents, the concentrations of the two or more contrast agents for each of the locations within the ROI; and d) producing an image depicting the ROI based, at least in part, on the concentrations of the two or more contrast agents.

Abstract: Early stage, rapid, low-cost, and accurate detection of disease components in a biological fluid is critically important. A point of care device can use functionalized magnetic beads to facilitate this detection. The device can include a sample holder with a collection region. A magnet can be used to draw the functionalized nanoparticles bound to the disease component into the collection region, where the disease component is captured. A light source can shine a light beam through the collection region; and a detector can detect the light beam after traversing the collection region to determine whether the disease component is present in the sample.

Abstract: Disease components can be detected in a fluid using magnetic particles and microfluidics. Magnetic particles are combined with a sample in a fluid. The sample may include disease components. The magnetic particles can be configured to tag any disease components within the sample. The fluid can be forced into a microchamber with two microcompartments. In the first microcompartment, the fluid can be exposed to a magnetic field and/or magnetic field gradient. The tagged disease component can be trapped by the magnetic field and/or magnetic field gradient due to the magnetic particles, allowing nonmagnetic components of the fluid to be washed away while the tagged disease components remain trapped by the magnetic field and/or magnetic field gradient. Then, the disease components can be forced into a more narrow second microcompartment and detected using optical instruments.

Abstract: An agent for use in detecting, monitoring, and/or imaging cancer cells and/or cancer cell metastasis, migration, dispersal, and/or invasion, and/or for treating cancer in a subject includes a targeting peptide and at least one of a detectable moiety, therapeutic agent, or a theranostic agent that is directly or indirectly linked to the targeting peptide. The targeting peptide specifically binds to and/or complexes with a proteolytically cleaved extracellular fragment of an immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily cell adhesion molecule that is expressed by a cancer cell or another cell in the cancer cell microenvironment.

Abstract: A method of determining a prognosis for cancer in a subject and/or a subject with cancer includes measuring a level of proteolytically cleaved extracellular fragments of an immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily cell adhesion molecule that is expressed by cancer cells obtained from the subject to determine at least one of prognosis for the cancer, the subject's survival, or responsiveness of the cancer to anti-cancer treatment.

Abstract: A method of one or more of, inhibiting motility, migration, dispersal, and metastasis of a cell that expresses an RPTP, which is proteolytically cleaved to form intracellular fragments in the cell includes administering to the cell an amount of an agent effective to inhibit one or more of the catalytic activity and function of the proteolytically cleaved intracellular domain-containing fragments of the RPTP.

Abstract: A molecular probe for use in detection of cancer cells expressing an Ig superfamily cell adhesion molecule that binds in a homophilic fashion in a subject includes a targeting agent that specifically binds to and/or complexes with a proteolytically cleaved extracellular fragment of the Ig superfamily cell adhesion molecule.

Abstract: A method of treating cancer in a subject includes administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that specifically binds to or complexes with a proteolytically cleaved extracellular fragment of an immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily cell adhesion molecule (CAM) or its receptor that is expressed by a cancer cell or another cell in the cancer cell microenvironment. The agent inhibits the cell adhesion function of the cleaved extracellular fragment or its receptor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of DDCE-MRF. The method can include: a) introducing two or more contrast agents to a region of interest (ROI) of a subject, the two or more contrast agents having different relaxivities; b) measuring a T1 relaxation time and a T2 relaxation time for locations within the ROI using magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF); c) determining, using equations that relate the different relaxivities, the T1 relaxation time, the T2 relaxation time, and concentrations of the two or more contrast agents, the concentrations of the two or more contrast agents for each of the locations within the ROI; and d) producing an image depicting the ROI based, at least in part, on the concentrations of the two or more contrast agents.

Abstract: A molecular probe for use in detection of cancer cells expressing an Ig superfamily cell adhesion molecule that binds in a homophilic fashion in a subject includes a targeting agent that specifically binds to and/or complexes with a proteolytically cleaved extracellular fragment of the Ig superfamily cell adhesion molecule.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for operating a high-field magnetic resonance (MR) system includes performing a series of data acquisition modules without respiratory gating. Each data acquisition module is formed of a steady-state free precession pulse sequence. Performing the series of data acquisition modules includes varying at least one of an amplitude of an excitation pulse or a repetition time of the steady-state free precession pulse sequence between adjacent data acquisition modules in the series of data acquisition modules to acquire a series of MR data with random or pseudo-random imaging acquisition parameters. The series of MR data is compared to a dictionary of signal evolution profiles to determine a match between the series of MR data with at least one signal evolution profile in the dictionary indicating at least one quantitative parameter in the subject.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods concern determining whether a target material appears in a region experiencing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). One method acquires a baseline value for a magnetic resonance parameter (MRP) while the region is not exposed to a molecular imaging agent that affects the MRP and acquires a series of quantitative values for the MRP while the sample is influenced by a molecular imaging agent. Quantitative values may be acquired during a clinically relevant time period (e.g., 60 minutes) during which the change in the MRP (e.g., T1) caused by the molecular imaging agent is at least 90% of the peak change caused by the molecular imaging agent. The molecular imaging agent may be SBK2 and may produce a desired change in T1 for at least thirty minutes in glioblastoma.

Abstract: A method modulating adhesion and migration of at least one cadherin expressing cell includes administering a cadherin modulating agent to the at least one cadherin expressing cell in an amount effective to modulate cell adhesion and migration. The cadherin modulating agent includes a small molecule peptidomimetic of a peptide or cyclic peptide that comprises a cadherin cell adhesion recognition sequence. The cadherin modulating agent can promote or inhibit neurite outgrowth when applied to at least one neuron disposed on a substrate coated with a cadherin molecule.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for operating a high-field magnetic resonance (MR) system includes performing a series of data acquisition modules without respiratory gating. Each data acquisition module is formed of a steady-state free precession pulse sequence. Performing the series of data acquisition modules includes varying at least one of an amplitude of an excitation pulse or a repetition time of the steady-state free precession pulse sequence between adjacent data acquisition modules in the series of data acquisition modules to acquire a series of MR data with random or pseudo-random imaging acquisition parameters. The series of MR data is compared to a dictionary of signal evolution profiles to determine a match between the series of MR data with at least one signal evolution profile in the dictionary indicating at least one quantitative parameter in the subject.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods concern determining whether a target material appears in a region experiencing nuclear magnetic resonance. One method acquires a baseline value for a magnetic resonance parameter (MRP) while the region is not exposed to a molecular imaging agent that affects the MRP, acquiring a non-specific uptake value for the MRP while the sample is influenced by a non-specific molecular imaging agent and acquiring a specific uptake value for the MRP while the sample is influenced by a specific molecular imaging agent. The non-specific masking problem is solved by characterizing the region as a function of the baseline value, the non-specific uptake value, and the specific uptake value. The function relies on the similarities and differences between non-specific uptake of the non-specific molecular imaging agent, non-specific uptake of the specific molecular imaging agent, and specific uptake of the specific molecular imaging agent.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods concern determining whether a target material appears in a region experiencing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). One method acquires a baseline value for a magnetic resonance parameter (MRP) while the region is not exposed to a molecular imaging agent that affects the MRP and acquires a series of quantitative values for the MRP while the sample is influenced by a molecular imaging agent. Quantitative values may be acquired during a clinically relevant time period (e.g., 60 minutes) during which the change in the MRP (e.g., T1) caused by the molecular imaging agent is at least 90% of the peak change caused by the molecular imaging agent. The molecular imaging agent may be SBK2 and may produce a desired change in T1 for at least thirty minutes in glioblastoma.

Abstract: A molecular probe for use in detecting, monitoring, and/or imaging cancer cells and/or cancer cell metastasis, migration, dispersal, and/or invasion includes a targeting agent and a detectable moiety. The targeting agent specifically binds to and/or complexes with a proteolytically cleaved extracellular fragment of an immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily cell adhesion molecule that is expressed by a cancer cell or another cell in the cancer cell microenvironment.

Abstract: A method of one or more of, inhibiting motility, migration, dispersal, and metastasis of a cell that expresses an RPTP, which is proteolytically cleaved to form intracellular fragments in the cell includes administering to the cell an amount of an agent effective to inhibit one or more of the catalytic activity and function of the proteolytically cleaved intracellular domain-containing fragments of the RPTP.