Imaging to study solid tumour origin and progression: lessons from research and clinical oncology

Biomedical imaging significantly advanced the understanding of cellular processes in vivo, particularly at the molecular and genetic levels, rather than just anatomical. This discipline evolved through engineering to enhance imaging sensitivity, resolution, and specificity for tissues and cells. Imaging approaches were applied in identifying cellular processes in both physiological and disease states, in vivo single-cell imaging, and developing new prognostic and therapeutic strategies. The review focused on the state of biomedical imaging in cancer, emphasizing advances in imaging tools for basic and translational cancer research, particularly in solid tissue malignancies.