biostudies-literaturePrieto SPFoundation for the National Institutes of HealthNCI NIH HHSArkansas Biosciences Institute428https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6507102biostudies-literatureUnknown19(1)<h4>Background</h4>Colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and increased risk in patients with ulcerative colitis (a subset of inflammatory bowel disease) has motivated studies into early markers of dysplasia. The development of clinically translatable multiphoton imaging systems has allowed for the potential of in vivo label-free imaging of epithelial crypt structures via autofluorescence and/or second harmonic generation (SHG). SHG has been used to investigate collagen structures in various types of cancer, though the changes that colorectal epithelial collagen structures undergo during tumor development, specifically colitis-associated tumors, have not been fully investigated.<h4>Methods</h4>This study used two murine models, using A/J miBMC cancerDifferences in colonic crypt morphology of spontaneous and colitis-associated murine models via second harmonic generation imaging to quantify colon cancer development.PMC6507102N/A1R15CA202662-01R15 CA202662Prieto SPReed CLQuinn KPJames HMMuldoon TJfalseDifferences in colonic crypt morphology of spontaneous and colitis-associated murine models via second harmonic generation imaging to quantify colon cancer development.<h4>Background</h4>Colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and increased risk in patients with ulcerative colitis (a subset of inflammatory bowel disease) has motivated studies into early markers of dysplasia. The development of clinically translatable multiphoton imaging systems has allowed for the potential of in vivo label-free imaging of epithelial crypt structures via autofluorescence and/or second harmonic generation (SHG). SHG has been used to investigate collagen structures in various types of cancer, though the changes that colorectal epithelial collagen structures undergo during tumor development, specifically colitis-associated tumors, have not been fully investigated.<h4>Methods</h4>This study used two murine models, using A/J mi2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 May2025-04-22T00:06:50.353Z2019-06-06T23:02:07ZS-EPMC65071023107235310.1186/s12885-019-5639-8