The chicken chorioallantoic membrane as a low-cost, high-throughput model for cancer imaging

Tumor irradiation
At E13 eggs were randomized into CT only (delivering 0.12 Gy, n = 6) and irradiated groups (Precision X-Ray, Inc. SmART+ small animal irradiator, n = 6). Eggs were scanned by cone beam CT with a 2 mm aluminum filter using the mouse soft tissue, high dose parameters at 40 kVp and 12 mA, producing 0.1 mm voxels for Monte Carlo treatment planning using the SmART-ATP software (v2.0.20201216). The ROIs were hand-drawn and interpolated to create a 3D volume of interest. The isocenter and collimation were set to minimize irradiation of the chick embryo using parallel-opposed pair of beams at 0 and 180 degrees, which were optimized using Monte Carlo simulations (100 million photon histories) which modeled the mean radiation dose delivered to the isocenter (D mean) and normal tissues. Radiation was delivered as a single 12 Gy fraction to the tumor using a circular collimator and a 0.3 mm Cu filter. After irradiation and/or CT imaging, eggs were placed back into the incubator for 24 h prior to PET imaging.

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