Evaluating Ga-68 Peptide Conjugates for Targeting VPAC Receptors: Stability and Pharmacokinetics

Molecular Imaging and Biology - In recent years, considerable progress has been made in the use of gallium-68 labeled receptor-specific peptides for imaging oncologic diseases. The objective was to...     

Non-invasive PET Imaging of PARP1 Expression in Glioblastoma Models

Purpose

The current study presents [¹⁸F]PARPi as imaging agent for PARP1 expression.

Procedures

[¹⁸F]PARPi was generated by conjugating a 2H-phthalazin-1-one scaffold to 4-[¹⁸F]fluorobenzoic acid. Biochemical assays, optical in vivo competition, biodistribution analysis, positron emission tomography (PET)/X-ray computed tomography, and PET/magnetic resonance imaging studies were performed in subcutaneous and orthotopic mouse models of glioblastoma.

Results

[¹⁸F]PARPi shows suitable pharmacokinetic properties for brain tumor imaging (IC₅₀?=?2.8?±?1.1 nM; logP_CHI?=?2.15?±?0.41; plasma-free fraction?=?63.9?±?12.6 %) and accumulates selectively in orthotopic brain tumor tissue. Tracer accumulation in subcutaneous brain tumors was 1.82?±?0.21 %ID/g, whereas in healthy brain, the uptake was only 0.04?±?0.01 %ID/g.

Conclusions

[¹⁸F]PARPi is a selective PARP1 imaging agent that can be used to visualize glioblastoma in xenograft and orthotopic mouse models with high precision and good signal/noise ratios. It offers new opportunities to non-invasively image tumor growth and monitor interventions.

     

[18F]FE-OTS964: a Small Molecule Targeting TOPK for In Vivo PET Imaging in a Glioblastoma Xenograft Model

Molecular Imaging and Biology - Lymphokine-activated killer T cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK) is a fairly new cancer biomarker with great potential for clinical applications. The labeling of...     

Targeting Apoptosis for Optical Imaging of Infection

Purpose  

Infection is ubiquitous and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The most reliable method for localizing infection requires radiolabeling autologous white blood cells ex vivo. A compound that can be injected directly into a patient and can selectively image infectious foci will eliminate the drawbacks. The resolution of infection is associated with neutrophil apoptosis and necrosis presenting phosphatidylserine (PS) on the neutrophil outer leaflet. Targeting PS with intravenous administration of a PS-specific, near-infrared (NIR) fluorophore will permit localization of infectious foci by optical imaging.     

Prostate Cancer Theranostics Targeting Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptors

Gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPRs), part of the bombesin (BBN) family, are aberrantly overexpressed in many cancers, including those of the breast, prostate, pancreas, and lung, and therefore present an attractive target for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Different bombesin analogs have been radiolabeled and used for imaging diagnosis, staging, evaluation of biochemical recurrence, and assessment of metastatic disease in patients with prostate cancer. Recently, interest has shifted from BBN-like receptor agonists to antagonists, because the latter does not induce adverse effects and demonstrate superior in vivo pharmacokinetics. We review the preclinical and clinical literatures on the use of GRPRs as targets for imaging and therapy of prostate cancer, with a focus on the newer developments and theranostic potential of GRPR peptides.     

The Cancer Genome Atlas Analysis Predicts MicroRNA for Targeting Cancer Growth and Vascularization in Glioblastoma

Using in silico analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we identified microRNAs associated with glioblastoma (GBM) survival, and predicted their functions in glioma growth and progression. Inhibition of two “risky” miRNAs, miR-148a and miR-31, in orthotopic xenograft GBM mouse models suppressed tumor growth and thereby prolonged animal survival. Intracranial tumors treated with uncomplexed miR-148a and miR-31 antagomirs exhibited reduced proliferation, stem cell depletion, and normalized tumor vasculature. Growth-promoting functions of these two miRNAs were, in part, mediated by the common target, the factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (FIH1), and the downstream pathways involving hypoxia-inducible factor HIF1α and Notch signaling. Therefore, miR-31 and miR-148a regulate glioma growth by maintaining tumor stem cells and their niche, and providing the tumor a way to activate angiogenesis even in a normoxic environment. This is the first study that demonstrates intratumoral uptake and growth-inhibiting effects of uncomplexed antagomirs in orthotopic glioma.     

Recent Developments in Imaging of Myocardial Angiotensin Receptors

Upregulation of the systemic and myocardial renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a role in adverse left ventricle (LV) remodeling and development of heart failure in various cardiac diseases. Treatment with RAS inhibitors can reduce LV remodeling and improve clinical outcomes. Since there are significant differences in the activation levels of myocardial and systemic RAS, a monitoring system of the RAS activation at tissue level could be useful. Molecular imaging of increased myocardial angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity or angiotensin II type 1 –receptor (AT1R) upregulation might identify patients at risk of developing heart failure or optimize treatment of heart failure. Experimental studies using PET and SPECT imaging with radiolabeled ligands have shown feasibility of non-invasive detection of ACE or AT1R upregulation in the heart after myocardial infarction. In the current article, the recent advances and new tracers for molecular imaging of myocardial RAS activation are reviewed together with the discussion on patophysiology and the potential clinical implications.     

Elucidation of the vasoactive intestinal peptide pharmacophore for VPAC(2) receptors in human and rat and comparison to the pharmacophore for VPAC(1) receptors

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) functions as a neurotransmitter involved in a number of physiological and pathological conditions. The actions of VIP are mediated through VPAC(1) and VPAC(2). In contrast to VPAC(1), which has been extensively studied, little is known about the pharmacology of VPAC(2). In this study we investigated the VIP pharmacophore for VPAC(2) by using alanine and D-amino acid scanning. We found significant species differences, and the human VPAC(2) (hVPAC(2)) expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, which have been used in previous studies, differed significantly from the native hVPAC(2) in Sup T(1) cells and hVPAC(2) expressed in PANC1 cells. There was a close agreement between binding affinities and potencies for VPAC(2) activation. The amino acids whose backbone or side chain orientations were most important for high affinity potency are Asp(3), Phe(6), Thr(7), Tyr(10), Arg(12), Tyr(22), and Leu(23), whereas the side chains of Ser(2), Asp(8), Asn(9), Gln(16), Val(19), Lys(20), Lys(21), Asn(24), and Ser(25) are not essential. Comparison of the VIP pharmacophore between hVPAC(1) and hVPAC(2) demonstrated that the side chains of Thr(7), Tyr(10), Thr(11), and Tyr(22) were much more critical for high affinity for the hVPAC(2) than the hVPAC(1). In contrast, the orientation of the side chain of Asn(24) was more important for high affinity for the hVPAC(1). This study shows that in assessing the pharmacophore of VIP analogs for the VPAC(2), important species differences need to be considered as well as the expression system used. These results of our study should be useful for designing VPAC subtype-selective analogs, simplified analogs, and possibly metabolically stable analogs.     

Targeting Phosphatidylethanolamine with Fluorine-18 Labeled Small Molecule Probe for Apoptosis Imaging

Molecular Imaging and Biology - Externalization of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in dying cells makes the phospholipid an attractive target for apoptosis imaging. However, no ideal PE-targeted...     

Targeting an Ultrasound Contrast Agent to Folate Receptors on Ovarian Cancer Cells

Objective. The purpose of the study was to synthesize and characterize folate‐targeted microbubbles (MB_F) as an ultrasound contrast agent and to evaluate their affinity to the folate receptor (FR) in vitro. Methods. Folate‐targeted microbubbles were prepared by incorporating 1,2‐distearoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphoethanolamine‐N‐[amino(polyethylene glycol)‐2000]‐folate into the lipid membrane of microbubbles. The diameter and concentration of the MB_F were determined by a cell counter and sizer. The MB_F, control microbubbles (MB_C), and MB_F with a free folic acid block‐ade were tested for binding specificity to human ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cells, which overexpress the FR, by microscopy and confocal imaging, respectively. Results. The basic physical characteristics of MB_F were similar to those of MB_C. In the cell binding test, the adherence efficiency of MB_F to the SKOV3 cells (mean ± SD, 16 ± 5 microbubbles per cell; P < .01) was significantly higher than that of MB_C (0.7 ± 0.4 microbubbles per cell) or MB_F with the free folic acid blockade (0.7 ± 0.6 microbubbles per cell). Conclusions. Folate‐targeted microbubbles showed high affinity to SKOV3 cells with FR overexpression. They are potentially useful for ultrasonic molecular imaging and treatment of FR‐positive tumors and warrant further investigation.     

Combinational Targeting Offsets Antigen Escape and Enhances Effector Functions of Adoptively Transferred T Cells in Glioblastoma

Preclinical and early clinical studies have demonstrated that chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-redirected T cells are highly promising in cancer therapy. We observed that targeting HER2 in a glioblastoma (GBM) cell line results in the emergence of HER2-null tumor cells that maintain the expression of nontargeted tumor-associated antigens. Combinational targeting of these tumor-associated antigens could therefore offset this escape mechanism. We studied the single-cell coexpression patterns of HER2, IL-13Rα2, and EphA2 in primary GBM samples using multicolor flow cytometry and immunofluorescence, and applied a binomial routine to the permutations of antigen expression and the related odds of complete tumor elimination. This mathematical model demonstrated that cotargeting HER2 and IL-13Rα2 could maximally expand the therapeutic reach of the T cell product in all primary tumors studied. Targeting a third antigen did not predict an added advantage in the tumor cohort studied. We therefore generated bispecific T cell products from healthy donors and from GBM patients by pooling T cells individually expressing HER2 and IL-13Rα2-specific CARs and by making individual T cells to coexpress both molecules. Both HER2/IL-13Rα2-bispecific T cell products offset antigen escape, producing enhanced effector activity in vitro immunoassays (against autologous glioma cells in the case of GBM patient products) and in an orthotopic xenogeneic murine model. Further, T cells coexpressing HER2 and IL-13Rα2-CARs exhibited accentuated yet antigen-dependent downstream signaling and a particularly enhanced antitumor activity.     

Single-Chain VEGF/Cy5.5 Targeting VEGF Receptors to Indicate Atherosclerotic Plaque Instability

Purpose

Unstable plaques may cause clinical events. Plaque destabilization results from the synergy between intraplaque angiogenesis and inflammation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) are considered to be involved in these processes. We investigated the efficacy of the anti-VEGFR mimic single-chain VEGF (scVEGF) to map intra-plaque VEGFR expression and atherosclerotic plaque instability using near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF).

Procedures

Human carotid plaques were retrieved from 15 symptomatic and five asymptomatic patients. NIRF plaque imaging was performed pre-/post-incubation with scVEGF/Cy5.5. Biopsies taken from regions with high (hot spot) and low (cold spot) NIRF signals were examined for VEGF-A, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 mRNA expression levels using real-time RT-PCR analysis. Immunohistochemistry for CD31 (endothelium), CD68 (macrophages) and αSMA (smooth muscle cells) was performed to evaluate plaque composition.

Results

NIRF imaging of 20 plaques revealed a heterogeneous distribution of scVEGF/Cy5.5 binding. After incubation NIRF activity increased from 3.9×10^?5?±?5.2×10^?6 to 3.0×10^?4?±?2.2×10^?5 and 5.8×10^?5?±?1.9×10^?5 to 3.1×10^?4?±?1.9×10^?5 photons/s/cm²/sr/illumination intensity on the intraluminal and extraluminal side, respectively (both p?<?0.001). Real-time RT-PCR analysis showed a ~1.2- and ~16.4-fold increased mRNA expression of VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, respectively, in hot spots (vs. cold spots). Immunohistochemistry exhibited higher intraplaque capillary density in hot spots (vs. cold spots) (17.2?±?3.7 vs. 5.4?±?2.2 capillary/mm²; p?=?0.037). Hot spots contained significantly reduced numbers of α-SMA-positive cells (vs. cold spots) (2.2?±?0.7 % vs. 6.9?±?1.5 %; p?=?0.038). Finally, a ~2-fold increase of CD68⁺ infiltrating macrophages within hot spots (vs. cold spots) was observed (not significant, p?=?0.17). Significant higher capillary density in hot spots (vs. cold spots) was observed in plaques from symptomatic patients but not in plaques from asymptomatic patients.

Conclusion

Our data support that scVEGF/Cy5.5 is a suitable indicator for plaque instability and a promising diagnostic tool for risk assessment in cardiovascular diseases.     

Cross-chimeric analysis of selectivity of secretin and VPAC(1) receptor activation

Agonist action at receptors is highly specific, affected by the structure of both ligand and receptor. Chimeric constructs of structurally related receptors and/or ligands that have biological differences provide an opportunity to correlate a specific structural domain with function. In this work, we have used a cross-chimeric approach to explore the structural basis for rat secretin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide action at their closely related secretin and VPAC(1) receptors, belonging to class II of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. Multiple domains of both ligands and receptors contributed toward their selectivity, with differing combinations of such domains able to support high-potency interactions. The amino-terminal 15 residues of secretin were most critical for potent stimulation of secretin receptors, whereas either the amino- or carboxyl-terminal halves of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, when complemented by Lys(15), provided potent stimulation of the VPAC(1) receptor. The amino terminus of the VPAC(1) receptor was most critical for potent response to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, whereas the amino terminus of the secretin receptor was important, but not adequate, requiring the complementation of an extracellular loop domain for potent response to secretin. Differences in the distribution of these determinants within these receptors provided an opportunity to produce a more "universal" receptor that contained the first extracellular loop of the secretin receptor and the remainder of the VPAC(1) receptor. This cross-chimeric approach should be applied to other members of this receptor family to test the emerging themes and to expand these insights as broadly as possible.