Imaging Neurotensin Receptor in Prostate Cancer With Cu-Labeled Neurotensin Analogs

Introduction: Neurotensin receptor 1 (NTR-1) is expressed and activated in prostate cancer cells. In this study, we explore the NTR expression in normal mouse tissues and study the positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of NTR in prostate cancer models. Materials and Methods: Three 64 Cu chelato...

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Main Authors: Huaifu Deng MD, Hui Wang PhD, He Zhang MD, Mengzhe Wang MS, Ben Giglio PhD, Xiaofen Ma MD, Guihua Jiang MD, Hong Yuan PhD, Zhanhong Wu PhD, Zibo Li PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2017-08-01
Series:Molecular Imaging
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/1536012117711369
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author Huaifu Deng MD
Hui Wang PhD
He Zhang MD
Mengzhe Wang MS
Ben Giglio PhD
Xiaofen Ma MD
Guihua Jiang MD
Hong Yuan PhD
Zhanhong Wu PhD
Zibo Li PhD
author_facet Huaifu Deng MD
Hui Wang PhD
He Zhang MD
Mengzhe Wang MS
Ben Giglio PhD
Xiaofen Ma MD
Guihua Jiang MD
Hong Yuan PhD
Zhanhong Wu PhD
Zibo Li PhD
author_sort Huaifu Deng MD
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Neurotensin receptor 1 (NTR-1) is expressed and activated in prostate cancer cells. In this study, we explore the NTR expression in normal mouse tissues and study the positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of NTR in prostate cancer models. Materials and Methods: Three 64 Cu chelators (1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraacetic acid [DOTA], 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid [NOTA], or AmBaSar) were conjugated to an NT analog. Neurotensin receptor binding affinity was evaluated using cell binding assay. The imaging profile of radiolabeled probes was compared in well-established NTR + HT-29 tumor model. Stability of the probes was tested. The selected agents were further evaluated in human prostate cancer PC3 xenografts. Results: All 3 NT conjugates retained the majority of NTR binding affinity. In HT-29 tumor, all agents demonstrated prominent tumor uptake. Although comparable stability was observed, 64 Cu-NOTA-NT and 64 Cu-AmBaSar-NT demonstrated improved tumor to background contrast compared with 64 Cu-DOTA-NT. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging of the NTR expression in PC-3 xenografts showed high tumor uptake of the probes, correlating with the in vitro Western blot results. Blocking experiments further confirmed receptor specificity. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that 64 Cu-labeled neurotensin analogs are promising imaging agents for NTR-positive tumors. These agents may help us identify NTR-positive lesions and predict which patients and individual tumors are likely to respond to novel interventions targeting NTR-1.
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spelling doaj-art-1ac0a898a5a84cb5b9d5d721fe434ee82025-01-02T02:57:58ZengSAGE PublishingMolecular Imaging1536-01212017-08-011610.1177/1536012117711369Imaging Neurotensin Receptor in Prostate Cancer With Cu-Labeled Neurotensin AnalogsHuaifu Deng MD0Hui Wang PhD1He Zhang MD2Mengzhe Wang MS3Ben Giglio PhD4Xiaofen Ma MD5Guihua Jiang MD6Hong Yuan PhD7Zhanhong Wu PhD8Zibo Li PhD9 PET/CT Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China Department of Radiology, Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA Department of Radiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Department of Radiology, Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA Department of Radiology, Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA Department of Medical Imaging, Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, China Department of Medical Imaging, Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, China Department of Radiology, Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA Department of Radiology, Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA Department of Radiology, Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USAIntroduction: Neurotensin receptor 1 (NTR-1) is expressed and activated in prostate cancer cells. In this study, we explore the NTR expression in normal mouse tissues and study the positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of NTR in prostate cancer models. Materials and Methods: Three 64 Cu chelators (1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraacetic acid [DOTA], 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid [NOTA], or AmBaSar) were conjugated to an NT analog. Neurotensin receptor binding affinity was evaluated using cell binding assay. The imaging profile of radiolabeled probes was compared in well-established NTR + HT-29 tumor model. Stability of the probes was tested. The selected agents were further evaluated in human prostate cancer PC3 xenografts. Results: All 3 NT conjugates retained the majority of NTR binding affinity. In HT-29 tumor, all agents demonstrated prominent tumor uptake. Although comparable stability was observed, 64 Cu-NOTA-NT and 64 Cu-AmBaSar-NT demonstrated improved tumor to background contrast compared with 64 Cu-DOTA-NT. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging of the NTR expression in PC-3 xenografts showed high tumor uptake of the probes, correlating with the in vitro Western blot results. Blocking experiments further confirmed receptor specificity. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that 64 Cu-labeled neurotensin analogs are promising imaging agents for NTR-positive tumors. These agents may help us identify NTR-positive lesions and predict which patients and individual tumors are likely to respond to novel interventions targeting NTR-1.https://doi.org/10.1177/1536012117711369
spellingShingle Huaifu Deng MD
Hui Wang PhD
He Zhang MD
Mengzhe Wang MS
Ben Giglio PhD
Xiaofen Ma MD
Guihua Jiang MD
Hong Yuan PhD
Zhanhong Wu PhD
Zibo Li PhD
Imaging Neurotensin Receptor in Prostate Cancer With Cu-Labeled Neurotensin Analogs
Molecular Imaging
title Imaging Neurotensin Receptor in Prostate Cancer With Cu-Labeled Neurotensin Analogs
title_full Imaging Neurotensin Receptor in Prostate Cancer With Cu-Labeled Neurotensin Analogs
title_fullStr Imaging Neurotensin Receptor in Prostate Cancer With Cu-Labeled Neurotensin Analogs
title_full_unstemmed Imaging Neurotensin Receptor in Prostate Cancer With Cu-Labeled Neurotensin Analogs
title_short Imaging Neurotensin Receptor in Prostate Cancer With Cu-Labeled Neurotensin Analogs
title_sort imaging neurotensin receptor in prostate cancer with cu labeled neurotensin analogs
url https://doi.org/10.1177/1536012117711369
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