Protein-Based MRI Contrast Agents for Molecular Imaging of Prostate Cancer

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Lixia Wei, Georgia State University; Shunyi Li, Georgia State University; Jianhua Yang, Georgia State University; Yiming Ye, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Jin Zou, Georgia State University; Liya Wang, Emory University; Robert Long, Emory University; Omar Zurkiya, Emory University; Tiejun Zhao, Emory University; Julian Johnson, Georgia State University; Jingjuan Qiao, Georgia State University; Wangda Zhou, Georgia State University; Adriana Castiblanco, Georgia State University; Natalie Maor, Georgia State University; Yanyi Chen, Georgia State University; Hui Mao, Emory University; Xiaoping Hu, Emory University; Jenny J. Yang, Georgia State University; Zhi-Ren Liu, Georgia State University
• Language: English
• Date: 2011-06-01
• Publisher: Springer Verlag (Germany)
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2010 Academy of Molecular Imaging and Society for Molecular Imaging.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11307-010-0342-9
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Molecular Imaging and Biology
• ISSN: 1536-1632
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 416
• End Page: 423
• Grant/Funding Information: This work is supported in part by research grants from NIH CA118113 to Zhi-Ren Liu and NIH GM62999 and EB007268 to Jenny J Yang.
• Keywords: MESSENGER-RNA; RECEPTOR-BINDING; Molecular imaging; GASTRIN-RELEASING-PEPTIDE; Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging; Science & Technology; DESIGN; Prostate cancer; MRI; METAL-BINDING; TUMORS; Relaxivity; Contrast agents; Life Sciences & Biomedicine
• Research Categories: Engineering, Biomedical; Health Sciences, Oncology; Health Sciences, Radiology

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a novel protein-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent that has the capability of targeting prostate cancer and which provides high-sensitivity MR imaging in tumor cells and mouse models. Procedure: A fragment of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) was fused into a protein-based MRI contrast agent (ProCA1) at different regions. MR imaging was obtained in both tumor cells (PC3 and H441) and a tumor mouse model administrated with ProCA1.GRP. Results: PC3 and DU145 cells treated with ProCA1.GRPs exhibited enhanced signal in MRI. Intratumoral injection of ProCA1.GRP in a PC3 tumor model displayed enhanced MRI signal. The contrast agent was retained in the PC3 tumor up to 48 h post-injection. Conclusions: Protein-based MRI contrast agent with tumor targeting modality can specifically target GRPR-positive prostate cancer. Intratumoral injection of the ProCA1 agent in the prostate cancer mouse model verified the targeting capability of ProCA1.GRP and showed a prolonged retention time in tumors.