Radiology Molecular Imaging

[Molecular Imaging] In Vivo Near-infrared Fluorescence Imaging of Carcinoembryonic Antigen-expressing Tumor Cells in Mice

2008-05-16

Purpose: To prospectively depict carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-expressing tumors in mice with a high-affinity probe consisting of a near-infrared (NIR) fluorochrome and the clinically used anti-CEA antibody fragment arcitumomab.

Materials and Methods: This study was approved by the regional animal committee. By coupling a NIR fluorescent (NIRF) cyanine dye (DY-676) to a specific antibody fragment directed against CEA (arcitumomab) and a nonspecific IgG Fab fragment, a bio-optical high-affinity fluorescent probe (anti-CEA–DY-676) and a low-affinity fluorescent probe (FabIgG–DY-676) were designed. The dye-to-protein ratios were determined, and both probes were tested for NIRF imaging in vitro on CEA-expressing LS-174T human colonic adenocarcinoma cells and CEA-nonexpressing A-375 human melanoma cells by using a bio-optical NIR small-animal imager. In vivo data of xenografted LS-174T and A-375 tumors in mice (n = 10) were recorded and statistically analyzed (Student t test).

Results: The dye-to-protein ratios were determined as 3.0–3.5 for both probes. In vitro experiments revealed the specific binding of the anti-CEA–DY-676 probe on CEA-expressing cells as compared with CEA-nonexpressing cells; the FabIgG–DY-676 probe showed a markedly lower binding affinity to cells. In vivo LS-174T tumors xenografted in all mice could be significantly distinguished from A-375 tumors with application of the anti-CEA–DY-676 but not with that of the FabIgG–DY-676 at different times (2–24 hours, P < .005) after intravenous injection of the probes. Semiquantitative analysis revealed maximal fluorescence signals of anti-CEA–DY-676 to CEA-expressing tumors about 8 hours after injection.

Conclusion: Findings of this study indicate the potential use of the high-affinity probe anti-CEA–DY-676 for specific NIRF imaging in in vivo tumor diagnosis.

[Molecular Imaging] Postinfarction Myocardial Scarring in Mice: Molecular MR Imaging with Use of a Collagen-targeting Contrast Agent

2008-05-16

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate a gadolinium-based collagen-targeting contrast agent, EP-3533, for in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of myocardial fibrosis in a mouse model of healed myocardial infarction (MI).

Materials and Methods: All procedures were performed in accordance with protocols approved by the animal care and use committee. MI was induced in eight mice by means of occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by reperfusion. Four MR examinations were performed in each animal: one examination before, one examination 1 day after, and two examinations 6 weeks after the MI. For the latter two examinations, electrocardiographically gated inversion-recovery gradient-echo MR images were acquired before and serially (every 5 minutes) after the intravenous injection of either gadopentetate dimeglumine or EP-3533. The image enhancement kinetic properties of the postinfarction scar, normal myocardium, and blood were compared.

Results: Dynamic T1-weighted MR imaging revealed the washout time constants for EP-3533 to be significantly longer than those for gadopentetate dimeglumine in regions of postinfarction scarring (mean, 194.8 minutes ±116.8 [standard deviation] vs 25.5 minutes ± 4.2; P < .05) and in normal myocardium (mean, 45.4 minutes ± 16.7 vs 25.1 minutes ± 9.7; P < .05). Findings on postmortem histologic sections stained for collagen correlated well with EP-3533–enhanced areas seen on inversion-recovery MR images. Fifty minutes after EP-3533 injection, the postinfarction scar tissue samples, as compared with the normal myocardium, had a twofold higher concentration of gadolinium.

Conclusion: Use of the gadolinium-based collagen-targeting contrast agent, EP-3533, enabled in vivo molecular MR imaging of fibrosis in a mouse model of healed postinfarction myocardial scarring.