Quantitative PET imaging of PD-L1 expression in xenograft and syngeneic tumour models using a site-specifically labelled PD-L1 antibody

Abstract Purpose Despite remarkable clinical responses and prolonged survival across several cancers, not all patients benefit from PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade. Accordingly, assessment of tumour PD-L1 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) is increasingly applied to guide patient selection, therapeutic monitoring, and improve overall response rates. However, tissue-based methods are invasive and prone to sampling error. We therefore developed a PET radiotracer to specifically detect PD-L1 expression in a non-invasive manner, which could be of diagnostic and predictive value. Methods Anti-PD-L1 (clone 6E11, Genentech) was site-specifically conjugated with DIBO-DFO and radiolabelled with 89Zr (89Zr-DFO-6E11). 89Zr-DFO-6E11 was optimized in vivo by longitudinal PET imaging and dose escalation with excess unlabelled 6E11 in HCC827 tumour-bearing mice. Specificity of 89Zr-DFO-6E11 was evaluated in NSCLC xenografts and syngeneic tumour models with different levels of PD-L1 expression. In vivo imaging data was supported by ex vivo biodistribution, flow cytometry, and IHC. To evaluate the predictive value of 89Zr-DFO-6E11 PET imaging, CT26 tumour-bearing mice were subjected to external radiation therapy (XRT) in combination with PD-L1 blockade. Results 89Zr-DFO-6E11 was successfully labelled with a high radiochemical purity. The HCC827 tumours and lymphoid tissue were identified by 89Zr-DFO-6E11 PET imaging, and co-injection with 6E11 increased the relative tumour uptake and decreased the splenic uptake. 89Zr-DFO-6E11 detected the differences in PD-L1 expression among tumour models as evaluated by ex vivo methods. 89Zr-DFO-6E11 quantified the increase in PD-L1 expression in tumours and spleens of irradiated mice. XRT and anti-PD-L1 therapy effectively inhibited tumour growth in CT26 tumour-bearing mice (p < 0.01), and the maximum 89Zr-DFO-6E11 tumour-to-muscle ratio correlated with response to therapy (p = 0.0252). Conclusion PET imaging with 89Zr-DFO-6E11 is an attractive approach for specific, non-invasive, whole-body visualization of PD-L1 expression. PD-L1 expression can be modulated by radiotherapy regimens and 89Zr-DFO-6E11 PET is able to monitor these changes and predict the response to therapy in an immunocompetent tumour model.

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The chinchilla as a novel animal model of pregnancy

Royal Society Open Science ◽

10.1098/rsos.161098 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 161098 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Emmeli Mikkelsen ◽

Henrik Lauridsen ◽

Per Mose Nielsen ◽

Haiyun Qi ◽

Thomas Nørlinger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Animal Model ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Gestation Period ◽

Whole Body ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Whole Body Ct ◽

Contrast Enhanced Ct ◽

Hyperpolarized Mri

Several parameters are important when choosing the most appropriate animal to model human obstetrics, including gestation period, number of fetuses per gestation and placental structure. The domesticated long-tailed chinchilla ( Chinchilla lanigera ) is a well-suited and appropriate animal model of pregnancy that often will carry only one offspring and has a long gestation period of 105–115 days. Furthermore, the chinchilla placenta is of the haemomonochorial labyrinthine type and is therefore comparable to the human villous haemomonochorial placenta. This proof-of-concept study demonstrated the feasibility in laboratory settings, and demonstrated the potential of the pregnant chinchilla as an animal model for obstetric research and its potential usefulness for non-invasive measurements in the placenta. We demonstrate measurements of the placental and fetal metabolism (demonstrated in vivo by hyperpolarized MRI and in vitro by qPCR analyses), placental vessels (demonstrated ex vivo by contrast-enhanced CT angiography) and overall anatomy (demonstrated in vivo by whole-body CT).

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Preclinical and Exploratory Clinical Studies of Novel 68Ga-labeled ᴅ-Peptide Antagonist for PET Imaging of TIGIT Expression in Cancers

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1022828/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xiaobo Wang ◽

Ming Zhou ◽

Bei Chen ◽

Huanhuan Liu ◽

Jianyang Fang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Pet Imaging ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Ct Imaging ◽

Whole Body ◽

Binding Assays ◽

Pet Ct ◽

Peptide Antagonist

Abstract Purpose While TIGIT has been propelled under the spotlight as a next-generation target in cancer immunotherapy, anti-TIGIT therapy seems to be promising for a fraction of patients in clinical trials. Therefore, patient stratification is critical for this therapy, which could benefit from a whole-body, non-invasive and quantitative evaluation of TIGIT expression in cancers. In this study, a 68Ga-labeled ᴅ-peptide antagonist, 68Ga-GP12, was developed and validated for PET imaging of TIGIT expression in vitro, in vivo, and first-in-human pilot study. Methods The ᴅ-enantiomer peptide antagonists were modified and radiolabeled with 68Ga. In vitro binding assays were performed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to assess their affinity and specificity. The imaging capacity, biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and radiation dosimetry were investigated in vivo. Flow cytometry, autoradiography, and immunohistochemical staining were used to confirm the expression of TIGIT ex vivo. The safety and potential of 68Ga-GP12 for PET/CT imaging of TIGIT expression were further evaluated in a first-in-human pilot study with advanced NSCLC. Results 68Ga-labeled ᴅ-peptides were conveniently produced with high radiochemical yields,radiochemical purity and molar activities. In vitro binding assays demonstrated 68Ga-GP12 has favorable affinity and specificity for TIGIT with a KD of 37.28 nM. In vivo and ex vivo studies demonstrated the favorable pharmacokinetics of 68Ga-GP12 for PET imaging of TIGIT expression with high tumor uptake of 4.22 ± 0.68 %ID/g and the tumor-to-muscle ratio of 12.94 ± 2.64 at 60 min post-injection. The primary and metastatic lesions found in the first-in-human studies of 68Ga-GP12 PET/CT imaging were comparable to that in 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging. Moreover, the inhomogenous intra-and-inter-tumoral uptake of 68Ga-GP12 was presented, reflecting the heterogeneity of TIGIT expression levels. Conclusion 68Ga-GP12 is a promising radiotracer for PET imaging of TIGIT expression in cancers, indicating its potential as a potential companion diagnostic for anti-TIGIT therapies.

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Development of [18F]FPy-WL12 as a PD-L1 Specific PET Imaging Peptide

Molecular Imaging ◽

10.1177/1536012119852189 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

pp. 153601211985218 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Wojciech G. Lesniak ◽

Ronnie C. Mease ◽

Samit Chatterjee ◽

Dhiraj Kumar ◽

Ala Lisok ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pet Imaging ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Whole Body ◽

In Vivo Evaluation ◽

Positron Emission ◽

Comprehensive Picture ◽

Specific Uptake ◽

Ex Vivo Biodistribution

Expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) within tumors is an important biomarker for guiding immune checkpoint therapies; however, immunohistochemistry-based methods of detection fail to provide a comprehensive picture of PD-L1 levels in an entire patient. To facilitate quantification of PD-L1 in the whole body, we developed a peptide-based, high-affinity PD-L1 imaging agent labeled with [18F]fluoride for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The parent peptide, WL12, and the nonradioactive analog of the radiotracer, 19FPy-WL12, inhibit PD-1/PD-L1 interaction at low nanomolar concentrations (half maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50], 26-32 nM). The radiotracer, [18F]FPy-WL12, was prepared by conjugating 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl 6-[18F]fluoronicotinate ([18F]FPy-TFP) to WL12 and assessed for specificity in vitro in 6 cancer cell lines with varying PD-L1 expression. The uptake of the radiotracer reflected the PD-L1 expression assessed by flow cytometry. Next, we performed the in vivo evaluation of [18F]FPy-WL12 in mice bearing cancer xenografts by PET imaging, ex vivo biodistribution, and blocking studies. In vivo data demonstrated a PD-L1-specific uptake of [18F]FPy-WL12 in tumors that is reduced in mice receiving a blocking dose. The majority of [18F]FPy-WL12 radioactivity was localized in the tumors, liver, and kidneys indicating the need for optimization of the labeling strategy to improve the in vivo pharmacokinetics of the radiotracer.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of In vivo and ex vivo comparative transcriptional profiling of invasive and non-invasive Candida albicans isolates identifies genes associated with tissue invasion.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1085792.538709 ◽

2007 ◽

Author(s):

John Perfect

Keyword(s):

Candida Albicans ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Transcriptional Profiling ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Tissue Invasion

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IMMU-31. QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF ROUTES OF ADMINISTRATION OF IMMUNOTHERAPEUTIC T CELLS TO ORTHOTOPIC GLIOMA

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noaa215.461 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. ii111-ii111

Author(s):

Lan Hoang-Minh ◽

Angelie Rivera-Rodriguez ◽

Fernanda Pohl-Guimarães ◽

Seth Currlin ◽

Christina Von Roemeling ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Tumor Growth ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Adoptive T Cell Therapy ◽

Whole Body ◽

T Cell Therapy ◽

Clinical Responses

Abstract SIGNIFICANCE Adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) has emerged as the most effective treatment against advanced malignant melanoma, eliciting remarkable objective clinical responses in up to 75% of patients with refractory metastatic disease, including within the central nervous system. Immunologic surrogate endpoints correlating with treatment outcome have been identified in these patients, with clinical responses being dependent on the migration of transferred T cells to sites of tumor growth. OBJECTIVE We investigated the biodistribution of intravenously or intraventricularly administered T cells in a murine model of glioblastoma at whole body, organ, and cellular levels. METHODS gp100-specific T cells were isolated from the spleens of pmel DsRed transgenic C57BL/6 mice and injected intravenously or intraventricularly, after in vitro expansion and activation, in murine KR158B-Luc-gp100 glioma-bearing mice. To determine transferred T cell spatial distribution, the brain, lymph nodes, heart, lungs, spleen, liver, and kidneys of mice were processed for 3D imaging using light-sheet and multiphoton imaging. ACT T cell quantification in various organs was performed ex vivo using flow cytometry, 2D optical imaging (IVIS), and magnetic particle imaging (MPI) after ferucarbotran nanoparticle transfection of T cells. T cell biodistribution was also assessed in vivo using MPI. RESULTS Following T cell intravenous injection, the spleen, liver, and lungs accounted for more than 90% of transferred T cells; the proportion of DsRed T cells in the brains was found to be very low, hovering below 1%. In contrast, most ACT T cells persisted in the tumor-bearing brains following intraventricular injections. ACT T cells mostly concentrated at the periphery of tumor masses and in proximity to blood vessels. CONCLUSIONS The success of ACT immunotherapy for brain tumors requires optimization of delivery route, dosing regimen, and enhancement of tumor-specific lymphocyte trafficking and effector functions to achieve maximal penetration and persistence at sites of invasive tumor growth.

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Designed multifunctional polymeric nanomedicines: long-term biodistribution and tumour accumulation of aptamer-targeted nanomaterials

Chemical Communications ◽

10.1039/c8cc05831h ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 54 (82) ◽

pp. 11538-11541 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

N. L. Fletcher ◽

Z. H. Houston ◽

J. D. Simpson ◽

R. N. Veedu ◽

K. J. Thurecht

Keyword(s):

Polyethylene Glycol ◽

Pet Imaging ◽

Hyperbranched Polymer ◽

Ex Vivo

We report a novel multifunctional hyperbranched polymer based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a nanomedicine platform that facilitates longitudinal and quantitative 89Zr-PET imaging, enhancing knowledge of nanomaterial biodistribution and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics both in vivo and ex vivo.

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64Cu-PSMA-BCH: A New Radiotracer for Delayed PET Imaging of Prostate Cancer

10.21203/rs.3.rs-238776/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Teli Liu ◽

Chen Liu ◽

Zhongyi Zhang ◽

Ning Zhang ◽

Xiaoyi Guo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Pet Imaging ◽

Radiation Dosimetry ◽

Whole Body ◽

Post Injection ◽

Human Organ ◽

Fine Needle ◽

Fine Needle Aspirates ◽

Psma Pet

Abstract PurposeDevelop a 64Cu labeled radiopharmaceutical targeting prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and investigate its application for prostate cancer imaging. Methods64Cu-PSMA-BCH was prepared and investigated for stability, PSMA specificity and micro-PET imaging. With the approval of Ethics Committee of Beijing Cancer Hospital (No. 2017KT97), PET/CT imaging in 4 patients with suspected prostate cancer was performed and the radiation dosimetry was estimated. Then, PSMA PET-ultrasound image-guided biopsies were performed on 3 patients and the fine needle aspirates were further performed for autoradiography and immunohistochemistry analysis. Results64Cu-PSMA-BCH was prepared with high radiochemical yield and stability. In vivo study showed higher uptake in PSMA (+) 22Rv1 cells than PSMA (-) PC-3 cells (5.59±0.36 and 1.97±0.22 IA%/106 cells at 1 h). It accumulated in 22Rv1 tumor with increasing radioactivity uptake and T/N ratios from 1 h to 24 h post-injection. In patients with suspected prostate cancer, SUVmax and T/N ratios increased within 24 h post-injection. Compared with image at 1 h post-injection, more tumor lesions were detected at 4 h and 24 h post-injection. The human organ radiation dosimetry showed gallbladder wall was most critical, liver and kidneys were followed, and the whole-body effective dose was 0.0292 mSv/MBq. Two fine needle aspirates obtained by PET-ultrasound guided targeted biopsy showed high radioactive signal by autoradiography, with 100% PSMA expression in cytoplasm and 30% expression in nucleus. Conclusion64Cu-PSMA-BCH was PSMA specific and showed high stability in vivo with lower uptake in liver than 64Cu-PSMA-617. Biodistribution in mice and PCa patients showed similar profile compared with other PSMA ligands and it was safe with moderate effective dosimetry. The increased tumor uptake and T/N ratios by delayed imaging may facilitate the detection of small lesions and guiding targeted biopsies.

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Abstract 2876: Early Retention and Subsequent Engraftment of Transplanted Progenitor Cells is Improved by Delivery within Collagen Matrix

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.118.suppl_18.s_790-b ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽

Author(s):

Yan Zhang ◽

Marc Lamoureux ◽

Stephanie Thorn ◽

Vincent Chan ◽

Joel Price ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Therapy ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Pet Imaging ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Collagen Matrix ◽

Cell Labeling ◽

Type I ◽

The Matrix ◽

Early Retention

Background: To investigate the mechanisms involved in the potentiation of cell therapy by delivery matrices, we evaluated the retention and engraftment of transplanted human circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) injected in a collagen matrix by using in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, ex vivo biodistribution, and immunohistochemistry. Methods: CPCs were labeled with 18 F-FDG and injected with or without a collagen type I-based matrix in the ischemic hindlimb muscle (IM) of rats (2x10 6 cells; n=15/group). Localization of cells was acquired by PET imaging (15 min) at 150 min post-injection. In addition, radionuclide biodistribution, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemical examination of transplanted CPCs were performed at up to 14 days. Results: Cell labeling efficiency was CPC-concentration dependent (r=0.61, p <0.001), but not 18 F-FDG-dose dependent. Labeled CPCs exhibited excellent short-term stability and viability. Persistence of 18 F-FDG radioactivity in cells was markedly greater than non-specific retention in the matrix. Wholebody (WB) PET images revealed better CPC retention in the IM and less non-specific leakage to other tissues when CPCs were delivered within the matrix (IM/WB retention ratio of 43.9±8.2%), compared to cells injected alone (22.3±10.4%; p =0.040) and to 18 F-FDG injected with or without the matrix (9.7±5.5% and 11.0±5.5%, respectively; p <0.005). Radioactivity biodistribution confirmed that accumulation was increased (by 92.5%; p =0.024) in the IM and reduced (by 1.1 to 23.8%; p <0.05) in non-specific tissues when cells were injected within the matrix, compared to cells injected alone. Anti-human mitochondria staining showed increased cell retention in the IM with use of matrices (3.0±2.1%) versus cells only (1.9±0.8%; p =0.048). At 14 days the number of CD31 + transplanted human cells was greater (1.6±0.1%) when injected within the matrix than injected alone (0.7±0.1%; p =0.004). Conclusions: Collagen-based delivery matrices improve the early retention of transplanted CPCs, which in turn favors subsequent cell engraftment in the ischemic tissue. This mechanism conferred by the matrix has potential implications for the optimization of cell therapy at the early stages after cell delivery.

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Sequential deconstruction of composite drug transport in metastatic breast cancer

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.aba4498 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (26) ◽

pp. eaba4498 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Shreya Goel ◽

Guodong Zhang ◽

Prashant Dogra ◽

Sara Nizzero ◽

Vittorio Cristini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Drug Transport ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Metastatic Breast ◽

Lesion Size ◽

Whole Body ◽

High Temporal Resolution ◽

Breast Cancers ◽

Advanced Therapies

It is challenging to design effective drug delivery systems (DDS) that target metastatic breast cancers (MBC) because of lack of competent imaging and image analysis protocols that suitably capture the interactions between DDS and metastatic lesions. Here, we integrate high temporal resolution of in vivo whole-body PET-CT, ex vivo whole-organ optical imaging, high spatial resolution of confocal microscopy, and mathematical modeling, to systematically deconstruct the trafficking of injectable nanoparticle generators encapsulated with polymeric doxorubicin (iNPG-pDox) in pulmonary MBC. iNPG-pDox accumulated substantially in metastatic lungs, compared to healthy lungs. Intratumoral distribution and retention of iNPG-pDox varied with lesion size, possibly induced by locally remodeled microenvironment. We further used multiscale imaging and mathematical simulations to provide improved drug delivery strategies for MBC. Our work presents a multidisciplinary translational toolbox to evaluate transport and interactions of DDS within metastases. This knowledge can be recursively applied to rationally design advanced therapies for metastatic cancers.

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