A novel PSMA targeted dual-function near-infrared fluorescence and PET probe for the image-guided surgery and detection of prostate cancer

Preclinical Evaluation of a PSMA Aptamer-Based Bifunctional PET and Fluorescent Probe

Prostate cancer is the most prevalent malignant tumor affecting male individuals worldwide. The accurate early detection of prostate cancer is crucial to preventing unnecessary diagnosis and subsequent excessive treatment. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has emerged as a promising biomarker for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. In this study, a dual-modality imaging probe utilizing aptamer technology was developed for positron emission tomography/near-infrared fluorescence (PET/NIRF) imaging, and the specificity and sensitivity of the probe toward PSMA were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The probe precursor NOTA-PSMA-Cy5 was synthesized via automated solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis. Subsequently, the PET/NIRF dual-modality probe [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-PSMA-Cy5 was successfully prepared and exhibited favorable fluorescence properties and stability in vitro. The binding specificity of [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-PSMA-Cy5 to PSMA was assessed through flow cytometry, fluorescence imaging, and cellular uptake experiments in LNCaP cells and PC-3 cells. In vivo PET/NIRF imaging studies demonstrated the sensitive and specific binding of [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-PSMA-Cy5 to PSMA. Overall, the PET/NIRF dual-modality probe [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-PSMA-Cy5 shows promise for the diagnosis of prostate cancer and for the fluorescence-guided identification of PSMA-positive cancer lesions during surgical procedures.

Magnetic-optical dual-modality imaging monitoring chemotherapy efficacy of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with a low-dose fibronectin-targeting Gd-based contrast agent

PURPOSE

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal hypovascular tumor surrounded by dense fibrosis. Albumin-bound paclitaxel and gemcitabine (AG) chemotherapy is the mainstay of PDAC treatment through depleting peritumoral fibrosis and killing tumor cells; however, it remains challenging due to the lack of a noninvasive imaging method evaluating fibrotic changes during AG chemotherapy. In this study, we developed a dual-modality imaging platform that enables noninvasive, dynamic, and quantitative assessment of chemotherapy-induced fibrotic changes through near-infrared fluorescence molecular imaging (FMI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using an extradomain B fibronectin (EDB-FN)-targeted imaging probe (ZD2-Gd-DOTA-Cy7).

METHODS

The ZD2-Gd-DOTA-Cy7 probe was constructed by conjugating a peptide (Cys-TVRTSAD) to Gd-DOTA and the near-infrared dye Cy7. PDAC murine xenograft models were intravenously injected with ZD2-Gd-DOTA-Cy7 at a Gd concentration of 0.05 mmol/kg or free Cy7 and Gd-DOTA as control. The normalized tumor background ratio (TBR) on FMI and the T1 reduction ratio on MRI were quantitatively analyzed. For models receiving AG chemotherapy or saline, MRI/FMI was performed before and after treatment. Histological analyses were performed for validation.

RESULTS

The ZD2-Gd-DOTA-Cy7 concentration showed a linear correlation with the fluorescence intensity and T1 relaxation time in vitro. The optimal imaging time was 30 min after injection of the ZD2-Gd-DOTA-Cy7 (0.05 mmol/kg), only half of the clinic dosage of gadolinium. Additionally, ZD2-Gd-DOTA-Cy7 generated a 1.44-fold and 1.90-fold robust contrast enhancement compared with Cy7 (P < 0.05) and Gd-DOTA (P < 0.05), respectively. For AG chemotherapy monitoring, the T1 reduction ratio and normalized TBR in the fibrotic tumor areas were significantly increased by 1.99-fold (P < 0.05) and 1.78-fold (P < 0.05), respectively, in the control group compared with those in the AG group.

CONCLUSION

MRI/FMI with a low dose of ZD2-Gd-DOTA-Cy7 enables sensitive imaging of PDAC and the quantitative assessment of fibrotic changes during AG chemotherapy, which shows potential clinical applications for precise diagnosis, post-treatment monitoring, and disease management.

Knowledge mapping of application of image-guided surgery in prostate cancer: a bibliometric analysis (2013-2023)

BACKGROUND

Image-guided surgery (IGS) refers to surgery navigated by medical imaging technology, helping doctors better clarify tumor boundaries, identify metastatic lymph nodes and preserve surrounding healthy tissue function. Recent studies have provided expectable momentum of the application of IGS in prostate cancer (PCa). The authors aim to comprehensively construct a bibliometric analysis of the application of IGS in PCa.

METHOD

The authors searched publications related to application of IGS in PCa from 2013 to 2023 on the web of science core collection (WoSCC) databases. VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R package 'bibliometrix' were used for bibliometric analysis.

RESULTS

Two thousand three eighty-nine articles from 75 countries and 2883 institutions led by the United States were included. The number of publications related to the application of IGS in PCa kept high in the last decade. Johns Hopkins University is the top research institutions. Journal of Nuclear Medicine has the highest popularity as the selection of journal and co-cited journal. Pomper Martin G. had published the most paper. Ali Afshar-Oromieh was co-cited most frequently. The clinical efficacy of PSMA-PET/CT in PCa diagnosis and treatment are main topics in this research field, with emerging focuses on the use of fluorescence imaging guidance technology in PCa. 'PSMA' and 'PET/CT' are the main keywords as long-term research hotspots.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first bibliometric analysis of researches on application of IGS in PCa with three recognized bibliometric software, providing an objective description and comprehensive guidance for the future relevant investigations.