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Huličiak M, Biedermanová L, Berdár D, Herynek Š, Kolářová L, Tomala J, Mikulecký P, Schneider B. Combined in vitro and cell-based selection display method producing specific binders against IL-9 receptor in high yields. FEBS J 2023. [PMID: 36637991 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
We combined cell-free ribosome display and cell-based yeast display selection to build specific protein binders to the extracellular domain of the human interleukin 9 receptor alpha (IL-9Rα). The target, IL-9Rα, is the receptor involved in the signalling pathway of IL-9, a pro-inflammatory cytokine medically important for its involvement in respiratory diseases. The successive use of modified protocols of ribosome and yeast displays allowed us to combine their strengths-the virtually infinite selection power of ribosome display and the production of (mostly) properly folded and soluble proteins in yeast display. The described experimental protocol is optimized to produce binders highly specific to the target, including selectivity to common proteins such as BSA, and proteins potentially competing for the binder such as receptors of other cytokines. The binders were trained from DNA libraries of two protein scaffolds called 57aBi and 57bBi developed in our laboratory. We show that the described unconventional combination of ribosome and yeast displays is effective in developing selective small protein binders to the medically relevant molecular target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maroš Huličiak
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Lada Biedermanová
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Berdár
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Štěpán Herynek
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Kolářová
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Tomala
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Mikulecký
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Bohdan Schneider
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
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2
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Xia X, Yang X, Huang W, Xia X, Yan D. Self-Assembled Nanomicelles of Affibody-Drug Conjugate with Excellent Therapeutic Property to Cure Ovary and Breast Cancers. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2021; 14:33. [PMID: 34902075 PMCID: PMC8669081 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-021-00762-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Affibody molecules are small non-immunoglobulin affinity proteins, which can precisely target to some cancer cells with specific overexpressed molecular signatures. However, the relatively short in vivo half-life of them seriously limited their application in drug targeted delivery for cancer therapy. Here an amphiphilic affibody-drug conjugate is self-assembled into nanomicelles to prolong circulation time for targeted cancer therapy. As an example of the concept, the nanoagent was prepared through molecular self-assembly of the amphiphilic conjugate of ZHER2:342-Cys with auristatin E derivate, where the affibody used is capable of binding to the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Such a nanodrug not only increased the blood circulation time, but also enhanced the tumor targeting capacity (abundant affibody arms on the nanoagent surface) and the drug accumulation in tumor. As a result, this affibody-based nanoagent showed excellent antitumor activity in vivo to HER2-positive ovary and breast tumor models, which nearly eradicated both small solid tumors (about 100 mm3) and large established tumors (exceed 500 mm3). The relative tumor proliferation inhibition ratio reaches 99.8% for both models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelin Xia
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyuan Yang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Huang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxia Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China.
| | - Deyue Yan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China.
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3
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Investigation of a Pharmacological Approach for Reduction of Renal Uptake of Radiolabeled ADAPT Scaffold Protein. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25194448. [PMID: 32998229 PMCID: PMC7583817 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25194448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Albumin binding domain-Derived Affinity ProTeins (ADAPTs) are small (5 kDa) engineered scaffold proteins that are promising targeting agents for radionuclide-based imaging. A recent clinical study has demonstrated that radiolabeled ADAPTs can efficiently visualize human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression in breast cancer using SPECT imaging. However, the use of ADAPTs directly labeled with radiometals for targeted radionuclide therapy is limited by their high reabsorption and prolonged retention of activity in kidneys. In this study, we investigated whether a co-injection of lysine or gelofusin, commonly used for reduction of renal uptake of radiolabeled peptides in clinics, would reduce the renal uptake of [99mTc]Tc(CO)3-ADAPT6 in NMRI mice. In order to better understand the mechanism behind the reabsorption of [99mTc]Tc(CO)3-ADAPT6, we included several compounds that act on various parts of the reabsorption system in kidneys. Administration of gelofusine, lysine, probenecid, furosemide, mannitol, or colchicine did not change the uptake of [99mTc]Tc(CO)3-ADAPT6 in kidneys. Sodium maleate reduced the uptake of [99mTc]Tc(CO)3-ADAPT6 to ca. 25% of the uptake in the control, a high dose of fructose (50 mmol/kg) reduced the uptake by ca. two-fold. However, a lower dose (20 mmol/kg) had no effect. These results indicate that common clinical strategies are not effective for reduction of kidney uptake of [99mTc]Tc(CO)3-ADAPT6 and that other strategies for reduction of activity uptake or retention in kidneys should be investigated for ADAPT6.
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4
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Mukai H, Watanabe Y. Review: PET imaging with macro- and middle-sized molecular probes. Nucl Med Biol 2020; 92:156-170. [PMID: 32660789 DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2020.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Recent progress in radiolabeling of macro- and middle-sized molecular probes has been extending possibilities to use PET molecular imaging for dynamic application to drug development and therapeutic evaluation. Theranostics concept also accelerated the use of macro- and middle-sized molecular probes for sharpening the contrast of proper target recognition even the cellular types/subtypes and proper selection of the patients who should be treated by the same molecules recognition. Here, brief summary of the present status of immuno-PET, and then further development of advanced technologies related to immuno-PET, peptidic PET probes, and nucleic acids PET probes are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidefumi Mukai
- Laboratory for Molecular Delivery and Imaging Technology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan.
| | - Yasuyoshi Watanabe
- Laboratory for Pathophysiological and Health Science, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan.
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Imaging using radiolabelled targeted proteins: radioimmunodetection and beyond. EJNMMI Radiopharm Chem 2020; 5:16. [PMID: 32577943 PMCID: PMC7311618 DOI: 10.1186/s41181-020-00094-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of radiolabelled antibodies was proposed in 1970s for staging of malignant tumours. Intensive research established chemistry for radiolabelling of proteins and understanding of factors determining biodistribution and targeting properties. The use of radioimmunodetection for staging of cancer was not established as common practice due to approval and widespread use of [18F]-FDG, which provided a more general diagnostic use than antibodies or their fragments. Expanded application of antibody-based therapeutics renewed the interest in radiolabelled antibodies. RadioimmunoPET emerged as a powerful tool for evaluation of pharmacokinetics of and target engagement by biotherapeutics. In addition to monoclonal antibodies, new radiolabelled engineered proteins have recently appeared, offering high-contrast imaging of expression of therapeutic molecular targets in tumours shortly after injection. This creates preconditions for noninvasive determination of a target expression level and stratification of patients for targeted therapies. Radiolabelled proteins hold great promise to play an important role in development and implementation of personalised targeted treatment of malignant tumours. This article provides an overview of biodistribution and tumour-seeking features of major classes of targeting proteins currently utilized for molecular imaging. Such information might be useful for researchers entering the field of the protein-based radionuclide molecular imaging.
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Qi S, Hoppmann S, Xu Y, Cheng Z. PET Imaging of HER2-Positive Tumors with Cu-64-Labeled Affibody Molecules. Mol Imaging Biol 2020; 21:907-916. [PMID: 30617730 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-018-01310-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Previous studies has demonstrated the utility of human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) as an attractive target for cancer molecular imaging and therapy. An affibody protein with strong binding affinity for HER2, ZHER2:342, has been reported. Various methods of chelator conjugation for radiolabeling HER2 affibody molecules have been described in the literature including N-terminal conjugation, C-terminal conjugation, and other methods. Cu-64 has recently been extensively evaluated due to its half-life, decay properties, and availability. Our goal was to optimize the radiolabeling method of this affibody molecule with Cu-64, and translate a positron emission tomography (PET) probe with the best in vivo performance to clinical PET imaging of HER2-positive cancers. PROCEDURES In our study, three anti-HER2 affibody proteins-based PET probes were prepared, and their in vivo performance was evaluated in mice bearing HER2-positive subcutaneous SKOV3 tumors. The affibody analogues, Ac-Cys-ZHER2:342, Ac-ZHER2:342(Cys39), and Ac-ZHER2:342-Cys, were synthesized using the solid phase peptide synthesis method. The purified small proteins were site-specifically conjugated with the maleimide-functionalized chelator, 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-tris- aceticacid-10-maleimidethylacetamide (maleimido-mono-amide-DOTA). The resulting DOTA-affibody conjugates were then radiolabeled with Cu-64. Cell uptake assay of the resulting PET probes, [64Cu]DOTA-Cys-ZHER2:342, [64Cu]DOTA-ZHER2:342(Cys39), and [64Cu]DOTA-ZHER2:342-Cys, was performed in HER2-positive human ovarian SKOV3 carcinoma cells at 4 and 37 °C. The binding affinities of the radiolabeled peptides were tested by cell saturation assay using SKOV3 cells. PET imaging, biodistribution, and metabolic stability studies were performed in mice bearing SKOV3 tumors. RESULTS Cell uptake assays showed high and specific uptake by incubation of Cu-64-labeled affibodies with SKOV3 cells. The affinities (KD) of the PET radio probes as tested by cell saturation analysis were in the low nanomolar range with the ranking of [64Cu]DOTA-Cys-ZHER2:342 (25.2 ± 9.2 nM) ≈ [64Cu]DOTA-ZHER2:342-Cys (32.6 ± 14.7 nM) > [64Cu]DOTA-ZHER2:342(Cys39) (77.6 ± 22.2 nM). In vitro stability and in vivo metabolite analysis study revealed that all three probes were stable enough for in vivo imaging applications, while [64Cu]DOTA-Cys-ZHER2:342 showed the highest stability. In vivo small-animal PET further demonstrated fast tumor targeting, good tumor accumulation, and good tumor to normal tissue contrast of all three probes. For [64Cu]DOTA-Cys-ZHER2:342, [64Cu]DOTA-ZHER2:342(Cys39), and [64Cu]DOTA-ZHER2:342-Cys, tumor uptake at 24 h are 4.0 ± 1.0 % ID/g, 4.0 ± 0.8 %ID/g, and 4.3 ± 0.7 %ID/g, respectively (mean ± SD, n = 4). Co-injection of the probes with non-labeled anti-HER2 affibody proteins confirmed in vivo specificities of the compounds by tumor uptake reduction. CONCLUSIONS The three Cu-64-labeled ZHER2:342 analogues all display excellent HER2 targeting ability and tumor PET imaging quality. Although varied in the position of the radiometal labeling of these three Cu-64-labeled ZHER2:342 analogues, there is no significant difference in tumor and normal tissue uptakes among the three probes. [64Cu]DOTA-Cys-ZHER2:342 stands out as the most superior PET probe because of its highest affinities and in vivo stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shibo Qi
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China.,Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305-5344, USA
| | - Susan Hoppmann
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305-5344, USA
| | - Yingding Xu
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305-5344, USA
| | - Zhen Cheng
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305-5344, USA.
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Bragina OD, Chernov VI, Zeltchan RV, Sinilkin IG, Medvedeva AA, Larkina MS. Alternative scaffolds in radionuclide diagnosis of malignancies. BULLETIN OF SIBERIAN MEDICINE 2019. [DOI: 10.20538/1682-0363-2019-3-125-133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This review discusses a relatively new class of targeted molecules that is being actively studied for radionuclide diagnosis and treatment of malignancies. The full-size antibodies used so far have non-optimal pharmacological properties, slow distribution in the body, poor penetration into the tissue and kidney excretion, and high immunogenicity, which significantly complicates their use in clinical practice. Over the past decade, a new class of targeted molecules, called “non-immunoglobulin scaffolds” have become popular; they have all the requirements for optimal delivery of a radionuclide to tumor cells. Scaffolds usually are smaller in size in comparison with antibodies, but they are larger than peptides, and are characterized by high affinity and optimal biochemical, biophysical, biological, and economic features. The advantages of such proteins are their stable structure, good penetration into tissues, the possibility of additional functionalization and expression in the bacterial system, which ensures low production costs.The results of preclinical and clinical studies for diagnosis of malignancies using such proteins as affibody, adnectin, DARPins, etc., have demonstrated their high specificity, affinity, good tolerance and low immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- O. D. Bragina
- Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center (NRMC), Russian Academy of Science
| | - V. I. Chernov
- Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center (NRMC), Russian Academy of Science;
National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University
| | - R. V. Zeltchan
- Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center (NRMC), Russian Academy of Science
| | - I. G. Sinilkin
- Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center (NRMC), Russian Academy of Science
| | - A. A. Medvedeva
- Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center (NRMC), Russian Academy of Science
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8
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Vorobyeva A, Schulga A, Konovalova E, Güler R, Löfblom J, Sandström M, Garousi J, Chernov V, Bragina O, Orlova A, Tolmachev V, Deyev SM. Optimal composition and position of histidine-containing tags improves biodistribution of 99mTc-labeled DARPin G3. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9405. [PMID: 31253840 PMCID: PMC6599047 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45795-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Radionuclide molecular imaging of HER2 expression in disseminated cancer enables stratification of patients for HER2-targeted therapies. DARPin G3, a small (14 kDa) engineered scaffold protein, is a promising probe for imaging of HER2. We hypothesized that position (C- or N-terminus) and composition (hexahistidine or (HE)3) of histidine-containing tags would influence the biodistribution of [99mTc]Tc(CO)3-labeled DARPin G3. To test the hypothesis, G3 variants containing tags at N-terminus (H6-G3 and (HE)3-G3) or at C-terminus (G3-H6 and G3-(HE)3) were labeled with [99mTc]Tc(CO)3. Labeling yield, label stability, specificity and affinity of the binding to HER2, biodistribution and tumor targeting properties of these variants were compared side-by-side. There was no substantial influence of position and composition of the tags on binding of [99mTc]Tc(CO)3-labeled variants to HER2. The specificity of HER2 targeting in vivo was confirmed. The tumor uptake in BALB/c nu/nu mice bearing SKOV3 xenografts was similar for all variants. On the opposite, there was a strong influence of the tags on uptake in normal tissues. The tumor-to-liver ratio for [99mTc]Tc(CO)3-(HE)3-G3 was three-fold higher compared to the hexahistidine-tag containing variants. Overall, [99mTc]Tc(CO)3-(HE)3-G3 variant provided the highest tumor-to-lung, tumor-to-liver, tumor-to-bone and tumor-to-muscle ratios, which should improve sensitivity of HER2 imaging in these common metastatic sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anzhelika Vorobyeva
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alexey Schulga
- Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Konovalova
- Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Rezan Güler
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Löfblom
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mattias Sandström
- Nuclear Medicine and PET, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Javad Garousi
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Chernov
- Nuclear Medicine Department, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Olga Bragina
- Nuclear Medicine Department, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Anna Orlova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Sergey M Deyev
- Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia.,Bio-Nanophotonic Lab, Institute of Engineering Physics for Biomedicine (PhysBio), National Research Nuclear University "MEPhI", Moscow, Russia
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9
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Zhang Y, Zhao N, Qin Y, Wu F, Xu Z, Lan T, Cheng Z, Zhao P, Liu H. Affibody-functionalized Ag 2S quantum dots for photoacoustic imaging of epidermal growth factor receptor overexpressed tumors. NANOSCALE 2018; 10:16581-16590. [PMID: 30151510 DOI: 10.1039/c8nr02556h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a new and attractive imaging modality, and it has strong potential for application in the early detection of tumors through the use of optically absorbing targeted contrast agents. Ag2S quantum dots (QD) are a promising bionanomaterial and have attracted significant attention in the field of bioimaging. In this study, water-soluble and carboxylic acid group-coated Ag2S QDs with an ultrasmall size (∼8 nm) were synthesized via a one-step method. Their surface plasmon resonance wavelength was determined to be ∼800 nm, which is ideal for PAI. Ag2S QDs were then modified with the epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR) targeted small protein affibody ZEGFR:1907. The resulted nanoprobe, ZEGFR:1907-Ag2S QDs, was then used for targeted PAI of EGFR-overexpressed tumors. The biodistribution of the nanoprobe was further measured by ex vivo near infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging of the dissected tissues. The PAI results showed that ZEGFR:1907-Ag2S QDs specifically image EGFR positive tumors. The biodistribution study revealed that the nanoprobe mainly accumulated in the liver, spleen and tumors; tissue H&E staining studies indicated that the probe has good biocompatibility. Overall, the affibody-functionalized Ag2S QDs are a novel targeted nanoprobe that can be used for specific PAI of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110000, China.
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10
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Hilliard TS. The Impact of Mesothelin in the Ovarian Cancer Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:E277. [PMID: 30134520 PMCID: PMC6162689 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10090277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecological disease among U.S. women. Poor 5-year survival rates (<30%) are due to presentation of most women at diagnosis with advanced stage disease with widely disseminated intraperitoneal metastasis. However, when diagnosed before metastatic propagation the overall 5-year survival rate is >90%. Metastasizing tumor cells grow rapidly and aggressively attach to the mesothelium of all organs within the peritoneal cavity, including the parietal peritoneum and the omentum, producing secondary lesions. In this review, the involvement of mesothelin (MSLN) in the tumor microenvironment is discussed. MSLN, a 40kDa glycoprotein that is overexpressed in many cancers including ovarian and mesotheliomas is suggested to play a role in cell survival, proliferation, tumor progression, and adherence. However, the biological function of MSLN is not fully understood as MSLN knockout mice do not present with an abnormal phenotype. Conversely, MSLN has been shown to bind to the ovarian cancer antigen, CA-125, and thought to play a role in the peritoneal diffusion of ovarian tumor cells. Although the cancer-specific expression of MSLN makes it a potential therapeutic target, more studies are needed to validate the role of MSLN in tumor metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyvette S Hilliard
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46617, USA.
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11
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Sirois AR, Deny DA, Baierl SR, George KS, Moore SJ. Fn3 proteins engineered to recognize tumor biomarker mesothelin internalize upon binding. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197029. [PMID: 29738555 PMCID: PMC5940182 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesothelin is a cell surface protein that is overexpressed in numerous cancers, including breast, ovarian, lung, liver, and pancreatic tumors. Aberrant expression of mesothelin has been shown to promote tumor progression and metastasis through interaction with established tumor biomarker CA125. Therefore, molecules that specifically bind to mesothelin have potential therapeutic and diagnostic applications. However, no mesothelin-targeting molecules are currently approved for routine clinical use. While antibodies that target mesothelin are in development, some clinical applications may require a targeting molecule with an alternative protein fold. For example, non-antibody proteins are more suitable for molecular imaging and may facilitate diverse chemical conjugation strategies to create drug delivery complexes. In this work, we engineered variants of the fibronectin type III domain (Fn3) non-antibody protein scaffold to bind to mesothelin with high affinity, using directed evolution and yeast surface display. Lead engineered Fn3 variants were solubly produced and purified from bacterial culture at high yield. Upon specific binding to mesothelin on human cancer cell lines, the engineered Fn3 proteins internalized and co-localized to early endosomes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of non-antibody proteins engineered to bind mesothelin. The results validate that non-antibody proteins can be engineered to bind to tumor biomarker mesothelin, and encourage the continued development of engineered variants for applications such as targeted diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison R. Sirois
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Picker Engineering Program, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Daniela A. Deny
- Department of Biochemistry, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Samantha R. Baierl
- Picker Engineering Program, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Katia S. George
- Department of Biochemistry, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sarah J. Moore
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Picker Engineering Program, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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12
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Krasniqi A, D'Huyvetter M, Devoogdt N, Frejd FY, Sörensen J, Orlova A, Keyaerts M, Tolmachev V. Same-Day Imaging Using Small Proteins: Clinical Experience and Translational Prospects in Oncology. J Nucl Med 2018; 59:885-891. [PMID: 29545374 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.117.199901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Imaging of expression of therapeutic targets may enable stratification of patients for targeted treatments. The use of small radiolabeled probes based on the heavy-chain variable region of heavy-chain-only immunoglobulins or nonimmunoglobulin scaffolds permits rapid localization of radiotracers in tumors and rapid clearance from normal tissues. This makes high-contrast imaging possible on the day of injection. This mini review focuses on small proteins for radionuclide-based imaging that would allow same-day imaging, with the emphasis on clinical applications and promising preclinical developments within the field of oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Krasniqi
- In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Laboratory (ICMI), VUB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Matthias D'Huyvetter
- In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Laboratory (ICMI), VUB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nick Devoogdt
- In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Laboratory (ICMI), VUB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Fredrik Y Frejd
- Affibody AB, Solna, Sweden.,Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jens Sörensen
- Nuclear Medicine and PET, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Medical Imaging Centre, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Orlova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; and
| | - Marleen Keyaerts
- In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Laboratory (ICMI), VUB, Brussels, Belgium .,Nuclear Medicine Department, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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13
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Yu X, Yang YP, Dikici E, Deo SK, Daunert S. Beyond Antibodies as Binding Partners: The Role of Antibody Mimetics in Bioanalysis. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (PALO ALTO, CALIF.) 2017; 10:293-320. [PMID: 28375702 PMCID: PMC5895458 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anchem-061516-045205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of novel binding proteins or antibody mimetics capable of binding to ligand analytes in a manner analogous to that of the antigen-antibody interaction has spurred increased interest in the biotechnology and bioanalytical communities. The goal is to produce antibody mimetics designed to outperform antibodies with regard to binding affinities, cellular and tumor penetration, large-scale production, and temperature and pH stability. The generation of antibody mimetics with tailored characteristics involves the identification of a naturally occurring protein scaffold as a template that binds to a desired ligand. This scaffold is then engineered to create a superior binder by first creating a library that is then subjected to a series of selection steps. Antibody mimetics have been successfully used in the development of binding assays for the detection of analytes in biological samples, as well as in separation methods, cancer therapy, targeted drug delivery, and in vivo imaging. This review describes recent advances in the field of antibody mimetics and their applications in bioanalytical chemistry, specifically in diagnostics and other analytical methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136;
| | - Yu-Ping Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136;
| | - Emre Dikici
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136;
| | - Sapna K Deo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136;
| | - Sylvia Daunert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136;
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14
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Leenheer D, ten Dijke P, Hipolito CJ. A current perspective on applications of macrocyclic-peptide-based high-affinity ligands. Biopolymers 2016; 106:889-900. [PMID: 27352774 PMCID: PMC5132055 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2016] [Revised: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies can bind with high affinity and high selectivity to their targets. As a tool in therapeutics or diagnostics, however, their large size (∼150 kDa) reduces penetration into tissue and prevents passive cellular uptake. To overcome these and other problems, minimized protein scaffolds have been chosen or engineered, with care taken to not compromise binding affinity or specificity. An alternate approach is to begin with a minimal non-antibody scaffold and select functional ligands from a de novo library. We will discuss the structure, production, applications, strengths, and weaknesses of several classes of antibody-derived ligands, that is, antibodies, intrabodies, and nanobodies, and nonantibody-derived ligands, that is, monobodies, affibodies, and macrocyclic peptides. In particular, this review is focussed on macrocyclic peptides produced by the Random non-standard Peptides Integrated Discovery (RaPID) system that are small in size (typically ∼2 kDa), but are able to perform tasks typically handled by larger proteinaceous ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniël Leenheer
- Ph.D. Program in Human Biology, School of Integrative and Global MajorsUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaIbarakiJapan
| | - Peter ten Dijke
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Molecular Cell BiologyLeidenSouth HollandThe Netherlands
- Cancer Signaling, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of TsukubaTsukubaIbarakiJapan
| | - Christopher John Hipolito
- Cancer Signaling, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of TsukubaTsukubaIbarakiJapan
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15
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Honarvar H, Müller C, Cohrs S, Haller S, Westerlund K, Karlström AE, van der Meulen NP, Schibli R, Tolmachev V. Evaluation of the first 44Sc-labeled Affibody molecule for imaging of HER2-expressing tumors. Nucl Med Biol 2016; 45:15-21. [PMID: 27837664 DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2016.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2016] [Revised: 10/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Affibody molecules are small (58 amino acids) high-affinity proteins based on a tri-helix non-immunoglobulin scaffold. A clinical study has demonstrated that PET imaging using Affibody molecules labeled with 68Ga (T½=68min) can visualize metastases of breast cancer expressing human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) and provide discrimination between tumors with high and low expression level. This may help to identify breast cancer patients benefiting from HER2-targeting therapies. The best discrimination was at 4h post injection. Due to longer half-life, a positron-emitting radionuclide 44Sc (T½=4.04h) might be a preferable label for Affibody molecules for imaging at several hours after injection. METHODS A synthetic second-generation anti-HER2 Affibody molecule ZHER2:2891 was labeled with 44Sc via a DOTA-chelator conjugated to the N-terminal amino group. Binding specificity, affinity and cellular processing 44Sc-DOTA-ZHER2:2891 and 68Ga-DOTA-ZHER2:2891 were compared in vitro using HER2-expressing cells. Biodistribution and imaging properties of 44Sc-DOTA-ZHER2:2891 and 68Ga-DOTA-ZHER2:2891 were evaluated in Balb/c nude mice bearing HER2-expression xenografts. RESULTS The labeling yield of 98±2% and specific activity of 7.8GBq/μmol were obtained. The conjugate demonstrated specific binding to HER2-expressing SKOV3.ip cells in vitro and to SKOV3.ip xenografts in nude mice. The distribution of radioactivity at 3h post injection was similar for 44Sc-DOTA-ZHER2:2891 and 68Ga-DOTA-ZHER2:2891, but the blood clearance of the 44Sc-labeled variant was slower and the tumor-to-blood ratio was reduced (15±2 for 44Sc-DOTA-ZHER2:2891 vs 46±9 for 68Ga-DOTA-ZHER2:2891). At 6h after injection of 44Sc-DOTA-ZHER2:2891 the tumor uptake was 8±2% IA/g and the tumor-to-blood ratio was 51±8. Imaging using small-animal PET/CT demonstrated that 44Sc-DOTA-ZHER2:2891 provides specific and high-contrast imaging of HER2-expressing xenografts. CONCLUSION The 44Sc- DOTA-ZHER2:2891 Affibody molecule is a promising probe for imaging of HER2-expression in malignant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadis Honarvar
- Institute for Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Cristina Müller
- Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences ETH-PSI-USZ, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen-PSI, Switzerland.
| | - Susan Cohrs
- Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences ETH-PSI-USZ, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen-PSI, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie Haller
- Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences ETH-PSI-USZ, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen-PSI, Switzerland
| | - Kristina Westerlund
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Amelie Eriksson Karlström
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicholas P van der Meulen
- Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences ETH-PSI-USZ, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen-PSI, Switzerland; Laboratory of Radiochemistry, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen-PSI, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roger Schibli
- Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences ETH-PSI-USZ, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen-PSI, Switzerland; Laboratory of Radiochemistry, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen-PSI, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Institute for Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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16
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Garousi J, Honarvar H, Andersson KG, Mitran B, Orlova A, Buijs J, Löfblom J, Frejd FY, Tolmachev V. Comparative Evaluation of Affibody Molecules for Radionuclide Imaging of in Vivo Expression of Carbonic Anhydrase IX. Mol Pharm 2016; 13:3676-3687. [PMID: 27529191 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.6b00502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) is documented for chronically hypoxic malignant tumors as well as for normoxic renal cell carcinoma. Radionuclide molecular imaging of CAIX would be useful for detection of hypoxic areas in malignant tumors, for patients' stratification for CAIX-targeted therapies, and for discrimination of primary malignant and benign renal tumors. Earlier, we have reported feasibility of in vivo radionuclide based imaging of CAIX expressing tumors using Affibody molecules, small affinity proteins based on a nonimmunoglobulin scaffold. In this study, we compared imaging properties of several anti-CAIX Affibody molecules having identical scaffold parts and competing for the same epitope on CAIX, but having different binding paratopes. Four variants were labeled using residualizing 99mTc and nonresidualizing 125I labels. All radiolabeled variants demonstrated high-affinity detection of CAIX-expressing cell line SK-RC-52 in vitro and specific accumulation in SK-RC-52 xenografts in vivo. 125I-labeled conjugates demonstrated much lower radioactivity uptake in kidneys but higher radioactivity concentration in blood compared with 99mTc-labeled counterparts. Although all variants cleared rapidly from blood and nonspecific compartments, there was noticeable difference in their biodistribution. The best variant for imaging of expression of CAIX in disseminated cancer was 99mTc-(HE)3-ZCAIX:2 providing tumor uptake of 16.3 ± 0.9% ID/g and tumor-to-blood ratio of 44 ± 7 at 4 h after injection. For primary renal cell carcinoma, the most promising imaging candidate was 125I-ZCAIX:4 providing tumor-kidney ratio of 2.1 ± 0.5. In conclusion, several clones of scaffold proteins should be evaluated to select the best variant for development of an imaging probe with optimal sensitivity for the intended application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Garousi
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University , SE-75285 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hadis Honarvar
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University , SE-75285 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ken G Andersson
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology , SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bogdan Mitran
- Division of Molecular Imaging, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University , SE-751 83 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Orlova
- Division of Molecular Imaging, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University , SE-751 83 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jos Buijs
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University , SE-75285 Uppsala, Sweden.,Ridgeview Instruments AB , SE-74020 Vänge, Sweden
| | - John Löfblom
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology , SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Y Frejd
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University , SE-75285 Uppsala, Sweden.,Affibody AB , SE-171 63 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University , SE-75285 Uppsala, Sweden
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17
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Zhao N, Liu S, Jiang Q, Lan T, Cheng Z, Liu H. Small-Protein-Stabilized Semiconductor Nanoprobe for Targeted Imaging of Cancer Cells. Chembiochem 2016; 17:1202-6. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201600219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ning Zhao
- Institute of Molecular Medicine; College of Life and Health Sciences; Northeastern University; 195 Chuangxin Road Shenyang 110000 China
| | - Siyu Liu
- Institute of Molecular Medicine; College of Life and Health Sciences; Northeastern University; 195 Chuangxin Road Shenyang 110000 China
| | - Qike Jiang
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics; Chinese Academy of Sciences; 457 Zhongshan Road Dalian 116023 China
| | - Tian Lan
- Institute of Molecular Medicine; College of Life and Health Sciences; Northeastern University; 195 Chuangxin Road Shenyang 110000 China
| | - Zhen Cheng
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford; Department of Radiology; Stanford University; 1201 Welch Road Stanford CA 94040 USA
| | - Hongguang Liu
- Institute of Molecular Medicine; College of Life and Health Sciences; Northeastern University; 195 Chuangxin Road Shenyang 110000 China
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18
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Lin H, Zhang R, Gunn JR, Esipova TV, Vinogradov S, Gladstone DJ, Jarvis LA, Pogue BW. Comparison of Cherenkov excited fluorescence and phosphorescence molecular sensing from tissue with external beam irradiation. Phys Med Biol 2016; 61:3955-68. [PMID: 27120085 DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/61/10/3955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Ionizing radiation delivered by a medical linear accelerator (LINAC) generates Cherenkov emission within the treated tissue. A fraction of this light, in the 600-900 nm wavelength region, propagates through centimeters of tissue and can be used to excite optical probes in vivo, enabling molecular sensing of tissue analytes. The success of isolating the emission signal from this Cherenkov excitation background is dependent on key factors such as: (i) the Stokes shift of the probe spectra; (ii) the excited state lifetime; (iii) the probe concentration; (iv) the depth below the tissue surface; and (v) the radiation dose used. Previous studies have exclusively focused on imaging phosphorescent dyes, rather than fluorescent dyes. However there are only a few biologically important phosphorescent dyes and yet in comparison there are thousands of biologically relevant fluorescent dyes. So in this study the focus was a study of efficacy of Cherenkov-excited luminescence using fluorescent commercial near-infrared probes, IRDye 680RD, IRDye 700DX, and IRDye 800CW, and comparing them to the well characterized phosphorescent probe Oxyphor PtG4, an oxygen sensitive dye. Each probe was excited by Cherenkov light from a 6 MV external radiation beam, and measured in continuous wave or time-gated modes. The detection was performed by spectrally resolving the luminescence signals, and measuring them with spectrometer-based separation on an ICCD detector. The results demonstrate that IRDye 700DX and PtG4 allowed for the maximal signal to noise ratio. In the case of the phosphorescent probe, PtG4, with emission decays on the microsecond (μs) time scale, time-gated acquisition was possible, and it allowed for higher efficacy in terms of the probe concentration and detection depth. Phantoms containing the probe at 5 mm depth could be detected at concentrations down to the nanoMolar range, and at depths into the tissue simulating phantom near 3 cm. In vivo studies showed that 5 nmol of dye was readily detected with radiation doses less than 5 cGy. Since concentration, radiation dose and depth each contribute to the level of the detected signal, it may be possible to improve any of these parameters at expense of the others. This paradigm of nanoMolar sensitivity for optical reporters in vivo introduces the concept of molecular sensing of tumors during therapy or diagnostically with biologically relevant concentrations of fluorescent reporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyun Lin
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA. MOE Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Photonics Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fujian 350007, People's Republic of China
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19
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Westerlund K, Honarvar H, Norrström E, Strand J, Mitran B, Orlova A, Eriksson Karlström A, Tolmachev V. Increasing the Net Negative Charge by Replacement of DOTA Chelator with DOTAGA Improves the Biodistribution of Radiolabeled Second-Generation Synthetic Affibody Molecules. Mol Pharm 2016; 13:1668-78. [PMID: 27010700 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.6b00089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A promising strategy to enable patient stratification for targeted therapies is to monitor the target expression in a tumor by radionuclide molecular imaging. Affibody molecules (7 kDa) are nonimmunoglobulin scaffold proteins with a 25-fold smaller size than intact antibodies. They have shown an apparent potential as molecular imaging probes both in preclinical and clinical studies. Earlier, we found that hepatic uptake can be reduced by the incorporation of negatively charged purification tags at the N-terminus of Affibody molecules. We hypothesized that liver uptake might similarly be reduced by positioning the chelator at the N-terminus, where the chelator-radionuclide complex will provide negative charges. To test this hypothesis, a second generation synthetic anti-HER2 ZHER2:2891 Affibody molecule was synthesized and labeled with (111)In and (68)Ga using DOTAGA and DOTA chelators. The chelators were manually coupled to the N-terminus of ZHER2:2891 forming an amide bond. Labeling DOTAGA-ZHER2:2891 and DOTA-ZHER2:2891 with (68)Ga and (111)In resulted in stable radioconjugates. The tumor-targeting and biodistribution properties of the (111)In- and (68)Ga-labeled conjugates were compared in SKOV-3 tumor-bearing nude mice at 2 h postinjection. The HER2-specific binding of the radioconjugates was verified both in vitro and in vivo. Using the DOTAGA chelator gave significantly lower radioactivity in liver and blood for both radionuclides. The (111)In-labeled conjugates showed more rapid blood clearance than the (68)Ga-labeled conjugates. The most pronounced influence of the chelators was found when they were labeled with (68)Ga. The DOTAGA chelator gave significantly higher tumor-to-blood (61 ± 6 vs 23 ± 5, p < 0.05) and tumor-to-liver (10.4 ± 0.6 vs 4.5 ± 0.5, p < 0.05) ratios than the DOTA chelator. This study demonstrated that chelators may be used to alter the uptake of Affibody molecules, and most likely other scaffold-based imaging probes, for improvement of imaging contrast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Westerlund
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center , 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hadis Honarvar
- Institute for Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University , 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Emily Norrström
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center , 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joanna Strand
- Institute for Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University , 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bogdan Mitran
- Preclinical PET Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University , 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Orlova
- Preclinical PET Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University , 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Amelie Eriksson Karlström
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center , 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Institute for Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University , 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden
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20
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Lindbo S, Garousi J, Åstrand M, Honarvar H, Orlova A, Hober S, Tolmachev V. Influence of Histidine-Containing Tags on the Biodistribution of ADAPT Scaffold Proteins. Bioconjug Chem 2016; 27:716-26. [PMID: 26781756 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.5b00677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Engineered scaffold proteins (ESP) are high-affinity binders that can be used as probes for radionuclide imaging. Histidine-containing tags enable both efficient purification of ESP and radiolabeling with (99m)Tc(CO)3. Earlier studies demonstrated that the use of a histidine-glutamate-histidine-glutamate-histidine-glutamate (HE)3-tag instead of the commonly used hexahistidine (H6)-tag reduces hepatic uptake of radiolabeled ESP and short peptides. Here, we investigated the influence of histidine-containing tags on the biodistribution of a novel type of ESP, ADAPTs. A series of anti-HER2 ADAPT probes having H6- or (HE)3-tags in the N-termini were prepared. The constructs, (HE)3-ADAPT6 and H6-ADAPT6, were labeled with two different nuclides, (99m)Tc or (111)In. The labeling with (99m)Tc(CO)3 utilized the histidine-containing tags, while (111)In was attached through a maleimido derivative of DOTA conjugated to the N-terminus. For (111)In-labeled ADAPTs, the use of (HE)3 provided a significantly (p < 0.05) lower hepatic uptake at 1 h after injection, but there was no significant difference in hepatic uptake of (111)In-(HE)3-ADAPT6 and H6-ADAPT6 at later time points. Interestingly, in the case of (99m)Tc, (99m)Tc(CO)3-H6-ADAPT6 provided significantly (p < 0.05) lower uptake in a number of normal tissues and was more suitable as an imaging probe. Thus, the influence of histidine-containing tags on the biodistribution of the novel ADAPT scaffold proteins was different compared to its influence on other ESPs studied so far. Apparently, the effect of a histidine-containing tag on the biodistribution is highly dependent on the scaffold composition of the ESP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Lindbo
- Department of Protein Technology, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology , SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Mikael Åstrand
- Department of Protein Technology, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology , SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Sophia Hober
- Department of Protein Technology, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology , SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden
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Vazquez-Lombardi R, Phan TG, Zimmermann C, Lowe D, Jermutus L, Christ D. Challenges and opportunities for non-antibody scaffold drugs. Drug Discov Today 2015; 20:1271-83. [PMID: 26360055 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2015.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The first candidates from the promising class of small non-antibody protein scaffolds are now moving into clinical development and practice. Challenges remain, and scaffolds will need to be further tailored toward applications where they provide real advantages over established therapeutics to succeed in a rapidly evolving drug development landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Vazquez-Lombardi
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia; The University of New South Wales, Faculty of Medicine, St Vincent's Clinical School, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Tri Giang Phan
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia; The University of New South Wales, Faculty of Medicine, St Vincent's Clinical School, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Carsten Zimmermann
- University of San Diego, School of Business Administration, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
| | - David Lowe
- MedImmune Ltd., Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GH, UK
| | - Lutz Jermutus
- MedImmune Ltd., Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GH, UK; Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge, Trinity Lane CB2 1TJ, UK.
| | - Daniel Christ
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia; The University of New South Wales, Faculty of Medicine, St Vincent's Clinical School, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
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22
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Non-immunoglobulin scaffolds: a focus on their targets. Trends Biotechnol 2015; 33:408-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2015.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 03/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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24
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Strand J, Nordeman P, Honarvar H, Altai M, Orlova A, Larhed M, Tolmachev V. Site-Specific Radioiodination of HER2-Targeting Affibody Molecules using 4-Iodophenethylmaleimide Decreases Renal Uptake of Radioactivity. ChemistryOpen 2015; 4:174-82. [PMID: 25969816 PMCID: PMC4420590 DOI: 10.1002/open.201402097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Affibody molecules are small scaffold-based affinity proteins with promising properties as probes for radionuclide-based molecular imaging. However, a high reabsorption of radiolabeled Affibody molecules in kidneys is an issue. We have shown that the use of 125I-3-iodo-((4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl)maleimide (IHPEM) for site-specific labeling of cysteine-containing Affibody molecules provides high tumor uptake but low radioactivity retention in kidneys. We hypothesized that the use of 4-iodophenethylmaleimide (IPEM) would further reduce renal retention of radioactivity because of higher lipophilicity of radiometabolites. An anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) Affibody molecule (ZHER2:2395) was labeled using 125I-IPEM with an overall yield of 45±3 %. 125I-IPEM-ZHER2:2395 bound specifically to HER2-expressing human ovarian carcinoma cells (SKOV-3 cell line). In NMRI mice, the renal uptake of 125I-IPEM-ZHER2:2395 (24±2 and 5.7±0.3 % IA g−1at 1 and 4 h after injection, respectively) was significantly lower than uptake of 125I-IHPEM-ZHER2:2395 (50±8 and 12±2 % IA g−1at 1 and 4 h after injection, respectively). In conclusion, the use of a more lipophilic linker for the radioiodination of Affibody molecules reduces renal radioactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Strand
- Biomedical Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Uppsala University 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Patrik Nordeman
- Preclinical PET Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hadis Honarvar
- Biomedical Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Uppsala University 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mohamed Altai
- Biomedical Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Uppsala University 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Orlova
- Preclinical PET Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mats Larhed
- Preclinical PET Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Biomedical Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Uppsala University 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
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25
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Honarvar H, Strand J, Perols A, Orlova A, Selvaraju RK, Karlström AE, Tolmachev V. Position for Site-Specific Attachment of a DOTA Chelator to Synthetic Affibody Molecules Has a Different Influence on the Targeting Properties of
68
Ga-Compared to
111
In-Labeled Conjugates. Mol Imaging 2014; 13. [DOI: 10.2310/7290.2014.00034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hadis Honarvar
- From Biomedical Radiation Sciences, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden; and Preclinical PET Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Joanna Strand
- From Biomedical Radiation Sciences, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden; and Preclinical PET Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Perols
- From Biomedical Radiation Sciences, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden; and Preclinical PET Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Orlova
- From Biomedical Radiation Sciences, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden; and Preclinical PET Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ram Kumar Selvaraju
- From Biomedical Radiation Sciences, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden; and Preclinical PET Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Amelie Eriksson Karlström
- From Biomedical Radiation Sciences, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden; and Preclinical PET Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- From Biomedical Radiation Sciences, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden; and Preclinical PET Platform, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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26
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Altai M, Wållberg H, Honarvar H, Strand J, Orlova A, Varasteh Z, Sandström M, Löfblom J, Larsson E, Strand SE, Lubberink M, Ståhl S, Tolmachev V. 188Re-ZHER2:V2, a Promising Affibody-Based Targeting Agent Against HER2-Expressing Tumors: Preclinical Assessment. J Nucl Med 2014; 55:1842-8. [DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.114.140194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
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27
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Kaishima M, Fukuda N, Ishii J, Kondo A. Desired alteration of protein affinities: competitive selection of protein variants using yeast signal transduction machinery. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108229. [PMID: 25244640 PMCID: PMC4171513 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecules that can control protein-protein interactions (PPIs) have recently drawn attention as new drug pipeline compounds. Here, we report a technique to screen desirable affinity-altered (affinity-enhanced and affinity-attenuated) protein variants. We previously constructed a screening system based on a target protein fused to a mutated G-protein γ subunit (Gγcyto) lacking membrane localization ability. This ability, required for signal transmission, is restored by recruiting Gγcyto into the membrane only when the target protein interacts with an artificially membrane-anchored candidate protein, thereby allowing interacting partners (Gγ recruitment system) to be searched and identified. In the present study, the Gγ recruitment system was altered by integrating the cytosolic expression of a third protein as a competitor to set a desirable affinity threshold. This enabled the reliable selection of both affinity-enhanced and affinity-attenuated protein variants. The presented approach may facilitate the development of therapeutic proteins that allow the control of PPIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misato Kaishima
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Nobuo Fukuda
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Jun Ishii
- Organization of Advanced Science and Technology, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
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28
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Nilvebrant J, Åstrand M, Georgieva-Kotseva M, Björnmalm M, Löfblom J, Hober S. Engineering of bispecific affinity proteins with high affinity for ERBB2 and adaptable binding to albumin. PLoS One 2014; 9:e103094. [PMID: 25089830 PMCID: PMC4121139 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor 2, ERBB2, is a well-validated target for cancer diagnostics and therapy. Recent studies suggest that the over-expression of this receptor in various cancers might also be exploited for antibody-based payload delivery, e.g. antibody drug conjugates. In such strategies, the full-length antibody format is probably not required for therapeutic effect and smaller tumor-specific affinity proteins might be an alternative. However, small proteins and peptides generally suffer from fast excretion through the kidneys, and thereby require frequent administration in order to maintain a therapeutic concentration. In an attempt aimed at combining ERBB2-targeting with antibody-like pharmacokinetic properties in a small protein format, we have engineered bispecific ERBB2-binding proteins that are based on a small albumin-binding domain. Phage display selection against ERBB2 was used for identification of a lead candidate, followed by affinity maturation using second-generation libraries. Cell surface display and flow-cytometric sorting allowed stringent selection of top candidates from pools pre-enriched by phage display. Several affinity-matured molecules were shown to bind human ERBB2 with sub-nanomolar affinity while retaining the interaction with human serum albumin. Moreover, parallel selections against ERBB2 in the presence of human serum albumin identified several amino acid substitutions that dramatically modulate the albumin affinity, which could provide a convenient means to control the pharmacokinetics. The new affinity proteins competed for ERBB2-binding with the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab and recognized the native receptor on a human cancer cell line. Hence, high affinity tumor targeting and tunable albumin binding were combined in one small adaptable protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Nilvebrant
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mikael Åstrand
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Georgieva-Kotseva
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mattias Björnmalm
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Löfblom
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sophia Hober
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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29
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Wållberg H, Ståhl S. Design and evaluation of radiolabeled tracers for tumor imaging. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2014; 60:365-83. [PMID: 24033592 DOI: 10.1002/bab.1111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2012] [Accepted: 02/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The growing understanding of tumor biology and the identification of tumor-specific genetic and molecular alterations, such as the overexpression of membrane receptors and other proteins, allows for personalization of patient management using targeted therapies. However, this puts stringent demands on the diagnostic tools used to identify patients who are likely to respond to a particular treatment. Radionuclide molecular imaging is a promising noninvasive method to visualize and characterize the expression of such targets. A number of different proteins, from full-length antibodies and their derivatives to small scaffold proteins and peptide receptor-ligands, have been applied to molecular imaging, each demonstrating strengths and weaknesses. Here, we discuss the concept of molecular targeting and, in particular, molecular imaging of cancer-associated targets. Additionally, we describe important biotechnological considerations and desired features when designing and developing tracers for radionuclide molecular imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Wållberg
- Division of Molecular Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, AlbaNova University Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
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30
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Rizvi SB, Rouhi S, Taniguchi S, Yang SY, Green M, Keshtgar M, Seifalian AM. Near-infrared quantum dots for HER2 localization and imaging of cancer cells. Int J Nanomedicine 2014; 9:1323-37. [PMID: 24648731 PMCID: PMC3956736 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s51535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Quantum dots are fluorescent nanoparticles with unique photophysical properties that allow them to be used as diagnostic, therapeutic, and theranostic agents, particularly in medical and surgical oncology. Near-infrared-emitting quantum dots can be visualized in deep tissues because the biological window is transparent to these wavelengths. Their small sizes and free surface reactive groups that can be conjugated to biomolecules make them ideal probes for in vivo cancer localization, targeted chemotherapy, and image-guided cancer surgery. The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 gene (HER2/neu) is overexpressed in 25%–30% of breast cancers. The current methods of detection for HER2 status, including immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization, are used ex vivo and cannot be used in vivo. In this paper, we demonstrate the application of near-infrared-emitting quantum dots for HER2 localization in fixed and live cancer cells as a first step prior to their in vivo application. Methods Near-infrared-emitting quantum dots were characterized and their in vitro toxicity was established using three cancer cell lines, ie, HepG2, SK-BR-3 (HER2-overexpressing), and MCF7 (HER2-underexpressing). Mouse antihuman anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody was conjugated to the near-infrared-emitting quantum dots. Results In vitro toxicity studies showed biocompatibility of SK-BR-3 and MCF7 cell lines with near-infrared-emitting quantum dots at a concentration of 60 μg/mL after one hour and 24 hours of exposure. Near-infrared-emitting quantum dot antiHER2-antibody bioconjugates successfully localized HER2 receptors on SK-BR-3 cells. Conclusion Near-infrared-emitting quantum dot bioconjugates can be used for rapid localization of HER2 receptors and can potentially be used for targeted therapy as well as image-guided surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarwat B Rizvi
- UCL Centre for Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sepideh Rouhi
- UCL Centre for Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Shi Yu Yang
- UCL Centre for Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mark Green
- Department of Physics, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mo Keshtgar
- UCL Centre for Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine, University College London, London, UK ; Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, London, UK
| | - Alexander M Seifalian
- UCL Centre for Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine, University College London, London, UK ; Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, London, UK
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31
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Zhu X, Li J, Hong Y, Kimura RH, Ma X, Liu H, Qin C, Hu X, Hayes TR, Benny P, Gambhir SS, Cheng Z. 99mTc-labeled cystine knot peptide targeting integrin αvβ6 for tumor SPECT imaging. Mol Pharm 2014; 11:1208-17. [PMID: 24524409 PMCID: PMC3993876 DOI: 10.1021/mp400683q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Integrin
αvβ6 is overexpressed
in a variety of cancers, and its expression is often associated with
poor prognosis. Therefore, there is a need to develop affinity reagents
for noninvasive imaging of integrin αvβ6 expression since it may provide early cancer diagnosis, more
accurate prognosis, and better treatment planning. We recently engineered
and validated highly stable cystine knot peptides that selectively
bind integrin αvβ6 with no cross-reactivity
to integrins αvβ5, α5β1, or αvβ3, also
known to be overexpressed in many cancers. Here, we developed a single
photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) probe for imaging integrin
αvβ6 positive tumors. Cystine knot
peptide, S02, was first conjugated with a single amino
acid chelate (SAAC) and labeled with [99mTc(H2O)3(CO)3]+. The resulting probe, 99mTc-SAAC-S02, was then evaluated by in
vitro cell uptake studies using two αvβ6 positive cell lines (human lung adenocarcinoma cell line
HCC4006 and pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3) and two αvβ6 negative cell lines (human lung adenocarcinoma
cell line H838 and human embryonic kidney cell line 293T). Next, SPECT/CT
and biodistribution studies were performed in nude mice bearing HCC4006
and H838 tumor xenografts to evaluate the in vivo performance of 99mTc-SAAC-S02. Significant
differences in the uptake of 99mTc-SAAC-S02
were observed in αvβ6 positive vs
negative cells (P < 0.05). Biodistribution and
small animal SPECT/CT studies revealed that 99mTc-SAAC-S02 accumulated to moderate levels in antigen positive tumors
(∼2% ID/g at 1 and 6 h postinjection, n =
3 or 4/group). Moreover, the probe demonstrated tumor-to-background
tissue ratios of 6.81 ± 2.32 (tumor-to-muscle) and 1.63 ±
0.18 (tumor-to-blood) at 6 h postinjection in αvβ6 positive tumor xenografts. Co-incubation of the probe with
excess amount of unlabeled S02 as a blocking agent demonstrated
significantly reduced tumor uptake, which is consistent with specific
binding to the target. Renal filtration was the main route of clearance.
In conclusion, knottin peptides are excellent scaffolds for which
to develop highly stable imaging probes for a variety of oncological
targets. 99mTc-SAAC-S02 demonstrates promise
for use as a SPECT agent to image integrin αvβ6 expression in living systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Zhu
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University , Stanford, California 94305-5344, United States
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32
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Structure-guided engineering of Anticalins with improved binding behavior and biochemical characteristics for application in radio-immuno imaging and/or therapy. J Struct Biol 2014; 185:203-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2013.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2012] [Revised: 03/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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33
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Wang Y, Miao Z, Ren G, Xu Y, Cheng Z. A novel Affibody bioconjugate for dual-modality imaging of ovarian cancer. Chem Commun (Camb) 2014; 50:12832-5. [DOI: 10.1039/c4cc03454f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
An Affibody based dual imaging probe (PET and optical imaging) has been successfully developed. Dendrimer PAMAM G0 was used as a platform to assemble an NIRF dye, a metal chelator, and Affibody for dual modality imaging of ovarian cancer. Excellent tumor imaging quality was achieved in both modalities in the living tumor mice models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihong Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Southeast University
- Nanjing, P. R. China
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS)
- Bio-X Program
| | - Zheng Miao
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS)
- Bio-X Program
- Department of Radiology
- Stanford University
- , USA
| | - Gang Ren
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS)
- Bio-X Program
- Department of Radiology
- Stanford University
- , USA
| | - Yingding Xu
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS)
- Bio-X Program
- Department of Radiology
- Stanford University
- , USA
| | - Zhen Cheng
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS)
- Bio-X Program
- Department of Radiology
- Stanford University
- , USA
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34
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Teng FF, Meng X, Sun XD, Yu JM. New strategy for monitoring targeted therapy: molecular imaging. Int J Nanomedicine 2013; 8:3703-13. [PMID: 24124361 PMCID: PMC3794840 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s51264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapy is becoming an increasingly important component in the treatment of cancer. How to accurately monitor targeted therapy has been crucial in clinical practice. The traditional approach to monitor treatment through imaging has relied on assessing the change of tumor size by refined World Health Organization criteria, or more recently, by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. However, these criteria, which are based on the change of tumor size, show some limitations for evaluating targeted therapy. Currently, genetic alterations are identified with prognostic as well as predictive potential concerning the use of molecularly targeted drugs. Conversely, considering the limitations of invasiveness and the issue of expression heterogeneity, molecular imaging is better able to assay in vivo biologic processes noninvasively and quantitatively, and has been a particularly attractive tool for monitoring treatment in clinical cancer practice. This review focuses on the applications of different kinds of molecular imaging including positron emission tomography-, magnetic resonance imaging-, ultrasonography-, and computed tomography-based imaging strategies on monitoring targeted therapy. In addition, the key challenges of molecular imaging are addressed to successfully translate these promising techniques in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei-Fei Teng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
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35
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Banta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027;
| | - Kevin Dooley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027;
| | - Oren Shur
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027;
- Current affiliation: Boston Consulting Group, New York, NY 10022
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36
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Hofström C, Altai M, Honarvar H, Strand J, Malmberg J, Hosseinimehr SJ, Orlova A, Gräslund T, Tolmachev V. HAHAHA, HEHEHE, HIHIHI, or HKHKHK: influence of position and composition of histidine containing tags on biodistribution of [(99m)Tc(CO)3](+)-labeled affibody molecules. J Med Chem 2013; 56:4966-74. [PMID: 23692562 DOI: 10.1021/jm400218y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Engineered affibody molecules can be used for high contrast in vivo molecular imaging. Extending a recombinantly produced HER2 binding affibody molecule with a hexa-histidine tag allows for convenient purification by immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography and labeling with [(99m)Tc(CO)3](+) but increases radioactivity uptake in the liver. To investigate the impact of charge, lipophilicity, and position on biodistribution, 10 variants of a histidine-based tag was attached to a HER2 binding affibody molecule. The biochemical properties and the HER2 binding affinity appeared to be similar for all variants. In vivo, positive charge promoted liver uptake. For N-terminally placed tags, lipophilicity promoted liver uptake and decreased kidney uptake. Kidney uptake was higher for C-terminally placed tags compared to their N-terminal counterparts. The variant with the amino acid composition HEHEHE placed in the N-terminus gave the lowest nonspecific uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Hofström
- Division of Protein Technology, School of Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
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37
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Altai M, Strand J, Rosik D, Selvaraju RK, Eriksson Karlström A, Orlova A, Tolmachev V. Influence of nuclides and chelators on imaging using affibody molecules: comparative evaluation of recombinant affibody molecules site-specifically labeled with ⁶⁸Ga and ¹¹¹In via maleimido derivatives of DOTA and NODAGA. Bioconjug Chem 2013; 24:1102-9. [PMID: 23705574 DOI: 10.1021/bc300678y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Accurate detection of cancer-associated molecular abnormalities in tumors could make cancer treatment more personalized. Affibody molecules enable high contrast imaging of tumor-associated protein expression shortly after injection. The use of the generator-produced positron-emitting radionuclide (68)Ga should increase sensitivity of HER2 imaging. The chemical nature of radionuclides and chelators influences the biodistribution of Affibody molecules, providing an opportunity to further increase the imaging contrast. The aim of the study was to compare maleimido derivatives of DOTA and NODAGA for site-specific labeling of a recombinant ZHER2:2395 HER2-binding Affibody molecule with (68)Ga. DOTA and NODAGA were site-specifically conjugated to the ZHER2:2395 Affibody molecule having a C-terminal cysteine and labeled with (68)Ga and (111)In. All labeled conjugates retained specificity to HER2 in vitro. Most of the cell-associated activity was membrane-bound with a minor difference in internalization rate. All variants demonstrated specific targeting of xenografts and a high tumor uptake. The xenografts were clearly visualized using all conjugates. The influence of chelator on the biodistribution and targeting properties was much less pronounced for (68)Ga than for (111)In. The tumor uptake of (68)Ga-NODAGA-ZHER2:2395 and (68)Ga-DOTA-ZHER2:2395 and tumor-to-blood ratios at 2 h p.i. did not differ significantly. However, the tumor-to-liver ratio was significantly higher for (68)Ga-NODAGA- ZHER2:2395 (8 ± 2 vs 5.0 ± 0.3) offering the advantage of better liver metastases visualization. In conclusion, influence of chelators on biodistribution of Affibody molecules depends on the radionuclides and reoptimization of labeling chemistry is required when a radionuclide label is changed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Altai
- Division of Biomedical Radiation Sciences, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Sweden
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38
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Molecular imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts with epidermal growth factor receptor targeted affibody probes. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 2013:759057. [PMID: 23710458 PMCID: PMC3654646 DOI: 10.1155/2013/759057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2013] [Accepted: 03/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive and lethal cancer. It is typically asymptomatic at the early stage, with only 10%–20% of HCC patients being diagnosed early enough for appropriate surgical treatment. The delayed diagnosis of HCC is associated with limited treatment options and much lower survival rates. Therefore, the early and accurate detection of HCC is crucial to improve its currently dismal prognosis. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been reported to be involved in HCC tumorigenesis and to represent an attractive target for HCC imaging and therapy. In this study, an affibody molecule, Ac-Cys-ZEGFR:1907, targeting the extracellular domain of EGFR, was used for the first time to assess its potential to detect HCC xenografts. By evaluating radio- or fluorescent-labeled Ac-Cys-ZEGFR:1907 as a probe for positron emission tomography (PET) or optical imaging of HCC, subcutaneous EGFR-positive HCC xenografts were found to be successfully imaged by the PET probe. Thus, affibody-based PET imaging of EGFR provides a promising approach for detecting HCC in vivo.
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39
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Yang M, Cheng K, Qi S, Liu H, Jiang Y, Jiang H, Li J, Chen K, Zhang H, Cheng Z. Affibody modified and radiolabeled gold-iron oxide hetero-nanostructures for tumor PET, optical and MR imaging. Biomaterials 2013; 34:2796-806. [PMID: 23343632 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2012] [Accepted: 01/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
A highly monodispersed hetero-nanostructure with two different functional nanomaterials (gold (Au) and iron oxide (Fe(3)O(4,) IO)) within one structure was successfully developed as Affibody based trimodality nanoprobe (positron emission tomography, PET; optical imaging; and magnetic resonance imaging, MRI) for imaging of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) positive tumors. Unlike other regular nanostructures with a single component, the Au-IO hetero-nanostructures (Au-IONPs) with unique chemical and physical properties have capability to combine several imaging modalities together to provide complementary information. The IO component within hetero-nanostructures serve as a T(2) reporter for MRI; and gold component serve as both optical and PET reporters. Moreover, such hetero-nanoprobes could provide a robust nano-platform for surface-specific modification with both targeting molecules (anti-EGFR Affibody protein) and PET imaging reporters (radiometal (64)Cu chelators) in highly efficient and reliable manner. In vitro and in vivo study showed that the resultant nanoprobe provided high specificity, sensitivity, and excellent tumor contrast for both PET and MRI imaging in the human EGFR-expressing cells and tumors. Our study data also highlighted the EGFR targeting efficiency of hetero-nanoparticles and the feasibility for their further theranostic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Yang
- Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
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40
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Hosseinimehr SJ, Tolmachev V, Orlova A. Liver uptake of radiolabeled targeting proteins and peptides: considerations for targeting peptide conjugate design. Drug Discov Today 2012; 17:1224-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2012.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2012] [Revised: 06/02/2012] [Accepted: 07/03/2012] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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41
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Dorward DA, Lucas CD, Rossi AG, Haslett C, Dhaliwal K. Imaging inflammation: molecular strategies to visualize key components of the inflammatory cascade, from initiation to resolution. Pharmacol Ther 2012; 135:182-99. [PMID: 22627270 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2012.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2012] [Accepted: 05/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of inflammation is central to the pathogenesis of innumerable human diseases. Understanding and tracking the critical events in inflammation are crucial for disease monitoring and pharmacological drug discovery and development. Recent progress in molecular imaging has provided novel insights into spatial associations, molecular events and temporal sequelae in the inflammatory process. While remaining a burgeoning field in pre-clinical research, increasing application in man affords researchers the opportunity to study disease pathogenesis in humans in situ thereby revolutionizing conventional understanding of pathophysiology and potential therapeutic targets. This review provides a description of commonly used molecular imaging modalities, including optical, radionuclide and magnetic resonance imaging, and details key advances and translational opportunities in imaging inflammation from initiation to resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Dorward
- MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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42
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Hackel BJ, Sathirachinda A, Gambhir SS. Designed hydrophilic and charge mutations of the fibronectin domain: towards tailored protein biodistribution. Protein Eng Des Sel 2012; 25:639-47. [PMID: 22691700 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzs036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Engineered proteins are attractive affinity scaffolds for molecular imaging and drug delivery. Although exquisite binding specificity and affinity can be engineered, many proteins exhibit off-target uptake, particularly in the kidneys and liver, from physiologic effects. We quantified the ability to alter renal and hepatic uptake via hydrophilic and charge mutations. As a model protein, we used the 10th type III domain of human fibronectin, which has been engineered to bind many targets and has been validated for molecular imaging. We screened rational mutants, identified by structural and phylogenetic analyses, to yield eight mutations that collectively substantially increase protein hydrophilicity. Mutation of two parental clones yielded four domains with a range of hydrophilicity. These proteins were labeled with (64)Cu, injected intravenously into nu/nu mice (n = 3-5 each) and evaluated by positron emission tomography. Renal uptake strongly correlated with hydrophilicity (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.97), ranging from 29 ± 11 to 100 ± 22% ID/g at 1 h. Hepatic uptake inversely correlated with hydrophilicity (Pearson's correlation coefficient = -0.92), ranging from 30 ± 7 to 3 ± 1% ID/g. Thus, renal and hepatic uptake are directly tunable through hydrophilic mutation, identifiable by structural and phylogenetic analyses. To investigate charge, we mutated acidic and basic residues in both parental clones and evaluated (64)Cu-labeled mutants in nu/nu mice (n = 5-7). Selected charge removal reduced kidney signal: 78 ± 13 to 51 ± 8%ID/g (P < 0.0001) for the hydrophilic clone and 32 ± 10 to 21 ± 3 (P = 0.0005) for the hydrophobic clone. Elucidation of hydrophilicity and charge enabled modulation of background signal thereby enhancing the utility of protein scaffolds as translatable targeting agents for molecular imaging and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Hackel
- Department of Radiology and Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
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Miao Z, Ren G, Liu H, Qi S, Wu S, Cheng Z. PET of EGFR expression with an 18F-labeled affibody molecule. J Nucl Med 2012; 53:1110-8. [PMID: 22689926 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.111.100842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is often overexpressed in a variety of human cancers, and its expression is associated with poor prognosis for many cancer types. However, an accurate technique to noninvasively image EGFR expression in vivo is not available in the clinical setting. In this research, an Affibody analog, anti-EGFR Ac-Cys-Z(EGFR:1907), was successfully site-specifically (18)F-labeled for PET of EGFR expression. METHODS The prosthetic group N-[2-(4-(18)F-fluorobenzamido) ethyl] maleimide ((18)F-FBEM) was conjugated to Ac-Cys-Z(EGFR:1907) under mild conditions (pH 7) to produce the probe (18)F-FBEM-Cys-Z(EGFR:1907). The binding affinity and specificity tests of (18)F-FBEM-Cys-Z(EGFR:1907) to EGFR were conducted using A431 cancer cells. Small-animal PET and biodistribution studies were conducted on various mice tumor xenograft models with EGFR overexpression (6 types) after injection of approximately 2.0 MBq of (18)F-FBEM-Cys-Z(EGFR:1907) with or without coinjection of unlabeled Ac-Cys-Z(EGFR:1907) for up to 3 h after injection. A correlation study between (18)F-FBEM-Cys-Z(EGFR:1907) small- animal PET quantification and ex vivo Western blot analysis of tumor EGFR expression was conducted in those 6 types of tumor models. RESULTS (18)F-FBEM-Cys-Z(EGFR:1907) binds to EGFR with low nanomolar affinity (37 nM) in A431 cells. (18)F-FBEM-Cys-Z(EGFR:1907) rapidly accumulated in the tumor and cleared from most of the normal organs except the liver and kidneys at 3 h after injection, allowing excellent tumor-to-normal tissue contrast to be obtained. In the A431 tumor xenograft model, coinjection of the PET probe with 45 μg of Ac-Cys-Z(EGFR:1907) was able to improve the tumor uptake (3.9 vs. 8.1 percentage of the injected radioactive dose per gram of tissue, at 3 h after injection) and tumor imaging contrast, whereas coinjection with 500 μg of Ac-Cys-Z(EGFR:1907) successfully blocked the tumor uptake significantly (8.1 vs. 1.0 percentage of the injected radioactive dose per gram of tissue, at 3 h after injection, 88% inhibition, P < 0.05). Moderate correlation was found between the tumor tracer uptake at 3 h after injection quantified by PET and EGFR expression levels measured by Western blot assay (P = 0.007, R = 0.59). CONCLUSION (18)F-FBEM-Cys-Z(EGFR:1907) is a novel protein scaffold-based PET probe for imaging EGFR overexpression of tumors, and its ability to differentiate tumors with high and low EGFR expression in vivo holds promise for future clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Miao
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Bio-X Program, Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Current world literature. Curr Opin Urol 2012; 22:336-45. [PMID: 22677776 DOI: 10.1097/mou.0b013e3283551cbf] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Qi S, Miao Z, Liu H, Xu Y, Feng Y, Cheng Z. Evaluation of four affibody-based near-infrared fluorescent probes for optical imaging of epidermal growth factor receptor positive tumors. Bioconjug Chem 2012; 23:1149-56. [PMID: 22621238 DOI: 10.1021/bc200596a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR) has become an attractive target for cancer molecular imaging and therapy. An Affibody protein with strong binding affinity for EGFR, ZEGFR:1907, has been reported. We are interested in translating Affibody molecules to potential clinical optical imaging of EGFR positive cancers. In this study, four anti-EGFR Affibody based near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes were thus prepared, and their in vivo performance was evaluated in the mice bearing EGFR positive subcutaneous A431 tumors. METHODS The Affibody analogue, Ac-Cys-ZEGFR:1907, was synthesized using solid-phase peptide synthesis method. The purified small protein was then site-specifically conjugated with four NIR fluorescent dyes, Cy5.5-monomaleimide, Alex-Fluor-680-maleimide, SRfluor680-maleimide, or IRDye-800CW-maleimide, to produce four optical probes-Cy5.5-ZEGFR:1907, Alexa680-ZEGFR:1907, SR680-ZEGFR:1907, and 800CW-ZEGFR:1907. The EGFR binding property and specificity of the four NIR fluorescent Affibody probes were studied by fluorescence microscopy using high EGFR expressing A431 cells and low expressing MCF7 cells. The binding affinities of the probes (KD) to EGFR were further determined by flow cytometry. In vivo optical imaging of the four probes was performed in the mice bearing subcutaneous A431 tumors. RESULTS The four NIR optical probes were prepared in high purity. In vitro cell imaging studies demonstrated that all of them could specifically bind to EGFR positive A431 cells while showing minimum uptake in low EGFR expressing MCF7 cells. Flow cytometry showed that Cy5.5-ZEGFR:1907 and Alexa680-ZEGFR:1907 possessed high binding affinity in low nanomolar range (43.6 ± 8.4 and 28.3 ± 4.9, respectively). In vivo optical imaging of the four probes revealed that they all showed fast tumor targeting ability and good tumor-to-normal tissue contrast as early as 0.5 h postinjection (p.i.). The tumor-to-normal tissue ratio reached a peak at 2 to 4 h p.i. by regional of interest (ROI) analysis of images. Ex vivo studies further demonstrated that the four probes had high tumor uptakes. Particularly, Cy5.5-ZEGFR:1907 and Alex680-ZEGFR:1907 displayed higher tumor-to-normal tissue ratios than those of the other two probes. CONCLUSION This work demonstrates that Affibody proteins can be modified with different NIR fluorescent dyes and used for imaging of EGFR expressing tumors. Different NIR fluorescent dyes have variable impact on the in vitro binding and in vivo performance of the resulting Affibody based probes. Therefore, selection of an appropriate NIRF label is important for optical probe development. The probes developed are promising for further tumor imaging applications and clinical translation. Particularly, Alex680-ZEGFR:1907 and Cy5.5-ZEGFR:1907 are excellent candidates as EGFR-targeted probes for optical imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shibo Qi
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology, and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University , Stanford, California, 94305-5344
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Tolmachev V, Tran TA, Rosik D, Sjöberg A, Abrahmsén L, Orlova A. Tumor targeting using affibody molecules: interplay of affinity, target expression level, and binding site composition. J Nucl Med 2012; 53:953-60. [PMID: 22586147 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.111.101527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Radionuclide imaging of cancer-associated molecular alterations may contribute to patient stratification for targeting therapy. Scaffold high-affinity proteins, such as Affibody molecules, are a new, promising class of probes for in vivo imaging. METHODS The effects of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) affinity and binding site composition of HER2-binding Affibody molecules, and of the HER2 density on the tumor targeting, were studied in vivo. The tumor uptake and tumor-to-organ ratios of Affibody molecules with moderate (dissociation constant [K(D)] = 10(-9) M) or high (K(D) = 10(-10) M) affinity were compared between tumor xenografts with a high (SKOV-3) and low (LS174T) HER2 expression level in BALB/C nu/nu mice. Two Affibody molecules with similar affinity (K(D) = 10(-10) M) but having alternative amino acids in the binding site were compared. RESULTS In SKOV-3 xenografts, uptake was independent of affinity at 4 h after injection, but high-affinity binders provided 2-fold-higher tumor radioactivity retention at 24 h. In LS174T xenografts, uptake of high-affinity probes was already severalfold higher at 4 h after injection, and the difference was increased at 24 h. The clearance rate and tumor-to-organ ratios were influenced by the amino acid composition of the binding surface of the tracer protein. CONCLUSION The optimal affinity of HER2-binding Affibody molecules depends on the expression of a molecular target. At a high expression level (>10(6) receptors per cell), an affinity in the low-nanomolar range is sufficient. At moderate expression, subnanomolar affinity is desirable. The binding site composition can influence the imaging contrast. This information may be useful for development of imaging agents based on scaffold affinity proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Biomedical Radiation Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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The role of nuclear medicine in modern therapy of cancer. Tumour Biol 2012; 33:629-40. [PMID: 22446937 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-012-0373-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2011] [Accepted: 03/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear medicine is a multidisciplinary field that develops and uses instrumentation and tracers (radiopharmaceuticals) to study physiological processes and noninvasively diagnose, stage, and treat diseases. Particularly, it offers a unique means to study cancer biology in vivo and to optimize cancer therapy for individual patients. A tracer is either a radionuclide alone, such as iodine-131 or a radiolabel in a carrier molecule such as (18)F in fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG), or other feasible radionuclide attached to a drug, a protein, or a peptide, which when introduced into the body, would accumulate in the tissue of interest. Nuclear medicine imaging, including single-photon emission computer tomography and positron emission tomography, can provide important quantitative and functional information about normal tissues or disease conditions, in contrast to conventional, anatomical imaging techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging. For treatment, tumor-targeting agents, conjugated with therapeutic radionuclides, may be used to deposit lethal radiation at tumor sites. This review outlines the role of nuclear medicine in modern cancer therapy.
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Zoller F, Schwaebel T, Markert A, Haberkorn U, Mier W. Engineering and functionalization of the disulfide-constrained miniprotein min-23 as a scaffold for diagnostic application. ChemMedChem 2011; 7:237-47. [PMID: 22213706 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201100497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2011] [Revised: 11/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Miniproteins are scaffolds for the development of alternative non-immunoglobin binding agents for medical applications. This peptide format features high tolerance to sequence mutagenesis, excellent proteolytic stability, and fast blood pool clearance. Herein we present the total chemical synthesis of the disulfide-constrained scaffold Min-23 and its functionalization for in vitro and in vivo application. Optimized solid-phase peptide chemistry and oxidative folding strategies were developed to engineer this miniprotein with native-like disulfide configuration. High levels of serum stability and proteolytic resistance, as well as a beneficial pharmacokinetic profile for diagnostic imaging, were determined by using radiolabeling techniques such as positron emission tomography. The reported achievements highlight Min-23 as a promising scaffold for the development of novel recognition molecules for medical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Zoller
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Clinical Cooperation Unit Nuclear Medicine, INF 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Liu S, Liu H, Ren G, Kimura RH, Cochran JR, Cheng Z. PET Imaging of Integrin Positive Tumors Using F Labeled Knottin Peptides. Am J Cancer Res 2011; 1:403-12. [PMID: 22211146 PMCID: PMC3248644 DOI: 10.7150/thno/v01p0403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2011] [Accepted: 12/17/2011] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Cystine knot (knottin) peptides, engineered to bind with high affinity to integrin receptors, have shown promise as molecular imaging agents in living subjects. The aim of the current study was to evaluate tumor uptake and in vivo biodistribution of 18F-labeled knottins in a U87MG glioblastoma model. Procedures: Engineered knottin mutants 2.5D and 2.5F were synthesized using solid phase peptide synthesis and were folded in vitro, followed by radiolabeling with 4-nitrophenyl 2-18F-fluoropropionate (18F-NFP). The resulting probes, 18F-FP-2.5D and 18F-FP-2.5F, were evaluated in nude mice bearing U87MG tumor xenografts using microPET and biodistribution studies. Results: MicroPET imaging studies with 18F-FP-2.5D and 18F-FP-2.5F demonstrated high tumor uptake in U87MG xenograft mouse models. The probes exhibited rapid clearance from the blood and kidneys, thus leading to excellent tumor-to-normal tissue contrast. Specificity studies confirmed that 18F-FP-2.5D and 18F-FP-2.5F had reduced tumor uptake when co-injected with a large excess of the peptidomimetic c(RGDyK) as a blocking agent. Conclusions: 18F-FP-2.5D and 18F-FP-2.5F showed reduced gallbladder uptake compared with previously published 18F-FB-2.5D. 18F-FP-2.5D and 18F-FP-2.5F enabled integrin-specific PET imaging of U87MG tumors with good imaging contrasts. 18F-FP-2.5D demonstrated more desirable pharmacokinetics compared to 18F-FP-2.5F, and thus has greater potential for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyuan Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine (LOMIN), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), National Institutes of Health (NIH), 31 Center Dr, 1C22, Bethesda, MD 20892-2281, USA
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