Updated developments on molecular imaging and therapeutic strategies directed against necrosis

Inhibition of xanthine oxidase alleviated pancreatic necrosis via HIF-1α-regulated LDHA and NLRP3 signaling pathway in acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a potentially fatal condition with no targeted treatment options. Although inhibiting xanthine oxidase (XO) in the treatment of AP has been studied in several experimental models and clinical trials, whether XO is a target of AP and what its the main mechanism of action is remains unclear. Here, we aimed to re-evaluate whether XO is a target aggravating AP other than merely generating reactive oxygen species that trigger AP. We first revealed that XO expression and enzyme activity were significantly elevated in the serum and pancreas of necrotizing AP models. We also found that allopurinol and febuxostat, as purine-like and non-purine XO inhibitors, respectively, exhibited protective effects against pancreatic acinar cell death in vitro and pancreatic damage in vivo at different doses and treatment time points. Moreover, we observed that conditional Xdh overexpression aggravated pancreatic necrosis and severity. Further mechanism analysis showed that XO inhibition restored the hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α)-regulated lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathways and reduced the enrichment of 13C6-glucose to 13C3-lactate. Lastly, we observed that clinical circulatory XO activity was significantly elevated in severe cases and correlated with C-reactive protein levels, while pancreatic XO and urate were also increased in severe AP patients. These results together indicated that proper inhibition of XO might be a promising therapeutic strategy for alleviating pancreatic necrosis and preventing progression of severe AP by downregulating HIF-1α-mediated LDHA and NLRP3 signaling pathways.

Glioma: bridging the tumor microenvironment, patient immune profiles and novel personalized immunotherapy

Glioma is the most common primary brain tumor, characterized by a consistently high patient mortality rate and a dismal prognosis affecting both survival and quality of life. Substantial evidence underscores the vital role of the immune system in eradicating tumors effectively and preventing metastasis, underscoring the importance of cancer immunotherapy which could potentially address the challenges in glioma therapy. Although glioma immunotherapies have shown promise in preclinical and early-phase clinical trials, they face specific limitations and challenges that have hindered their success in further phase III trials. Resistance to therapy has been a major challenge across many experimental approaches, and as of now, no immunotherapies have been approved. In addition, there are several other limitations facing glioma immunotherapy in clinical trials, such as high intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity, an inherently immunosuppressive microenvironment, the unique tissue-specific interactions between the central nervous system and the peripheral immune system, the existence of the blood-brain barrier, which is a physical barrier to drug delivery, and the immunosuppressive effects of standard therapy. Therefore, in this review, we delve into several challenges that need to be addressed to achieve boosted immunotherapy against gliomas. First, we discuss the hurdles posed by the glioma microenvironment, particularly its primary cellular inhabitants, in particular tumor-associated microglia and macrophages (TAMs), and myeloid cells, which represent a significant barrier to effective immunotherapy. Here we emphasize the impact of inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) on the migration of Th17 cells into the tumor microenvironment, converting it into an immunologically "hot" environment and enhancing the effectiveness of ongoing immunotherapy. Next, we address the challenge associated with the accurate identification and characterization of the primary immune profiles of gliomas, and their implications for patient prognosis, which can facilitate the selection of personalized treatment regimens and predict the patient's response to immunotherapy. Finally, we explore a prospective approach to developing highly personalized vaccination strategies against gliomas, based on the search for patient-specific neoantigens. All the pertinent challenges discussed in this review will serve as a compass for future developments in immunotherapeutic strategies against gliomas, paving the way for upcoming preclinical and clinical research endeavors.

Evaluation of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro glucaric acid (FGA) as a potential PET tracer for tumor necrosis

In this study, [18F]FGA was obtained by a one-step oxidation of [18F]FDG using sodium hypochlorite. The conversion from [18F]FDG to [18F]FGA was confirmed by HPLC to be over 95% using the optimal condition. A549-luciferase NSCLC xenografted mice was used for in vivo PET imaging. Prior to either saline or cisplatin treatment, there was no significant difference on tumor uptake of [18F]FGA in all mice, with an average uptake of (0.21 ± 0.16) %ID/g. After treatment, tumor uptake of [18F]FGA was not changed significantly for saline-treated mice, whereas the tumor uptake of [18F]FGA drastically increased for cisplatin-treated mice, with an average uptake of (1.63 ± 0.16) %ID/g. The ratio of tumor uptake between cisplatin-treated vs. saline-treated mice was 7.8 ± 0.2 within one week of treatment. PET imaging results were consistent with ex vivo biodistribution data. BLI showed significant light intensity suppression after treatment, indicating necrosis. Our data indicate that [18F]FGA uptake was related to tumor necrosis. [18F]FGA PET/CT imaging might be a useful tool to monitor treatment response to chemotherapy by imaging tumor necrosis.

Dialog beyond the Grave: Necrosis in the Tumor Microenvironment and Its Contribution to Tumor Growth

Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are endogenous molecules released from the necrotic cells dying after exposure to various stressors. After binding to their receptors, they can stimulate various signaling pathways in target cells. DAMPs are especially abundant in the microenvironment of malignant tumors and are suspected to influence the behavior of malignant and stromal cells in multiple ways often resulting in promotion of cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis, as well as increased immune evasion. This review will start with a reminder of the main features of cell necrosis, which will be compared to other forms of cell death. Then we will summarize the various methods used to assess tumor necrosis in clinical practice including medical imaging, histopathological examination, and/or biological assays. We will also consider the importance of necrosis as a prognostic factor. Then the focus will be on the DAMPs and their role in the tumor microenvironment (TME). We will address not only their interactions with the malignant cells, frequently leading to cancer progression, but also with the immune cells and their contribution to immunosuppression. Finally, we will emphasize the role of DAMPs released by necrotic cells in the activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the possible contributions of TLRs to tumor development. This last point is very important for the future of cancer therapeutics since there are attempts to use TLR artificial ligands for cancer therapeutics.

Plantaricin BM-1 decreases viability of SW480 human colorectal cancer cells by inducing caspase-dependent apoptosis

Plantaricin BM-1 is a class IIa bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum BM-1 that has significant antimicrobial activity against food-borne bacteria. In this study, a cell proliferation assay and scanning electron microscopy were used to detect changes in the viability of SW480, Caco-2, and HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells treated with plantaricin BM-1. We found that plantaricin BM-1 significantly reduced the viability of all colorectal cancer cell lines tested, especially that of the SW480 cells. Scanning electron microscopy showed that plantaricin BM-1 treatment reduced the number of microvilli and slightly collapsed the morphology of SW480 cells. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry demonstrated that plantaricin BM-1 induced apoptosis of SW480 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blotting further showed that plantaricin BM-1-induced apoptosis of SW480 cells was mediated by the caspase pathway. Finally, transcriptomic analysis showed that 69 genes were differentially expressed after plantaricin BM-1 treatment (p < 0.05), of which 65 were downregulated and four were upregulated. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis showed that expression levels of genes involved in the TNF, NF-κB, and MAPK signaling pathways, as well as functional categories such as microRNAs in cancer and transcriptional misregulation in cancer, were affected in SW480 cells following the treatment with plantaricin BM-1. In conclusion, plantaricin BM-1 induced death in SW480 cells via the caspase-dependent apoptosis pathway. Our study provides important information for further development of plantaricin BM-1 for potential applications in anti-colorectal cancer.

Target identification and occupancy measurement of necrosis avid agent rhein using bioorthogonal chemistry-enabling probes

Necrosis is an important biomarker, which only occurs in pathological situations. Tracking of necrosis avid agents is of crucial importance toward understanding their mechanisms. Herein, we developed a modular probe strategy based on bioorthogonal copper-free click chemistry. Structural modification of rhein with transcyclooctene (TCO) led to the identification of rhein-TCO2 as the most active probe with specific necrosis affinity. In a systematic evaluation, the colocalization of rhein-TCO2 in the nucleus (exposed DNA and rRNA) of necrotic cells was observed. This work provides a foundation for the development of target-identified of rhein compounds, and binding to exposed DNA and rRNA may be an important target of rhein compounds in necrotic cells.

Structural modification of rhein with transcyclooctene (TCO) led to the identification of rhein-TCO2 as the most active probe with specific necrosis affinity.

Positron Emission Tomographic Imaging of Tumor Cell Death Using Zirconium-89-Labeled APOMAB® Following Cisplatin Chemotherapy in Lung and Ovarian Cancer Xenograft Models

PURPOSE

Early detection of tumor treatment responses represents an unmet clinical need with no approved noninvasive methods. DAB4, or its chimeric derivative, chDAB4 (APOMAB®) is an antibody that targets the Lupus associated antigen (La/SSB). La/SSB is over-expressed in malignancy and selectively targeted by chDAB4 in cancer cells dying from DNA-damaging treatment. Therefore, chDAB4 is a unique diagnostic tool that detects dead cancer cells and thus could distinguish between treatment responsive and nonresponsive patients.

PROCEDURES

In clinically relevant tumor models, mice bearing subcutaneous xenografts of human ovarian or lung cancer cell lines or intraperitoneal ovarian cancer xenografts were untreated or given chemotherapy followed 24h later by chDAB4 radiolabeled with [⁸⁹Zr]Zr^IV. Tumor responses were monitored using bioluminescence imaging and caliper measurements. [⁸⁹Zr]Zr-chDAB4 uptake in tumor and normal tissues was measured using an Albira SI Positron-Emission Tomography (PET) imager and its biodistribution was measured using a Hidex gamma-counter.

RESULTS

Tumor uptake of [⁸⁹Zr]Zr-chDAB4 was detected in untreated mice, and uptake significantly increased in both human lung and ovarian tumors after chemotherapy, but not in normal tissues.

CONCLUSION

Given that tumors, rather than normal tissues, were targeted after chemotherapy, these results support the clinical development of chDAB4 as a radiodiagnostic imaging agent and as a potential predictive marker of treatment response.

Cell-Free DNA: Hope and Potential Application in Cancer

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is easily accessible in peripheral blood and can be used as biomarkers for cancer diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutics. The applications of cfDNA in various areas of cancer management are attracting attention. In this review article, we discuss the potential relevance of using cfDNA analysis in clinical oncology, particularly in cancer screening, early diagnosis, therapeutic evaluation, monitoring disease progression; and determining disease prognosis.

Recent advances in development of nanomedicines for multiple sclerosis diagnosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease with a high morbidity and disease burden. It is characterized by the loss of the myelin sheath, resulting in the disruption of neuron electrical signal transmissions and sensory and motor ability deficits. The diagnosis of MS is crucial to its management, but the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity are always a challenge. To overcome this challenge, nanomedicines have recently been employed to aid the diagnosis of MS with an improved diagnostic efficacy. Advances in nanomedicine-based contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging scanning of MS lesions, and nanomedicine-derived sensors for detecting biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid biopsy, or analyzing the composition of exhaled breath gas, have demonstrated the potential of using nanomedicines in the accurate diagnosis of MS. This review aims to provide an overview of recent advances in the application of nanomedicines for the diagnosis of MS and concludes with perspectives of using nanomedicines for the development of safe and effective MS diagnostic nanotools.

Untiring Pursuit for Glucarate-Based Molecular Imaging Probes

Glucarate, a physiologic end-product of the D-glucuronic acid pathway in mammals, is a six-carbon dicarboxylic acid with a wide range of uses. Glucarate-based molecular imaging probes including [^99mTc]glucarate and [¹⁸F]glucarate have been developed and demonstrated to have infarct/necrosis-avid and/or tumor-seeking properties, showing potential applications in early detection of myocardial infarction, evaluation of tissue viability, monitoring of therapeutic effectiveness, and noninvasive imaging of certain tumors including drug-resistant ones. The mechanism by which [^99mTc]glucarate localizes in acute necrotic tissues has been demonstrated to be largely attributable to its binding to the positively charged histones, which become accessible after the disruption of the cell and nuclear membranes as a result of irreversible damage, while the tumor-seeking mechanism of [^99mTc]glucarate has been found to be closely related to glucose transporter 5 expression. Moreover, the recently developed [¹⁸F]glucarate provides a new alternative probe for positron emission tomography imaging and may have potential advantages over [^99mTc]glucarate. In this review, we present the untiring pursuit for glucarate-based molecular imaging probes as infarct/necrosis-avid agent and/or tumor-seeking agent. Moreover, the limitations and the prospects for future research of glucarate-based molecular probes are also discussed.

Improved non-invasive positron emission tomographic imaging of chemotherapy-induced tumor cell death using Zirconium-89-labeled APOMAB®

Purpose

The chimeric monoclonal antibody (mAb) chDAB4 (APOMAB®) targets the Lupus associated (La)/Sjögren Syndrome-B (SSB) antigen, which is over-expressed in tumors but only becomes available for antibody binding in dead tumor cells. Hence, chDAB4 may be used as a novel theranostic tool to distinguish between responders and nonresponders early after chemotherapy. Here, we aimed to ascertain which positron emitter, Zirconium-89 ([⁸⁹Zr]Zr^IV) or Iodine-124 ([¹²⁴I]I), was best suited to label chDAB4 for post-chemotherapy PET imaging of tumor-bearing mice and to determine which of two different bifunctional chelators provided optimal tumor imaging by PET using [⁸⁹Zr]Zr^IV-labeled chDAB4.

Methods

C57BL/6 J mice bearing subcutaneous syngeneic tumors of EL4 lymphoma were either untreated or given chemotherapy, then administered radiolabeled chDAB4 after 24 h with its biodistribution examined using PET and organ assay. We compared chDAB4 radiolabeled with [⁸⁹Zr] Zr^IV or [¹²⁴I] I, or [⁸⁹Zr]Zr-chDAB4 using either DFO-NCS or DFOSq as a chelator.

Results

After chemotherapy, [⁸⁹Zr]Zr-chDAB4 showed higher and prolonged mean (± SD) tumor uptake of 29.5 ± 5.9 compared to 7.8 ± 1.2 for [¹²⁴I] I -chDAB4. In contrast, antibody uptake in healthy tissues was not affected. Compared to DFO-NCS, DFOSq did not result in significant differences in tumor uptake of [⁸⁹Zr]Zr-chDAB4 but did alter the tumor:liver ratio in treated mice 3 days after injection in favour of DFOSq (8.0 ± 1.1) compared to DFO-NCS (4.2 ± 0.7).

Conclusion

ImmunoPET using chDAB4 radiolabeled with residualizing [⁸⁹Zr] Zr^IV rather than [¹²⁴I] I optimized post-chemotherapy tumor uptake. Further, PET imaging characteristics were improved by DFOSq rather than DFO-NCS. Therefore, the radionuclide/chelator combination of [⁸⁹Zr] Zr^IV and DFOSq is preferred for the imminent clinical evaluation of chDAB4 as a selective tumor cell death radioligand.

Supplementary Information

Supplementary information accompanies this paper at 10.1186/s41181-020-00109-6.

Design and Evaluation of Rhein-Based MRI Contrast Agents for Visualization of Tumor Necrosis Induced by Combretastatin A-4 Disodium Phosphate

PURPOSE

Visualization of tumor necrosis can determine tumor response to therapy. Our previous study showed that the rhein-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent with alkane linker (GdL₂) could clearly image tumor necrosis. However, its water solubility and cell safety needed to be improved. Herein, three rhein-based MRI agents with ether or lysine linkers were designed.

PROCEDURES

Three rhein-based MRI agents were synthesized with a tetracarbon ether (GdP1), a hexacarbon ether (GdP2), and a lysine (GdP3) linker, respectively. Their octanol-water partition coefficients (log P) and cytotoxicity were determined. Necrosis avidity of the leading agent was explored on HepG2 cells and ischemia reperfusion-induced liver necrosis (IRLN) rats by MRI. The effect of visualization of tumor necrosis was tested on nude mice with W256 tumor treated by combretastatin-A4 phosphate (CA4P). DNA binding assays were applied to evaluate the possible necrosis-avidity mechanism of the leading agent.

RESULTS

The log P of three agents (- 1.66 ± 0.09, - 1.74 ± 0.01, - 1.95 ± 0.01) decreased when compared with GdL₂, indicating higher water solubility. GdP1 not only presented lower cytotoxicity and good necrotic affinity in vitro and in vivo, but also can be fast excreted by renal. According to MRI results of tumor, distinct visualization of tumor necrosis can be discernible from 3 to 4.5 h post-injection of GdP1. In DNA-binding assays, the fluorescence quenching constant K_SV (1.00 × 10⁴ M^-1) and the ultraviolet binding constant K_b (1.11 × 10⁴ M^-1) suggested that GdP1 may bind to DNA through intercalation.

CONCLUSION

GdP1 may serve as a potential candidate for early evaluation of tumor response to CA4P treatment.

The role of lysosome in regulated necrosis

Lysosome is a ubiquitous acidic organelle fundamental for the turnover of unwanted cellular molecules, particles, and organelles. Currently, the pivotal role of lysosome in regulating cell death is drawing great attention. Over the past decades, we largely focused on how lysosome influences apoptosis and autophagic cell death. However, extensive studies showed that lysosome is also prerequisite for the execution of regulated necrosis (RN). Different types of RN have been uncovered, among which, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis are under the most intensive investigation. It becomes a hot topic nowadays to target RN as a therapeutic intervention, since it is important in many patho/physiological settings and contributing to numerous diseases. It is promising to target lysosome to control the occurrence of RN thus altering the outcomes of diseases. Therefore, we aim to give an introduction about the common factors influencing lysosomal stability and then summarize the current knowledge on the role of lysosome in the execution of RN, especially in that of necroptosis, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis.

Functional gadolinium-based nanoscale systems for cancer theranostics

Cancer theranostics is a new strategy for combating cancer that integrates cancer imaging and treatment through theranostic agents to provide an efficient and safe way to improve cancer prognosis. Design and synthesis of these cancer theranostic agents are crucial since these agents are required to be biocompatible, tumor-specific, imaging distinguishable and therapeutically efficacious. In this regard, several types of gadolinium (Gd)-based nanomaterials have been introduced to combine different therapeutic agents with Gd to enhance the efficacy of therapeutic agents. At the same time, the entire treatment procedure could be monitored via imaging tools due to incorporation of Gd ions, Gd chelates and Gd/other imaging probes in the theranostic agents. This review aims to overview recent advances in the Gd-based nanomaterials for cancer theranostics and perspectives for Gd nanomaterial-based cancer theranostics are provided.

Discovery of necrosis avidity of rhein and its applications in necrosis imaging

Necrosis-avid agents possess exploitable theragnostic utilities including evaluation of tissue viability, monitoring of therapeutic efficacy as well as diagnosis and treatment of necrosis-related disorders. Rhein (4,5-dihydroxyl-2-carboxylic-9,10-dihydrodiketoanthracene), a naturally occurring monomeric anthraquinone compound extensively found in medicinal herbs, was recently demonstrated to have a newly discovered necrosis-avid trait and to show promising application in necrosis imaging. In this overview, we present the discovering process of rhein as a new necrosis-avid agent as well as its potential imaging applications in visualisation of myocardial necrosis and early evaluation of tumour response to therapy. Moreover, the molecular mechanism exploration of necrosis avidity behind rhein are also presented. The discovery of necrosis avidity with rhein and the development of rhein-based molecular probes may further expand the scope of necrosis-avid compounds and highlight the potential utility of necrosis-avid molecular probes in necrosis imaging.

Biodegradable Hypericin-Containing Nanoparticles for Necrosis Targeting and Fluorescence Imaging

Necrosis targeting and imaging has significant implications for evaluating tumor growth, therapeutic response, and delivery of therapeutics to perinecrotic tumor zones. Hypericin is a hydrophobic molecule with high necrosis affinity and fluorescence imaging properties. To date, the safe and effective delivery of hypericin to areas of necrosis in vivo remains a challenge because of its incompatible biophysical properties. To address this issue, we have developed a biodegradable nanoparticle (Hyp-NP) for delivery of hypericin to tumors for necrosis targeting and fluorescence imaging. The nanoparticle was developed using methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) and hypericin by a modified solvent evaporation technique. The size of Hyp-NP was 19.0 ± 1.8 nm from cryo-TEM and 37.3 ± 0.7 nm from dynamic light-scattering analysis with a polydispersity index of 0.15 ± 0.01. The encapsulation efficiency of hypericin was 95.05% w/w by UV-vis absorption. After storage for 30 days, 91.4% hypericin was retained in Hyp-NP with nearly no change in hydrodynamic size, representing nanoparticle stability. In an ovarian cancer cell line, Hyp-NP demonstrated cellular internalization with intracellular cytoplasmic localization and preserved fluorescence and necrosis affinity. In a mouse subcutaneous tumor model, tumor accumulation was noted at 8 h postinjection, with near-complete clearance at 96 h postinjection. Hyp-NP was shown to be tightly localized within necrotic tumor zones. Histological analysis of harvested organs demonstrated no gross abnormalities, and in vitro, no hemolysis was observed. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the potential clinical applications of Hyp-NP for necrosis targeting.

Imaging Cell Death: Focus on Early Evaluation of Tumor Response to Therapy

Cell death plays a prominent role in the treatment of cancer, because most anticancer therapies act by the induction of cell death including apoptosis, necrosis, and other pathways of cell death. Imaging cell death helps to identify treatment responders from nonresponders and thus enables patient-tailored therapy, which will increase the likelihood of treatment response and ultimately lead to improved patient survival. By taking advantage of molecular probes that specifically target the biomarkers/biochemical processes of cell death, cell death imaging can be successfully achieved. In recent years, with the increased understanding of the molecular mechanism of cell death, a variety of well-defined biomarkers/biochemical processes of cell death have been identified. By targeting these established cell death biomarkers/biochemical processes, a set of molecular imaging probes have been developed and evaluated for early monitoring treatment response in tumors. In this review, we mainly present the recent advances in identifying useful biomarkers/biochemical processes for both apoptosis and necrosis imaging and in developing molecular imaging probes targeting these biomarkers/biochemical processes, with a focus on their application in early evaluation of tumor response to therapy.

Molecular imaging of myocardial necrosis: an updated mini-review

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains the most severe and common cardiac emergency among various ischaemic heart diseases. Both unregulated (necrosis) and regulated (apoptosis, autophagy and necroptosis et al.) forms of cell death can occur during AMI. Non-invasive imaging of cardiomyocyte death represents an attractive approach to acquire insights into the pathophysiology of AMI, track the temporal and spatial evolution of MI, guide therapeutic decision-making, evaluate response to therapeutic intervention and predict prognosis. Although several forms of cell death have been identified during AMI, to date, only apoptosis- and necrosis-detecting probes compatible with currently available tomographic imaging modalities have been successfully developed for non-invasive visualisation of cardiomyocyte death. Myocardial apoptosis imaging has gained more attention because of its potential controllability while less attention has been paid to myocardial necrosis imaging. In our opinion, although cardiomyocyte necrosis is unsalvageable, imaging necrosis can play an important role in early diagnosis, risk stratification, prognostic prediction and guidance in therapeutic decision-making of AMI. In this mini-review, we summarise the updated advances achieved by us and others and discuss the challenges in the development of molecular imaging probes for visualisation of myocardial necrosis.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Diindole-Based MRI Contrast Agent for In Vivo Visualization of Necrosis

PURPOSE

Noninvasive imaging of cell necrosis can provide an early evaluation of tumor response to treatments. Here, we aimed to design and synthesize a novel diindole-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent (Gd-bis-DOTA-diindolylmethane, Gd-DIM) for assessment of tumor response to therapy at an early stage.

PROCEDURES

The oil-water partition coefficient (Log P) and relaxivity of Gd-DIM were determined in vitro. Then, its necrosis avidity was examined in necrotic cells in vitro and in rat models with microwave ablation-induced muscle necrosis (MAMN) and ischemia reperfusion-induced liver necrosis (IRLN) by MRI. Visualization of tumor necrosis induced by combretastatin A-4 disodium phosphate (CA4P) was evaluated in rats bearing W256 orthotopic liver tumor by MRI. Finally, DNA binding assay was performed to explore the possible necrosis-avidity mechanism of Gd-DIM.

RESULTS

The Log P value and T1 relaxivity of Gd-DIM is - 2.15 ± 0.01 and 6.61 mM^-1 s^-1, respectively. Gd-DIM showed predominant necrosis avidity in vitro and in vivo. Clear visualization of the tumor necrosis induced by CA4P was achieved at 60 min after administration of Gd-DIM. DNA binding study indicated that the necrosis-avidity mechanism of Gd-DIM may be due to its binding to exposed DNA in necrotic cells.

CONCLUSION

Gd-DIM may serve as a promising necrosis-avid MRI contrast agent for early assessment of tumor response to therapy.