99mTechnetium-C595 radioimmunoscintigraphy: a potential staging tool for bladder cancer

Research progress of MUC1 in genitourinary cancers

MUC1 is a highly glycosylated transmembrane protein with a high molecular weight. It plays a role in lubricating and protecting mucosal epithelium, participates in epithelial cell renewal and differentiation, and regulates cell adhesion, signal transduction, and immune response. MUC1 is expressed in both normal and malignant epithelial cells, and plays an important role in the diagnosis, prognosis prediction and clinical monitoring of a variety of tumors and is expected to be a new therapeutic target. This article reviews the structural features, expression regulation mechanism, and research progress of MUC1 in the development of genitourinary cancers and its clinical applications.

Targeting Glycans and Heavily Glycosylated Proteins for Tumor Imaging

Simple Summary

Distinguishing malignancy from healthy tissue is essential for oncologic surgery. Targeted imaging during an operation aids the surgeon to operate better. The present tracers for detecting cancer are directed against proteins that are overexpressed on the membrane of tumor cells. This review evaluates the use of tumor-associated sugar molecules as an alternative for proteins to image cancer tissue. These sugar molecules are present as glycans on glycosylated membrane proteins and glycolipids. Due to their location and large numbers per cell, these sugar molecules might be better targets for tumor imaging than proteins.

Abstract

Real-time tumor imaging techniques are increasingly used in oncological surgery, but still need to be supplemented with novel targeted tracers, providing specific tumor tissue detection based on intra-tumoral processes or protein expression. To maximize tumor/non-tumor contrast, targets should be highly and homogenously expressed on tumor tissue only, preferably from the earliest developmental stage onward. Unfortunately, most evaluated tumor-associated proteins appear not to meet all of these criteria. Thus, the quest for ideal targets continues. Aberrant glycosylation of proteins and lipids is a fundamental hallmark of almost all cancer types and contributes to tumor progression. Additionally, overexpression of glycoproteins that carry aberrant glycans, such as mucins and proteoglycans, is observed. Selected tumor-associated glyco-antigens are abundantly expressed and could, thus, be ideal candidates for targeted tumor imaging. Nevertheless, glycan-based tumor imaging is still in its infancy. In this review, we highlight the potential of glycans, and heavily glycosylated proteoglycans and mucins as targets for multimodal tumor imaging by discussing the preclinical and clinical accomplishments within this field. Additionally, we describe the major advantages and limitations of targeting glycans compared to cancer-associated proteins. Lastly, by providing a brief overview of the most attractive tumor-associated glycans and glycosylated proteins in association with their respective tumor types, we set out the way for implementing glycan-based imaging in a clinical practice.

Self-assembled polymeric nanoparticles as new, smart contrast agents for cancer early detection using magnetic resonance imaging

Early cancer detection is a major factor in the reduction of mortality and cancer management cost. Here we developed a smart and targeted micelle-based contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), able to turn on its imaging capability in the presence of acidic cancer tissues. This smart contrast agent consists of pH-sensitive polymeric micelles formed by self-assembly of a diblock copolymer (poly(ethyleneglycol-b-trimethylsilyl methacrylate)), loaded with a gadolinium hydrophobic complex (^tBuBipyGd) and exploits the acidic pH in cancer tissues. In vitro MRI experiments showed that ^tBuBipyGd-loaded micelles were pH-sensitive, as they turned on their imaging capability only in an acidic microenvironment. The micelle-targeting ability toward cancer cells was enhanced by conjugation with an antibody against the MUC1 protein. The ability of our antibody-decorated micelles to be switched on in acidic microenvironments and to target cancer cells expressing specific antigens, together with its high Gd(III) content and its small size (35–40 nm) reveals their potential use for early cancer detection by MRI.

Intracavitary radioimmunotherapy to treat solid tumors

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) potentially is an attractive treatment for radiosensitive early-stage solid tumors and as an adjuvant to cytoreductive surgery. Topical administration of RIT may improve the efficacy because higher local concentrations are achieved. We reviewed the results of locally applied radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of solid tumors. Intracavitary RIT in patients with ovarian cancer and glioma showed improved targeting after local administration, as compared to the intravenous administration. In addition, various studies showed the feasibility of locally applied RIT in these patients. In studies that included patients with small-volume disease, adjuvant RIT in ovarian cancer and glioma showed to be at least as effective as standard therapy. The information about RIT for peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin is scarce, while results from preclinical data are promising. RIT may be applied for other, relatively unexplored indications. Studies on the application of radiolabeled antibodies in early urothelial cell cancer have been performed, showing that intracavitary RIT may hold a promise. Moreover, in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma or malignant pleural effusion, RIT may play a role in the palliative treatment. Intracavitary RIT limits toxicity and improves tumor targeting. RIT is more effective in patients with small-volume disease of solid cancers. RIT may have potential for palliation in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma or malignant pleural effusion. The future of RIT may, therefore, not only be in the inclusion in contemporary multimodality treatment, but also in the expansion to palliative treatment.

The management of lymph node metastasis from bladder cancer

AIM

The presence of pelvic lymph node metastasis from bladder cancer has traditionally been associated with a very poor prognosis. The aim of this paper is to review the literature with regard to the management of patients with nodal disease, particularly gross nodal metastasis and suggest a strategy for management of these patients.

METHODS

We performed a literature search in the PubMed database and the reference lists of relevant papers describing the management of locally advanced bladder cancer.

FINDINGS

There are no randomised studies relating specifically to the management of nodal metastasis in bladder cancer. It is clear however that a significant number of patients with micrometastatic nodal disease may be cured. Few studies exist which address the management of patients with gross nodal disease and consist of series from a limited number of institutions. In patients with gross nodal disease detected pre-operatively or at the time of surgery, a multimodality approach consisting of surgery, chemotherapy and possibly radiotherapy seems appropriate. The prognosis of such patients relates to the pathological stage of the primary tumour and the degree of lymph node involvement. In addition a good response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy may identify patients who are likely to survive longer.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis for patients with gross nodal disease from bladder cancer is poor although cure may be possible in a small number of patients. In such cases a multimodality approach is appropriate and management decisions should be made on an individual patient basis.

Application of 99mTc labeled chimeric Fab fragments of monoclonal antibody A7 for immunoscintigraphy of pancreatic carcinoma

BACKGROUND

One of the reasons for the poor prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma is the difficulty of obtaining an early diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. One possibility is the application of radioimmunoscintigraphy using radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies (Mabs).

METHODS

We labeled chimeric (human/mouse) Fab fragments of Mab A7 (chA7Fab) with (99m)Tc and examined the distribution of (99m)Tc-labeled chA7Fab in nude mice bearing human pancreatic carcinoma.

RESULTS

The tumor accumulation of (99m)Tc-labeled chA7Fab was larger than that of (99m)Tc-labeled A7 from 2 to 6 hr after injection. (99m)Tc-labeled chA7Fab disappeared from blood more rapidly than (99m)Tc-labeled A7. For all resected normal tissues except kidney, the accumulation of (99m)Tc-labeled chA7Fab was low and similar to that of (99m)Tc-labeled A7.

CONCLUSIONS

Because the half-life of (99m)Tc is short (6 hr), chA7Fab, which accumulates rapidly in tumors, may be a better carrier of (99m)Tc than intact Mab A7.