Efficient Synthesis of Glutamate Peptide-Estradiol Conjugate for Imaging Estrogen Receptor-Positive Diseases

Relaxed fibronectin: a potential novel target for imaging endometriotic lesions

BACKGROUND

Endometriosis is characterized by the ectopic occurrence of endometrial tissue. Though considered benign, endometriotic lesions possess tumor-like properties such as tissue invasion and remodeling of the extracellular matrix. One major clinical hurdle concerning endometriosis is its diagnosis. The diagnostic modalities ultrasound and MRI are often unable to detect all lesions, and a clear correlation between imaging and clinical symptoms is still controversial. Therefore, it was our aim to identify a potential target to image active endometriotic lesions.

RESULTS

For our studies, we employed the preclinical radiotracer [111In]In-FnBPA5, which specifically binds to relaxed fibronectin-an extracellular matrix protein with key functions in homeostasis that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases such as cancer and fibrosis. We employed this tracer in biodistribution as well as SPECT/CT studies in mice and conducted immunohistochemical stainings on mouse uterine tissue as well as on patient-derived endometriosis tissue. In biodistribution and SPECT/CT studies using the radiotracer [111In]In-FnBPA5, we found that radiotracer uptake in the myometrium varies with the estrous cycle of the mouse, leading to higher uptake of [111In]In-FnBPA5 during estrogen-dependent phases, which indicates an increased abundance of relaxed fibronectin when estrogen levels are high. Finally, immunohistochemical analysis of patient samples demonstrated that there is preferential relaxation of fibronectin in the proximity of the endometriotic stroma.

CONCLUSION

Estrous cycle stages characterized by high estrogen levels result in a higher abundance of relaxed fibronectin in the murine myometrium. This finding together with a first proof-of-concept study employing human endometriosis tissues suggests that relaxed fibronectin could be a potential target for the development of a diagnostic radiotracer targeting endometriotic lesions. With [111In]In-FnBPA5, the matching targeting molecule is in preclinical development.

Modulators of radiation-induced cardiopulmonary toxicities for non-small cell lung cancer: Integrated cytokines, single nucleotide variants, and HBP systems imaging

Radiation therapy (RT)-induced cardiopulmonary toxicities remain dose-limiting toxicities for patients receiving radiation dosages to the thorax, especially for lung cancer. Means of monitoring and predicting for those receiving RT or concurrent chemoradiation therapy before treatment begins in individual patients could benefit early intervention to prevent or minimize RT-induced side effects. Another aspect of an individual's susceptibility to the adverse effects of thoracic irradiation is the immune system as reflected by phenotypic factors (patterns of cytokine expressions), genotypic factors (single nucleotide variants SNVs; formerly single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs]), and aspects of quantitative cellular imaging. Levels of transcription, production, and functional activity of cytokines are often influenced by SNVs that affect coding regions in the promoter or regulatory regions of cytokine genes. SNVs can also lead to changes in the expression of the inflammatory cytokines, interferons, interleukins (IL-6, IL-17) and tumor necrosis factors (TNF-α) at the protein level. RT-induced cardiopulmonary toxicities could be quantified by the uptake of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), however, FDG is a sensitive but not specific biomarker in differential diagnosis between inflammation/infection and tumor recurrence. FDG is suitable for initial diagnosis of predisposed tissue injuries in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ^99mTc-ethylenedicysteine-glucosamine (^99mTc-EC-G) was able to measure tumor DNA proliferation and myocardial ischemia via hexosamine biosynthetic pathways (HBP). Thus, ^99mTc-EC-G could be an alternative to FDG in the assessment of RT doses and select patients in HBP-directed targets for optimal outcomes. This article reviewed correlative analyses of pro-inflammatory cytokines, genotype SNVs, and cellular imaging to improve the diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring, and prediction of RT-induced cardiopulmonary toxicities in NSCLC.

Current Development and Future Application Prospects of Plants-Derived Polyphenol Bioactive Substance Curcumin as a Novel Feed Additive in Livestock and Poultry

Curcumin (CUR) is a kind of natural orange-yellow phenolic compound mainly extracted from the stems and roots of turmeric plants and other species in the genus Curcuma, furthermore, it is also the most important active ingredient exerting pharmacological functions in turmeric. In recent years, CUR has been frequently reported and has attracted widespread attention from scholars all over the world due to its numerous biological functions and good application prospects, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant and providing lipid-lowering effects, etc. In addition, adding a certain dose of CUR to livestock and poultry feed is important for animal growth and development, which plays a key role in animal metabolism, reproduction, immunity and clinical health care. This review aims to summarize, based on the published papers and our own observations, the physical and chemical properties and the biological functions of the plant-derived bioactive ingredient CUR, especially regarding the latest research progress in regulating intestinal health as well as its current development and future application prospects in livestock and poultry as a novel feed additive, so as to provide theoretical and practical references for the further study of the application of CUR as a novel feed additive and a potential new antibiotic substitute, thereby improving the research field of plant-derived bioactive ingredients and promoting the healthy development of livestock and poultry.

Chelation-Tamoxifen Conjugates for Imaging of Estrogen Receptors

Background: The differential diagnosis of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) pathway-activated systems by using a labeled antiestrogen helps to select the patients for optimal response to endocrine therapy and to discontinue the treatment when resistance occurs. The authors' purpose was to synthesize chelator-tamoxifen conjugates for imaging ER (+) diseases. Materials and Methods: A hydroxypropyl linker was incorporated between either cyclam or cyclam diacetic acid and tamoxifen analog to produce SC-05-L-1 (Z-1-(1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecan-1-yl)-3-((5-(4-(2-(diethylamino)ethoxy) phenyl) -4,5-diphenylpent-4-en-1-yl)oxy)propan-2-ol) and SC-05-N-1 (Z-2,2'-(4-(3-((5-(4-(2-(diethylamino)ethoxy)phenyl)-4,5-diphenylpent-4-en-1-yl)oxy)-2-hydroxy-propyl) -1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-diyl)diacetic acid), respectively. In vitro cell uptake and cell/media ratios of ^99mTc-SC-05-L-1 and ^99mTc- SC-05-N-1 in ER (+) ovarian cancer cells (TOV-112D and OVCAR3) were performed. To ascertain the specificity of cell uptake, the cell uptake was blocked with estrone. In vivo ^99mTc-SC-05-L-1 or ^99mTc-SC-05-N-1 single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography was conducted in tumor-bearing rodents and compared to ¹⁸F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (a reference technology). Results: The radiochemical purities of ^99mTc-SC-05-L-1 and ^99mTc-SC-05-N-1 were greater than 99% (n = 10). ^99mTc-SC-05-L-1 had higher cell/media ratios than ^99mTc-SC-05-N-1 in OVCAR-3 ER (+) cells. The cell uptake of ^99mTc-SC-05-L-1 was blocked 80% by estrone indicating an ER-mediated process occurred. ^99mTc-SC-05-N-1 was further selected for in vivo imaging studies due to higher maximum tolerated dose and superior water solubility than ^99mTc-SC-05-L-1. ^99mTc-SC-05-N-1 showed higher tumor uptake and tumor/muscle count density ratios than ¹⁸F-FDG in tumor-bearing rodents. Conclusion: ^99mTc-SC-05-N-1 showed better differential diagnosis of ovarian tumors than ¹⁸F-FDG, indicating great promising in chelator-tamoxifen conjugate for ER pathway-directed systems imaging.