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Kahler JP, Ji S, Speelman-Rooms F, Vanhoutte R, Verhelst SHL. Phosphinate Esters as Novel Warheads for Quenched Activity-Based Probes Targeting Serine Proteases. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:1409-1415. [PMID: 38913607 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Quenched activity-based probes (qABP) are invaluable tools to visualize aberrant protease activity. Unfortunately, most studies so far have only focused on cysteine proteases, and only a few studies describe the synthesis and use of serine protease qABPs. We recently used phosphinate ester electrophiles as a novel type of reactive group to construct ABPs for serine proteases. Here, we report on the construction of qABPs based on the phosphinate warhead, exemplified by probes for the neutrophil serine proteases. The most successful probes show sub-stoichiometric reaction with human neutrophil elastase, efficient fluorescence quenching, and rapid unquenching of fluorescence upon reaction with target proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Pascal Kahler
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Herestraat 49 box 901b, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Shanping Ji
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Herestraat 49 box 901b, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Femke Speelman-Rooms
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Herestraat 49 box 901b, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Molecular & Cellular Signaling, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Herestraat 49 box 802, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Roeland Vanhoutte
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Herestraat 49 box 901b, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steven H L Verhelst
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Herestraat 49 box 901b, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- AG Chemical Proteomics, Leibniz Institute for Analytical Sciences - ISAS, Otto-Hahn-Str. 6b, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
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2
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Bou-Samra P, Kennedy GT, Chang A, Guo E, Azari FS, Din A, Santini JT, Bensen ES, Singhal S. Phase 2 Clinical Trial of VGT-309 for Intraoperative Molecular Imaging During Pulmonary Resection. Ann Thorac Surg 2024:S0003-4975(24)00396-5. [PMID: 38823756 DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2024.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advances in intraoperative molecular imaging (IMI) may improve surgical outcomes when resecting tumors in the lung. A single-center trial was conducted using VGT-309, a cathepsin-targeted near-infrared imaging agent that causes lung nodules to fluoresce during surgical resection. The end point of this phase 2 study was to evaluate the frequency that IMI with VGT-309 resulted in a clinically significant event (CSE): localization of pulmonary nodules, discovery of unsuspected additional cancers, or identification of positive margins. METHODS Patients undergoing surgical resection for known or suspected cancer in the lung received VGT-309 (0.32 mg/kg) preoperatively. During the surgical procedure, localization and resection of the nodules were performed using standard surgical techniques. Near-infrared imaging was then used to localize nodules, seek occult lesions, and assess resection margins. Efficacy was measured by the frequency of CSEs. RESULTS Of the 40 patients who underwent pulmonary resection with VGT-309, 17 (42.5%) had at least 1 CSE. Near-infrared imaging identified lesions not found by standard surgical methods in 16 patients, additional cancers not found by preoperative imaging in 1 patient, and margins within 5 mm of the closest staple line in 2 patients. VGT-309 performance was tested across a broad range of tumor types and commercial near-infrared imaging systems. VGT-309 appeared safe, well-tolerated, with no infusion reactions, and no drug-related serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS This phase 2 study demonstrated the utility of IMI with VGT-309 in localizing pulmonary nodules, recognizing synchronous lesions, and identifying positive margins. A multi-institutional study will further evaluate the efficacy of VGT-309.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Bou-Samra
- Department of Surgery, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Gregory T Kennedy
- Department of Surgery, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Austin Chang
- Department of Surgery, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Emily Guo
- Department of Surgery, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Feredun S Azari
- Department of Surgery, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Azra Din
- Department of Surgery, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | | | - Sunil Singhal
- Department of Surgery, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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3
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Denison M, Garcia SP, Ullrich A, Podgorski I, Gibson H, Turro C, Kodanko JJ. Ruthenium-Cathepsin Inhibitor Conjugates for Green Light-Activated Photodynamic Therapy and Photochemotherapy. Inorg Chem 2024; 63:7973-7983. [PMID: 38616353 PMCID: PMC11066580 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c01008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Dysregulated cathepsin activity is linked to various human diseases including metabolic disorders, autoimmune conditions, and cancer. Given the overexpression of cathepsin in the tumor microenvironment, cathepsin inhibitors are promising pharmacological agents and drug delivery vehicles for cancer treatment. In this study, we describe the synthesis and photochemical and biological assessment of a dual-action agent based on ruthenium that is conjugated with a cathepsin inhibitor, designed for both photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photochemotherapy (PCT). The ruthenium-cathepsin inhibitor conjugate was synthesized through an oxime click reaction, combining a pan-cathepsin inhibitor based on E64d with the Ru(II) PCT/PDT fragment [Ru(dqpy)(dppn)], where dqpy = 2,6-di(quinoline-2-yl)pyridine and dppn = benzo[i]dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine. Photochemical investigations validated the conjugate's ability to release a triazole-containing cathepsin inhibitor for PCT and to generate singlet oxygen for PDT upon exposure to green light. Inhibition studies demonstrated the conjugate's potent and irreversible inactivation of purified and intracellular cysteine cathepsins. Two Ru(II) PCT/PDT agents based on the [Ru(dqpy)(dppn)] moiety were evaluated for photoinduced cytotoxicity in 4T1 murine triple-negative breast cancer cells, L929 fibroblasts, and M0, M1, and M2 macrophages. The cathepsin inhibitor conjugate displayed notable selectivity for inducing cell death under irradiation compared to dark conditions, mitigating toxicity in the dark observed with the triazole control complex [Ru(dqpy)(dppn)(MeTz)]2+ (MeTz = 1-methyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole). Notably, our lead complex is among a limited number of dual PCT/PDT agents activated with green light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline Denison
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, 5101 Cass Ave, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
| | - Santana P Garcia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Alexander Ullrich
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Izabela Podgorski
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Heather Gibson
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Claudia Turro
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Jeremy J Kodanko
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, 5101 Cass Ave, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
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4
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Fujita K, Urano Y. Activity-Based Fluorescence Diagnostics for Cancer. Chem Rev 2024; 124:4021-4078. [PMID: 38518254 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Fluorescence imaging is one of the most promising approaches to achieve intraoperative assessment of the tumor/normal tissue margins during cancer surgery. This is critical to improve the patients' prognosis, and therefore various molecular fluorescence imaging probes have been developed for the identification of cancer lesions during surgery. Among them, "activatable" fluorescence probes that react with cancer-specific biomarker enzymes to generate fluorescence signals have great potential for high-contrast cancer imaging due to their low background fluorescence and high signal amplification by enzymatic turnover. Over the past two decades, activatable fluorescence probes employing various fluorescence control mechanisms have been developed worldwide for this purpose. Furthermore, new biomarker enzymatic activities for specific types of cancers have been identified, enabling visualization of various types of cancers with high sensitivity and specificity. This Review focuses on recent advances in the design, function and characteristics of activatable fluorescence probes that target cancer-specific enzymatic activities for cancer imaging and also discusses future prospects in the field of activity-based diagnostics for cancer.
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5
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Bou-Samra P, Chang A, Guo E, Azari F, Kennedy G, Santini JT, Bensen ES, Jarrar D, Singhal S. Cathepsin detection to identify malignant cells during robotic pulmonary resection. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2023; 12:2370-2380. [PMID: 38205214 PMCID: PMC10775009 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-23-370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Background Intraoperative molecular imaging (IMI) uses a fluorescent probe to identify occult cancers. VGT-309 is a quenched activity-based probe that is activated in the presence of cathepsins, enzymes overexpressed in cancer cells, and detected by near-infrared (NIR) light. This study aims to evaluate the sensitivity and the positive predictive value (PPV) of robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) with intraoperative molecular imaging (RIMI) using VGT-309 to localize tumors using NIR light to detect areas with increased cathepsin activity. Our secondary outcome was to compare RIMI to video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) with intraoperative molecular imaging (VIMI). Methods In a phase 2 clinical trial at the University of Pennsylvania, patients (n=10) with suspicious pulmonary lesions underwent RATS. First, white light was used followed by RIMI to identify tissues with increased cathepsin activity. Then, VIMI was performed to compare the sensitivity and PPV in identifying the cathepsin activity. The resected specimens were then evaluated for fluorescence and underwent histopathological analysis for cathepsin expression. Image analysis was performed using ImageJ software. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics software. A P value of 0.05 or less was considered significant. Results RATS with white light identified 6 out of the 10 pulmonary nodules, whereas adding RIMI identified an additional 4 more pulmonary nodules. RIMI and VIMI were able to detect the same 8/10 (80%) nodules. The addition of VIMI did not identify any lesions that RIMI may have missed. The mean fluorescence intensity of tumors visualized by RIMI was 115.81 A.U. [standard deviation (SD) =58.57] compared to 95.6 A.U. (SD =14.81) by VIMI (P=0.41). The mean tumor-to-background ratios (TBR) of tumors visualized by RIMI was 9.20 (SD =9.12) compared to 2.29 A.U. (SD =1.11) using VIMI (P=0.1). The sensitivity of RIMI and VIMI was 88.9% which was superior to that of RATS (55.6%). The PPV of RATS was 83.3% compared to 100% in RIMI and VIMI. Conclusions RIMI is a valuable option for visualization of occult disease using VGT-309-guided IMI through identifying areas of increased cathepsin activity. In this small series, RIMI and VIMI showed clinical equivalence in sensitivity and PPV of detecting cathepsin activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Bou-Samra
- Department of Surgery, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Austin Chang
- Department of Surgery, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Emily Guo
- Department of Surgery, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Feredun Azari
- Department of Surgery, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Gregory Kennedy
- Department of Surgery, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Doraid Jarrar
- Department of Surgery, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Sunil Singhal
- Department of Surgery, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
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6
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Lee I, Tantisirivat P, Edgington-Mitchell LE. Chemical Tools to Image the Activity of PAR-Cleaving Proteases. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2023; 3:295-304. [PMID: 37599791 PMCID: PMC10436261 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.3c00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Protease-activated receptors (PARs) comprise a family of four G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that have broad functions in health and disease. Unlike most GPCRs, PARs are uniquely activated by proteolytic cleavage of their extracellular N termini. To fully understand PAR activation and function in vivo, it is critical to also study the proteases that activate them. As proteases are heavily regulated at the post-translational level, measures of total protease abundance have limited utility. Measures of protease activity are instead required to inform their function. This review will introduce several classes of chemical probes that have been developed to measure the activation of PAR-cleaving proteases. Their strengths, weaknesses, and applications will be discussed, especially as applied to image protease activity at the whole organism, tissue, and cellular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene
Y. Lee
- Department
of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology
Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052 Australia
| | - Piyapa Tantisirivat
- Department
of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology
Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052 Australia
| | - Laura E. Edgington-Mitchell
- Department
of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology
Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052 Australia
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7
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Faucher F, Liu KJ, Cosco ED, Widen JC, Sorger J, Guerra M, Bogyo M. Protease Activated Probes for Real-Time Ratiometric Imaging of Solid Tumors. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2023; 9:1059-1069. [PMID: 37252358 PMCID: PMC10214504 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c00261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Surgery is the preferred treatment option for most solid tumors. However, inaccurate detection of cancer borders leads to either incomplete removal of malignant cells or excess excision of healthy tissue. While fluorescent contrast agents and imaging systems improve tumor visualization, they can suffer from low signal-to-background and are prone to technical artifacts. Ratiometric imaging has the potential to eliminate many of these issues such as uneven probe distribution, tissue autofluorescence, and changes in positioning of the light source. Here, we describe a strategy to convert quenched fluorescent probes into ratiometric contrast agents. Conversion of the cathepsin-activated probe, 6QC-Cy5, into a two-fluorophore probe, 6QC-RATIO, significantly improved signal-to-background in vitro and in a mouse subcutaneous breast tumor model. Tumor detection sensitivity was further enhanced using a dual-substrate AND-gate ratiometric probe, Death-Cat-RATIO, that fluoresces only after orthogonal processing by multiple tumor-specific proteases. We also designed and built a modular camera system that was coupled to the FDA-approved da Vinci Xi robot, to enable real-time imaging of ratiometric signals at video frame rates compatible with surgical workflows. Our results demonstrate that ratiometric camera systems and imaging probes have the potential to be clinically implemented to improve surgical resection of many types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco
F. Faucher
- Department
of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Kevin J. Liu
- Program
in Cancer Biology, Stanford University School
of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305 United States
| | - Emily D. Cosco
- Department
of Pathology, Stanford University School
of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - John C. Widen
- Department
of Pathology, Stanford University School
of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jonathan Sorger
- Intuitive
Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, California 94086, United States
| | - Matteo Guerra
- Department
of Pathology, Stanford University School
of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Matthew Bogyo
- Department
of Pathology, Stanford University School
of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford
University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford
University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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8
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Zmudzinski M, Malon O, Poręba M, Drąg M. Imaging of proteases using activity-based probes. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 74:102299. [PMID: 37031620 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.102299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Proteases (proteolytic enzymes) are proteins that catalyze one of the most important biochemical reactions, namely the hydrolysis of the peptide bond in peptide and protein substrates. Therefore these molecular biocatalysts participate in virtually all living processes. The proper balance between intact and processed protease substrates enables to maintenance of homeostasis from a single-cell level to the whole living system. However, when the proteolytic activity is altered, this delicate balance is disturbed, which might lead to the development of a plethora of diseases. Given this, monitoring proteolytic activity is indispensable to understanding how proteases operate in disease lesions and how their altered catalytic activity might be harnessed for a better diagnosis and treatment. In this manuscript, we provide a critical review of the recent development of protease chemical probes which are small molecules that detect proteolytic activity by interacting with protease active site, individual proteases as well as complex proteolytic networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikolaj Zmudzinski
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Oliwia Malon
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marcin Poręba
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Marcin Drąg
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland.
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Bai JW, Qiu SQ, Zhang GJ. Molecular and functional imaging in cancer-targeted therapy: current applications and future directions. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:89. [PMID: 36849435 PMCID: PMC9971190 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01366-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted anticancer drugs block cancer cell growth by interfering with specific signaling pathways vital to carcinogenesis and tumor growth rather than harming all rapidly dividing cells as in cytotoxic chemotherapy. The Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor (RECIST) system has been used to assess tumor response to therapy via changes in the size of target lesions as measured by calipers, conventional anatomically based imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other imaging methods. However, RECIST is sometimes inaccurate in assessing the efficacy of targeted therapy drugs because of the poor correlation between tumor size and treatment-induced tumor necrosis or shrinkage. This approach might also result in delayed identification of response when the therapy does confer a reduction in tumor size. Innovative molecular imaging techniques have rapidly gained importance in the dawning era of targeted therapy as they can visualize, characterize, and quantify biological processes at the cellular, subcellular, or even molecular level rather than at the anatomical level. This review summarizes different targeted cell signaling pathways, various molecular imaging techniques, and developed probes. Moreover, the application of molecular imaging for evaluating treatment response and related clinical outcome is also systematically outlined. In the future, more attention should be paid to promoting the clinical translation of molecular imaging in evaluating the sensitivity to targeted therapy with biocompatible probes. In particular, multimodal imaging technologies incorporating advanced artificial intelligence should be developed to comprehensively and accurately assess cancer-targeted therapy, in addition to RECIST-based methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Wen Bai
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment in Breast Cancer, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Endocrine-Related Cancer Precision Medicine, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Research Center of Clinical Medicine in Breast and Thyroid Cancers, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China
- Department of Breast-Thyroid-Surgery and Cancer Center, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China
- Cancer Research Center of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China
| | - Si-Qi Qiu
- Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Breast Diseases, Clinical Research Center, Shantou Central Hospital, 515041, Shantou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Shantou University Medical College, 515041, Shantou, China
| | - Guo-Jun Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment in Breast Cancer, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China.
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Endocrine-Related Cancer Precision Medicine, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China.
- Xiamen Research Center of Clinical Medicine in Breast and Thyroid Cancers, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China.
- Department of Breast-Thyroid-Surgery and Cancer Center, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China.
- Cancer Research Center of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China.
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10
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Kučikas V, Werner MP, Schmitz-Rode T, Louradour F, van Zandvoort MAMJ. Two-Photon Endoscopy: State of the Art and Perspectives. Mol Imaging Biol 2023; 25:3-17. [PMID: 34779969 PMCID: PMC9971078 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-021-01665-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the demand for non-destructive deep-tissue imaging modalities has led to interest in multiphoton endoscopy. In contrast to bench top systems, multiphoton endoscopy enables subcellular resolution imaging in areas not reachable before. Several groups have recently presented their development towards the goal of producing user friendly plug and play system, which could be used in biological research and, potentially, clinical applications. We first present the technological challenges, prerequisites, and solutions in two-photon endoscopic systems. Secondly, we focus on the applications already found in literature. These applications mostly serve as a quality check of the built system, but do not answer a specific biomedical research question. Therefore, in the last part, we will describe our vision on the enormous potential applicability of adult two-photon endoscopic systems in biological and clinical research. We will thus bring forward the concept that two-photon endoscopy is a sine qua non in bringing this technique to the forefront in clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vytautas Kučikas
- Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (IMCAR), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. .,XLIM Research Institute, Limoges University, CNRS, Limoges, France.
| | - Maximilian P Werner
- Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Schmitz-Rode
- Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Marc A M J van Zandvoort
- Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (IMCAR), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases CARIM, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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11
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Cysteine Cathepsins in Breast Cancer: Promising Targets for Fluorescence-Guided Surgery. Mol Imaging Biol 2023; 25:58-73. [PMID: 36002710 PMCID: PMC9971096 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-022-01768-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The majority of breast cancer patients is treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) combined with adjuvant radiation therapy. Up to 40% of patients has a tumor-positive resection margin after BCS, which necessitates re-resection or additional boost radiation. Cathepsin-targeted near-infrared fluorescence imaging during BCS could be used to detect residual cancer in the surgical cavity and guide additional resection, thereby preventing tumor-positive resection margins and associated mutilating treatments. The cysteine cathepsins are a family of proteases that play a major role in normal cellular physiology and neoplastic transformation. In breast cancer, the increased enzymatic activity and aberrant localization of many of the cysteine cathepsins drive tumor progression, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. The upregulation of cysteine cathepsins in breast cancer cells indicates their potential as a target for intraoperative fluorescence imaging. This review provides a summary of the current knowledge on the role and expression of the most important cysteine cathepsins in breast cancer to better understand their potential as a target for fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS). In addition, it gives an overview of the cathepsin-targeted fluorescent probes that have been investigated preclinically and in breast cancer patients. The current review underscores that cysteine cathepsins are highly suitable molecular targets for FGS because of favorable expression and activity patterns in virtually all breast cancer subtypes. This is confirmed by cathepsin-targeted fluorescent probes that have been shown to facilitate in vivo breast cancer visualization and tumor resection in mouse models and breast cancer patients. These findings indicate that cathepsin-targeted FGS has potential to improve treatment outcomes in breast cancer patients.
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12
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Wu Q, Zhou QH, Li W, Ren TB, Zhang XB, Yuan L. Evolving an Ultra-Sensitive Near-Infrared β-Galactosidase Fluorescent Probe for Breast Cancer Imaging and Surgical Resection Navigation. ACS Sens 2022; 7:3829-3837. [PMID: 36383027 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c01752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Early diagnosis and therapy are clinically crucial in decreasing mortality from breast carcinoma. However, the existing probes have difficulty in accurately identifying the margins and contours of breast carcinoma due to poor sensitivity and specificity. There is an urgent need to develop high-sensitive fluorescent probes for the diagnosis of breast carcinoma and for differentiating tumors from normal tissues during surgery. β-Galactosidase is a significant biomarker, whose overexpression is closely associated with the progression of breast tumors. Herein, we have constructed a β-galactosidase-activated fluorescent probe NIR-βgal-2 through rational design and molecular docking engineering simulations. The probe displayed superior sensitivity (detection limit = 2.0 × 10-3 U/mL), great affinity (Km = 1.84 μM), and catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km = 0.24 μM-1 s-1) for β-galactosidase. Leveraging this probe, we demonstrated the differentiation of cancer cells overexpressing β-galactosidase from normal cells and then applied the probe for intraoperative guided excision of breast tumors. Moreover, we exhibited the application of NIR-βgal-2 for the successful resection of orthotopic breast tumors by "in situ spraying" and monitored a good prognostic recovery. This work may promote the application of enzyme-activated near-infrared fluorescent probes for the development of carcinoma diagnosis and image-guided surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Qian-Hui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Tian-Bing Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Xiao-Bing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Lin Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
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13
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Biasizzo M, Javoršek U, Vidak E, Zarić M, Turk B. Cysteine cathepsins: A long and winding road towards clinics. Mol Aspects Med 2022; 88:101150. [PMID: 36283280 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2022.101150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Biomedical research often focuses on properties that differentiate between diseased and healthy tissue; one of the current focuses is elevated expression and altered localisation of proteases. Among these proteases, dysregulation of cysteine cathepsins can frequently be observed in inflammation-associated diseases, which tips the functional balance from normal physiological to pathological manifestations. Their overexpression and secretion regularly exhibit a strong correlation with the development and progression of such diseases, making them attractive pharmacological targets. But beyond their mostly detrimental role in inflammation-associated diseases, cysteine cathepsins are physiologically highly important enzymes involved in various biological processes crucial for maintaining homeostasis and responding to different stimuli. Consequently, several challenges have emerged during the efforts made to translate basic research data into clinical applications. In this review, we present both physiological and pathological roles of cysteine cathepsins and discuss the clinical potential of cysteine cathepsin-targeting strategies for disease management and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Biasizzo
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Urban Javoršek
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Eva Vidak
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miki Zarić
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boris Turk
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Vecna pot 113, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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14
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Ćwilichowska N, Świderska KW, Dobrzyń A, Drąg M, Poręba M. Diagnostic and therapeutic potential of protease inhibition. Mol Aspects Med 2022; 88:101144. [PMID: 36174281 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2022.101144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Proteases are enzymes that hydrolyze peptide bonds in proteins and peptides; thus, they control virtually all biological processes. Our understanding of protease function has advanced considerably from nonselective digestive enzymes to highly specialized molecular scissors that orchestrate complex signaling networks through a limited proteolysis. The catalytic activity of proteases is tightly regulated at several levels, ranging from gene expression through trafficking and maturation to posttranslational modifications. However, when this delicate balance is disturbed, many diseases develop, including cancer, inflammatory disorders, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. This new understanding of the role of proteases in pathologic physiology indicates that these enzymes represent excellent molecular targets for the development of therapeutic inhibitors, as well as for the design of chemical probes to visualize their redundant activity. Recently, numerous platform technologies have been developed to identify and optimize protease substrates and inhibitors, which were further used as lead structures for the development of chemical probes and therapeutic drugs. Due to this considerable success, the clinical potential of proteases in therapeutics and diagnostics is rapidly growing and is still not completely explored. Therefore, small molecules that can selectively target aberrant protease activity are emerging in diseases cells. In this review, we describe modern trends in the design of protease drugs as well as small molecule activity-based probes to visualize selected proteases in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Ćwilichowska
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb, Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Karolina W Świderska
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb, Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Dobrzyń
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Ludwika Pasteura 3, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marcin Drąg
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb, Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Marcin Poręba
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb, Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland.
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15
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Kennedy GT, Holt DE, Azari FS, Bernstein E, Nadeem B, Chang A, Sullivan NT, Segil A, Desphande C, Bensen E, Santini JT, Kucharczuk JC, Delikatny EJ, Bogyo M, Egan AJM, Bradley CW, Eruslanov E, Lickliter JD, Wright G, Singhal S. A Cathepsin-Targeted Quenched Activity-Based Probe Facilitates Enhanced Detection of Human Tumors during Resection. Clin Cancer Res 2022; 28:3729-3741. [PMID: 35792882 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-1215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Fluorescence-guided surgery using tumor-targeted contrast agents has been developed to improve the completeness of oncologic resections. Quenched activity-based probes that fluoresce after covalently binding to tumor-specific enzymes have been proposed to improve specificity, but none have been tested in humans. Here, we report the successful clinical translation of a cathepsin activity-based probe (VGT-309) for fluorescence-guided surgery. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We optimized the specificity, dosing, and timing of VGT-309 in preclinical models of lung cancer. To evaluate clinical feasibility, we conducted a canine study of VGT-309 during pulmonary tumor resection. We then conducted a randomized, double-blind, dose-escalation study in healthy human volunteers receiving VGT-309 to evaluate safety. Finally, we tested VGT-309 in humans undergoing lung cancer surgery. RESULTS In preclinical models, we found highly specific tumor cell labeling that was blocked by a broad spectrum cathepsin inhibitor. When evaluating VGT-309 for guidance during resection of canine tumors, we found that the probe selectively labeled tumors and demonstrated high tumor-to-background ratio (TBR; range: 2.15-3.71). In the Phase I human study, we found that VGT-309 was safe at all doses studied. In the ongoing Phase II trial, we report two cases in which VGT-309 localized visually occult, non-palpable tumors (TBRs = 2.83 and 7.18) in real time to illustrate its successful clinical translation and potential to improve surgical management. CONCLUSIONS This first-in-human study demonstrates the safety and feasibility of VGT-309 to label human pulmonary tumors during resection. These results may be generalizable to other cancers due to cathepsin overexpression in many solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory T Kennedy
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - David E Holt
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Feredun S Azari
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Elizabeth Bernstein
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Bilal Nadeem
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ashley Chang
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Neil T Sullivan
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Alix Segil
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Charuhas Desphande
- Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | | | - John C Kucharczuk
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Edward J Delikatny
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Matthew Bogyo
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - A J Matthew Egan
- Department of Pathology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Charles W Bradley
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Evgeniy Eruslanov
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Gavin Wright
- Department of Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sunil Singhal
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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16
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Preclinical Evaluation of an Activity-Based Probe for Intraoperative Imaging of Esophageal Cancer. Mol Imaging 2022; 2022:5447290. [PMID: 35903245 PMCID: PMC9328188 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5447290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Early detection and complete resection are important prognostic factors for esophageal cancer (EC). Intraoperative molecular imaging (IMI) using tumor-targeted tracers is effective in many cancer types. However, there are no EC-specific IMI tracers. We sought to test a cathepsin activity-based tracer (VGT-309) for EC resection. Methods Murine (AKR, HNM007) and human (OE19) EC cell lines were screened for cathepsin expression by western blotting. In vitro binding affinity of VGT-309 was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy. Flank tumor models were developed by injecting EC cells into the flanks of BALB/c or athymic nude mice. Mice pretreated with a cathepsin inhibitor (JPM-OEt) were used to confirm on target binding. Animals were injected with 2 mg/kg VGT-309, underwent IMI, and were sacrificed 24 hours after injection. Results Cathepsins B, L, S, and X were expressed by EC cell lines, and all cell lines were labeled in vitro with VGT-309. Fluorescent signal was eliminated when cells were pretreated with JPM-OEt. On biodistribution analysis, VGT-309 accumulated in the liver, kidneys, and spleen without other organ involvement. VGT-309 selectively accumulated in flank allografts and xenografts, with mean signal-to-background ratio of 5.21 (IQR: 4.18-6.73) for flank allografts and 4.34 (IQR: 3.75-5.02) for flank xenografts. Fluorescence microscopy and histopathological analysis confirmed the selective accumulation of the tracer in tumors compared to background normal tissues. Conclusions VGT-309 is an effective tracer for IMI of esophageal cancer. There is potential for clinical translation both as an adjunct to endoscopic detection and for complete removal of disease during esophagectomy.
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17
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Muir RK, Guerra M, Bogyo MM. Activity-Based Diagnostics: Recent Advances in the Development of Probes for Use with Diverse Detection Modalities. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:281-291. [PMID: 35026106 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal enzyme expression and activity is a hallmark of many diseases. Activity-based diagnostics are a class of chemical probes that aim to leverage this dysregulated metabolic signature to produce a detectable signal specific to diseased tissue. In this Review, we highlight recent methodologies employed in activity-based diagnostics that provide exquisite signal sensitivity and specificity in complex biological systems for multiple disease states. We divide these examples based upon their unique signal readout modalities and highlight those that have advanced into clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan K. Muir
- Department of Pathology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Matteo Guerra
- Department of Pathology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Matthew M. Bogyo
- Department of Pathology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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18
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Zhang Y, Zhang G, Zeng Z, Pu K. Activatable molecular probes for fluorescence-guided surgery, endoscopy and tissue biopsy. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 51:566-593. [PMID: 34928283 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00525a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The real-time, dynamic optical visualization of lesions and margins ensures not only complete resection of the malignant tissues but also better preservation of the vital organs/tissues during surgical procedures. Most imaging probes with an "always-on" signal encounter high background noise due to their non-specific accumulation in normal tissues. By contrast, activatable molecular probes only "turn on" their signals upon reaction with the targeted biomolecules that are overexpressed in malignant cells, offering high target-to-background ratios with high specificity and sensitivity. This review summarizes the recent progress of activatable molecular probes in surgical imaging and diagnosis. The design principle and mechanism of activatable molecular probes are discussed, followed by specific emphasis on applications ranging from fluorescence-guided surgery to endoscopy and tissue biopsy. Finally, potential challenges and perspectives in the field of activatable molecular probe-enabled surgical imaging are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- National Engineering Research Centre for Nanomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry and Materia Medical, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Guopeng Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, P. R. China
| | - Ziling Zeng
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, 637457, Singapore
| | - Kanyi Pu
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, 637457, Singapore
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19
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Abstract
The translation of laboratory science into effective clinical cancer therapy is gaining momentum more rapidly than any other time in history. Understanding cancer cell-surface receptors, cancer cell growth, and cancer metabolic pathways has led to many promising molecular-targeted therapies and cancer gene therapies. These same targets may also be exploited for optical imaging of cancer. Theoretically, any antibody or small molecule targeting cancer can be labeled with bioluminescent or fluorescent agents. In the laboratory setting, fluorescence imaging (FI) and bioluminescence imaging (BLI) have long been used in preclinical research for quantification of tumor bulk, assessment of targeting of tumors by experimental agents, and discrimination between primary and secondary effects of cancer treatments. Many of these laboratory techniques are now moving to clinical trials. Imageable engineered fluorescent probes that are highly specific for cancer are being advanced. This will allow for the identification of tumors for staging, tracking novel therapeutic agents, assisting in adequate surgical resection, and allowing image-guided biopsies. The critical components of FI include (1) a fluorescent protein that is biologically safe, stable, and distinctly visible with a high target to background ratio and (2) highly sensitive optical detectors. This review will summarize the most promising optical imaging agents and detection devices for cancer clinical research and clinical care.
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20
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Li S, Cheng D, He L, Yuan L. Recent Progresses in NIR-I/II Fluorescence Imaging for Surgical Navigation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:768698. [PMID: 34790654 PMCID: PMC8591038 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.768698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is still one of the main causes of morbidity and death rate around the world, although diagnostic and therapeutic technologies are used to advance human disease treatment. Currently, surgical resection of solid tumors is the most effective and a prior remedial measure to treat cancer. Although medical treatment, technology, and science have advanced significantly, it is challenging to completely treat this lethal disease. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence, including the first near-infrared region (NIR-I, 650-900 nm) and the second near-infrared region (NIR-II, 1,000-1,700 nm), plays an important role in image-guided cancer surgeries due to its inherent advantages, such as great tissue penetration, minimal tissue absorption and emission light scattering, and low autofluorescence. By virtue of its high precision in identifying tumor tissue margins, there are growing number of NIR fluorescence-guided surgeries for various living animal models as well as patients in clinical therapy. Herein, this review introduces the basic construction and operation principles of fluorescence molecular imaging technology, and the representative application of NIR-I/II image-guided surgery in biomedical research studies are summarized. Ultimately, we discuss the present challenges and future perspectives in the field of fluorescence imaging for surgical navigation and also put forward our opinions on how to improve the efficiency of the surgical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songjiao Li
- Cancer Research Institute, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Dan Cheng
- The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Longwei He
- Cancer Research Institute, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Lin Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
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21
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Ponomariov M, Shabat D, Green O. Universal Access to Protease Chemiluminescent Probes through Solid-Phase Synthesis. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 32:2134-2140. [PMID: 34549945 PMCID: PMC8532118 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Protease chemiluminescent probes exhibit extremely high detection sensitivity for monitoring activity of various proteolytic enzymes. However, their synthesis, performed in solution, involves multiple synthetic and purification steps, thereby generating a major limitation for rapid preparation of such probes with diverse substrate scope. To overcome this limitation, we developed a general solid-phase-synthetic approach to prepare chemiluminescent protease probes, by peptide elongation, performed on an immobilized chemiluminescent enol-ether precursor. The enol-ether precursor is immobilized on a 2-chlorotrityl-chloride resin through an acrylic acid substituent by an acid-labile ester linkage. Next, a stepwise elongation of the peptide is performed using standard Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis. After cleavage of the peptide-enol-ether precursor from the resin, by hexafluoro-iso-propanol, a simple oxidation of the enol-ether yields the final chemiluminescent dioxetane protease probe. To validate the applicability of the methodology, two chemiluminescent probes were efficiently prepared by solid-phase synthesis with dipeptidyl substrates designed for activation by aminopeptidase and cathepsin-B proteases. A more complex example was demonstrated by the synthesis of a chemiluminescent probe for detection of PSA, which includes a peptidyl substrate of six amino acids. We anticipate that the described methodology would be useful for rapid preparation of chemiluminescent protease probes with vast and diverse peptidyl substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ponomariov
- School
of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Doron Shabat
- School
of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ori Green
- School
of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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22
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Scott J, Deng Q, Vendrell M. Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probes for the Detection of Cancer-Associated Proteases. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:1304-1317. [PMID: 34315210 PMCID: PMC8383269 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Proteases are enzymes capable of catalyzing protein breakdown, which is critical across many biological processes. There are several families of proteases, each of which perform key functions through the degradation of specific proteins. As our understanding of cancer improves, it has been demonstrated that several proteases can be overactivated during the progression of cancer and contribute to malignancy. Optical imaging systems that employ near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes to detect protease activity offer clinical promise, both for early detection of cancer as well as for the assessment of personalized therapy. In this Review, we review the design of NIR probes and their successful application for the detection of different cancer-associated proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie
I. Scott
- Centre
for Inflammation Research, The University
of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Qinyi Deng
- Centre
for Inflammation Research, The University
of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Marc Vendrell
- Centre
for Inflammation Research, The University
of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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23
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Abstract
Cysteine cathepsins are proteases critical in physiopathological processes and show potential as targets or biomarkers for diseases and medical conditions. The 11 members of the cathepsin family are redundant in some cases but remarkably independent of others, demanding the development of both pan-cathepsin targeting tools as well as probes that are selective for specific cathepsins with little off-target activity. This review addresses the diverse design strategies that have been employed to accomplish this tailored selectivity among cysteine cathepsin targets and the imaging modalities incorporated. The power of these diverse tools is contextualized by briefly highlighting the nature of a few prominent cysteine cathepsins, their involvement in select diseases, and the application of cathepsin imaging probes in research spanning basic biochemical studies to clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelton A Schleyer
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, 1345 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Lina Cui
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, 1345 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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24
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Fang H, Peng B, Ong SY, Wu Q, Li L, Yao SQ. Recent advances in activity-based probes (ABPs) and affinity-based probes (A fBPs) for profiling of enzymes. Chem Sci 2021; 12:8288-8310. [PMID: 34221311 PMCID: PMC8221178 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc01359a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) is a technique that uses highly selective active-site targeted chemical probes to label and monitor the state of proteins. ABPP integrates the strengths of both chemical and biological disciplines. By utilizing chemically synthesized or modified bioactive molecules, ABPP is able to reveal complex physiological and pathological enzyme-substrate interactions at molecular and cellular levels. It is also able to provide critical information of the catalytic activity changes of enzymes, annotate new functions of enzymes, discover new substrates of enzymes, and allow real-time monitoring of the cellular location of enzymes. Based on the mechanism of probe-enzyme interaction, two types of probes that have been used in ABPP are activity-based probes (ABPs) and affinity-based probes (AfBPs). This review highlights the recent advances in the use of ABPs and AfBPs, and summarizes their design strategies (based on inhibitors and substrates) and detection approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixiao Fang
- Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE), Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech) 30 South Puzhu Road Nanjing 211816 P. R. China
| | - Bo Peng
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE), Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University 127 West Youyi Road Xi'an 710072 P. R. China
| | - Sing Yee Ong
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore 4 Science Drive 2 117544 Singapore
| | - Qiong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE), Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech) 30 South Puzhu Road Nanjing 211816 P. R. China
| | - Lin Li
- Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE), Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech) 30 South Puzhu Road Nanjing 211816 P. R. China
| | - Shao Q Yao
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore 4 Science Drive 2 117544 Singapore
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25
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Vizovisek M, Ristanovic D, Menghini S, Christiansen MG, Schuerle S. The Tumor Proteolytic Landscape: A Challenging Frontier in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052514. [PMID: 33802262 PMCID: PMC7958950 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, dysregulation of proteases and atypical proteolysis have become increasingly recognized as important hallmarks of cancer, driving community-wide efforts to explore the proteolytic landscape of oncologic disease. With more than 100 proteases currently associated with different aspects of cancer development and progression, there is a clear impetus to harness their potential in the context of oncology. Advances in the protease field have yielded technologies enabling sensitive protease detection in various settings, paving the way towards diagnostic profiling of disease-related protease activity patterns. Methods including activity-based probes and substrates, antibodies, and various nanosystems that generate reporter signals, i.e., for PET or MRI, after interaction with the target protease have shown potential for clinical translation. Nevertheless, these technologies are costly, not easily multiplexed, and require advanced imaging technologies. While the current clinical applications of protease-responsive technologies in oncologic settings are still limited, emerging technologies and protease sensors are poised to enable comprehensive exploration of the tumor proteolytic landscape as a diagnostic and therapeutic frontier. This review aims to give an overview of the most relevant classes of proteases as indicators for tumor diagnosis, current approaches to detect and monitor their activity in vivo, and associated therapeutic applications.
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