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Protein-Based MRI Contrast Agents for Molecular Imaging of Prostate Cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a novel protein-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent that has the capability of targeting prostate cancer and which provides high-sensitivity MR imaging in tumor cells and mouse models.

Procedure

A fragment of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) was fused into a protein-based MRI contrast agent (ProCA1) at different regions. MR imaging was obtained in both tumor cells (PC3 and H441) and a tumor mouse model administrated with ProCA1.GRP.

Results

PC3 and DU145 cells treated with ProCA1.GRPs exhibited enhanced signal in MRI. Intratumoral injection of ProCA1.GRP in a PC3 tumor model displayed enhanced MRI signal. The contrast agent was retained in the PC3 tumor up to 48 h post-injection.

Conclusions

Protein-based MRI contrast agent with tumor targeting modality can specifically target GRPR-positive prostate cancer. Intratumoral injection of the ProCA1 agent in the prostate cancer mouse model verified the targeting capability of ProCA1.GRP and showed a prolonged retention time in tumors.

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Fig. 1
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Fig. 3

Abbreviations

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

GRP:

Gastrin-releasing peptide

GRPR:

Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

HRP:

Horseradish peroxide

TBST:

Tris-buffered saline and Tween-20

RIO:

Region of interest

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dan Adams, Birgit Neuhaus, Dr. Christie Cater, Jie Jiang, Dr. Leland Chung for their assistance. This work is supported in part by research grants from NIH CA118113 to Zhi-Ren Liu and NIH GM62999 and EB007268 to Jenny J Yang.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA

    Lixia Wei, Shunyi Li, Jianhua Yang, Jin Zou, Julian Johnson, Jingjuan Qiao, Wangda Zhou, Adriana Castiblanco, Natalie Maor, Yanyi Chen, Jenny J. Yang & Zhi-Ren Liu

  2. Department of Radiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Liya Wang, Robert Long & Hui Mao

  3. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Omar Zurkiya, Tiejun Zhao & Xiaoping Hu

  4. Biotechnology Core Facility Branch, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA

    Yiming Ye

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  1. Lixia Wei
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  2. Shunyi Li
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  18. Jenny J. Yang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jenny J. Yang.

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Wei, L., Li, S., Yang, J. et al. Protein-Based MRI Contrast Agents for Molecular Imaging of Prostate Cancer. Mol Imaging Biol 13, 416–423 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-010-0342-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-010-0342-9

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