MR molecular imaging of the Her-2/neu receptor in breast cancer cells using targeted iron oxide nanoparticles.
MR molecular imaging is an exciting new frontier in the biomedical applications of MR. One of the clinically relevant targets is the tyrosine kinase Her-2/neu receptor, which has a significant role in staging and treating breast cancer. In this study Her-2/neu receptors were imaged in a panel of breast cancer cells expressing different numbers of the receptors on the cell membrane. Commercially available streptavidin-conjugated superparamagnetic nanoparticles were used as targeted MR contrast agent. The nanoparticles were directed to receptors prelabeled with a biotinylated monoclonal antibody and generated strong T(2) MR contrast in Her-2/neu-expressing cells. The contrast observed in MR images was proportional to the expression level of Her-2/neu receptors determined independently with FACS analysis. In these experiments, iron oxide nanoparticles were attached to the cell surface and were not internalized into the cells, which is a major advantage for in vivo applications of the method.
Artemov
Dmitri
D
Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
Mori
Noriko
N
Okollie
Baasil
B
Bhujwalla
Zaver M
ZM
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019809:Streptavidin; D000068878:Trastuzumab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D019809:Streptavidin; D000068878:Trastuzumab; C000499:ferric oxide