title: Protein-based MRI contrast agents for molecular imaging of prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA.
authors.forename: Lixia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA.
authors.forename: Shunyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA.
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Core Facility Branch, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Yiming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Liya
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zurkiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Tiejun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA.
authors.forename: Jingjuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA.
authors.forename: Wangda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castiblanco
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maor
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA.
authors.forename: Yanyi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA. chejjy@langate.gsu.edu.
authors.forename: Jenny J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA.
authors.forename: Zhi-Ren
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003287:Contrast Media; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide