title: In-vivo imaging of oral squamous cell carcinoma by EGFR monoclonal antibody conjugated near-infrared quantum dots in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate in-vivo visible imaging of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) by targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with near-infrared quantum dots.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantum dots with an emission wavelength of 800 nm (QD800) were conjugated to monoclonal antibodies against EGFR, resulting in the probe designated as QD800-EGFR Ab. OSCC cell line (BcaCD885) expressing high levels of EGFR was transplanted subcutaneously into nude mice cheeks to develop an OSCC animal model. QD800-EGFR Ab containing 100 pmol equivalent of QD800 was intravenously injected into the animal model, and in-situ and in-vivo imaging of cheek squamous cell carcinoma was analyzed at 10 different time points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In-vivo imaging and immunohistochemical examination of the tumors showed that intravenously injected QD800-EGFR Ab probe could bind EGFR expressed on BcaCD885 cells. Fluorescence signals of BcaCD885 cells labeled with QD800-EGFR Ab probe could be clearly detected, and these fluorescence signals lasted for 24 hours. The most complete tumor images with maximal signal-to-noise ratio were observed from 15 minutes to 6 hours after injection of the probe. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that has obtained clear in-situ and in-vivo imaging of head and neck cancer by using QD800-EGFR Ab probe. The authors conclude that the combination of near-infrared quantum dots that are highly penetrating for tissues with EGFR monoclonal antibody has promising prospects in in-vivo imaging of OSCC and development of personalized surgical therapies.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. cqfyyk@hotmail.com
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Yang
authors: Fu-Jun
authors: FJ
authors: Zhang
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Tang
authors: Cheng
authors: C
authors: Zhao
authors: Yu-An
authors: YA
authors: Cao
authors: Xiao-Qiang
authors: XQ
authors: Lv
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Chen
authors: Ya-Dong
authors: YD
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D015335:Molecular Probes; D066246:ErbB Receptors