Incongruity of imaging using fluorescent 2-DG conjugates compared to 18F-FDG in preclinical cancer models.
OBJECTIVE
We compared the use of near-infrared conjugates of 2-deoxyglucose (NIR 2-DG) to 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose (18F-FDG) for the purposes of imaging tumors, as well as response to therapy.


METHODS
Uptake of both 18F-FDG and NIR 2-DG within gastrointestinal stromal tumor xenografts were imaged before and after nilotinib treatment. Confocal microscopy was performed to determine NIR 2-DG distribution in tumors.


RESULTS
Treatment with nilotinib resulted in a rapid reduction in 18F-FDG uptake and reduced tumor cell viability which was predictive of long-term antitumor efficacy. In contrast, optical imaging with NIR 2-DG probes was unable to differentiate control from niltonib-treated animals, and microscopic analysis revealed no change in probe distribution as a result of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that conjugation of large bulky fluorophores to 2-DG disrupts the facilitated transport and retention of these probes in cells. Therefore, optical imaging of NIR 2-DG probes cannot substitute for 18F-FDG positron emission tomography imaging as a biomarker of tumor cell viability and metabolism.
Lurie Family Imaging Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA. jen-chieh_tseng@dfci.harvard.edu
Jen-Chieh
JC
Tseng
Yuchuan
Y
Wang
Pallab
P
Banerjee
Andrew L
AL
Kung
D000818:Animals; D003847:Deoxyglucose; D005453:Fluorescence; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D011743:Pyrimidines; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D003847:Deoxyglucose; C498826:nilotinib