title: In vivo and in situ imaging of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma             using near-infrared fluorescent quantum dot probes conjugated with epidermal growth             factor receptor monoclonal antibodies in mice.
abstract: In this study, we applied near-infrared fluorescent quantum dots (NIRF-QDs) for non-invasive in vivo and in situ imaging of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The U14 squamous cancer cell line with high expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was implanted subcutaneously into the head and neck regions of nude mice to establish HNSCC models. NIRF-QDs with an emission wavelength of 800 nm (NIRF-QD800) were conjugated with EGFR monoclonal antibodies to develop the QD800-EGFR Ab probe. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that the QD800-EGFR Ab probe can specifically bind EGFR expressed on U14 cells. U14 squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck can be clearly visualized by in vivo imaging after intravenous injection of QD800-EGFR Ab probes. The results suggested that in situ imaging using NIRF-QD-EGFR Ab probes has unique advantages and prospects for the investigation of tumor development, early diagnosis and personalized therapy of HNSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China. cqfyyk@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yu-An
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Yun-Long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chuen-Rong
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D007259:Infrared Rays; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D045663:Quantum Dots; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D066246:ErbB Receptors