Novel α2β1 integrin-targeted peptide probes for prostate cancer imaging

Chiun Wei Huang, Zibo Li, Hancheng Cai, Tony Shahinian, Peter S. Conti

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Accumulating experimental evidence indicates that overexpression of α2β1 integrin may correlate with progression in human prostate cancer. The objective of this study was to design a novel imaging probe based on the Asp-Gly-Glu-Ala (DGEA) peptide for near-infrared-fluorescent (NIRF) imaging of α2β 1 integrin expression in prostate cancer. The peptides were conjugated with appropriate fluorescent dyes, and the binding affinity of these probes was evaluated by flow cytometry in three human prostate cell lines (PC-3, CWR-22, and LNCaP). In vivo NIRF imaging of the α2β 1-positive PC-3 xenograft model was performed to evaluate the α2β1 targeted probe. In vitro immunofluorescence staining was carried out to confirm the α 2β1 integrin expression level. Flow cytometry analysis showed that PC-3 had the highest probe uptake, followed by CWR-22 and LNCaP tumor cells. In the subcutaneous PC-3 model, the tumor demonstrated prominent uptake with good tumor to background contrast. Immunohistochemistry staining also supported the in vivo optical imaging results. DGEA-based optical agents have been developed for specific imaging of α2β 1 integrin expression. In vitro and in vivo localization demonstrated the potential of this agent to identify tumor subtypes amenable to anti-α2β1 integrin treatment and potentially provide prognostic information regarding tumor progression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)284-294
Number of pages11
JournalMolecular Imaging
Volume10
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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