Researchers from Georgia State University, Atlanta, have developed a new imaging technique to better track cancer progression of the lung and prostate, according to a study published in Scientific Reports.
The team, led by Jenny J. Yang, PhD, developed and tested a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent targeted to gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), a protein that is expressed differently on the surfaces of diseased cells, particularly prostate and lung cancer.
Identifying lung cancer early and knowing when the disease has begun to progress are vital for choosing the best possible therapies. Lung cancer currently lacks an accurate and non-invasive method of detection, however. Thus, there is a need for sensitive and accurate non-invasive methods for assessing cancer states and monitoring tumor progression, metastasis, and treatment effectiveness.
Previous studies have demonstrated the potential of GRPR as an early biomarker for lung and other cancers. Until now, however, it was not possible to monitor GRPR expression through non-invasive means. Yang and her team developed a novel contrast agent that binds to GRPR and enhances the MRI signal for tissues in which the protein is highly expressed.
In tumor-bearing mice, the GRPR-targeted contrast agent detected GRPR with great sensitivity, even at low expression levels. Additionally, the agent was able to penetrate the tumors, enabling the quantification of the spatial distribution of biomarkers. The agent also showed no detectable acute toxicity in the mice.
The researchers said that they expect the GRPR-targeted agent to have an important impact on how clinicians are able to detect, monitor, and treat lung cancer. However, the contrast agent will need further testing for safety and efficacy before it can be considered for use in human patients.
