Application of NIR fluorescent markers to quantify expression level of HER2 receptors in carcinomas in vivo

摘要

HER2 overexpression has been associated with a poor prognosis and resistance to therapy in breast cancer patients. However, quantitative estimates of this important characteristic have been limited to ex vivo ELISA essays of tissue biopsies and/or PET. We develop a novel approach in optical imaging, involving specific probes, not interfering with the binding of the therapeutic agents, thus, excluding competition between therapy and imaging. Affibody-based molecular probes seem to be ideal for in vivo analysis of HER2 receptors using near-infrared optical imaging. Fluorescence intensity distributions, originating from specific markers in the tumor area, can reveal the corresponding fluorophore concentration. We use temporal changes of the signal from a contrast agent, conjugated with HER2-specific Affibody as a signature to monitor in vivo the receptors status in mice with different HER2 over-expressed tumor models. Kinetic model, incorporating saturation of the bound ligands in the tumor area due to HER2 receptor concentration, is suggested to analyze relationship between tumor cell characteristics, i.e., HER2 overexpression, obtained by traditional ("golden standard") ex vivo methods (ELISA), and parameters, estimated from the series of images in vivo. Observed correlation between these parameters and HER2 overexpression substantiates application of our approach to quantify HER2 concentration in vivo.