11C-radiolabeled aptamer for imaging of tumors and metastases using positron emission tomography- computed tomography

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Identification of primary tumors and metastasis sites is an essential step in cancer diagnostics and the following treatment. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) is one of the most reliable methods for scanning the whole organism for malignancies. In this work, we synthesized an 11 C-labeled oligonucleotide primer and hybridized it to an anti-cancer DNA aptamer. The 11 C-aptamer was applied for in vivo imaging of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and its metastases in mice using PET/CT. The imaging experiments with the 11 C-aptamer determined very small primary and secondary tumors of 3 mm 2 and less. We also compared 11 C imaging with the standard radiotracer, 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose ( 18 F-FDG), and found better selectivity of the 11 C-aptamer to metastatic lesions in the metabolically active organs than 18 F-FDG. 11 C radionuclide with an ultra-short (20.38 min) half-life is considered safest for PET/CT imaging and does not cause false-positive results in heart imaging. Its combination with aptamers gives us high-specificity and high-contrast imaging of cancer cells and can be applied for PET/CT-guided drug delivery in cancer therapies.

Source: Molecular Therapy — Nucleic Acids

DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.10.020

Institutions: Federal Medical-Biological Agency, Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Institute of Physics, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, University of Ottawa

Language: English

Topic: Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry and Applications

Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,900

OpenAlex ID: W3210086271