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Updated: Aug 13, 2026
Computed Tomography-guided Time-domain Diffuse Fluorescence Tomography in Small Animals for Localization of Cancer Biomarkers
Published on: July 17, 2012
Receptor-targeted optical imaging of tumors with near-infrared fluorescent ligands
A Becker1, C Hessenius, K Licha
1Institut für Diagnostikforschung GmbH an der Freien Universität Berlin, 14050 Berlin, Germany.
Abstract:
We report here the in vivo diagnostic use of a peptide-dye conjugate consisting of a cyanine dye and the somatostatin analog octreotate as a contrast agent for optical tumor imaging. When used in whole-body in vivo imaging of mouse xenografts, indotricarbocyanine-octreotate accumulated in tumor tissue. Tumor fluorescence rapidly increased and was more than threefold higher than that of normal tissue from 3 to 24 h after application. The targeting conjugate was also specifically internalized by primary human neuroendocrine tumor cells. This imaging approach, combining the specificity of ligand/receptor interaction with near-infrared fluorescence detection, may be applied in various other fields of cancer diagnosis.
Insights
A novel peptide-dye conjugate, indotricarbocyanine-octreotate, shows promise for optical tumor imaging. This near-infrared fluorescent agent targets and accumulates in tumors, enhancing diagnostic capabilities for cancer detection.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
- Bioconjugation Chemistry
Background:
- Optical imaging offers non-invasive visualization of biological processes.
- Targeted contrast agents enhance sensitivity and specificity in medical diagnostics.
- Somatostatin analogs are crucial for targeting neuroendocrine tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in vivo diagnostic utility of a novel peptide-dye conjugate for optical tumor imaging.
- To assess the accumulation and fluorescence characteristics of indotricarbocyanine-octreotate in tumor xenografts.
- To determine the specific internalization of the conjugate by human neuroendocrine tumor cells.
Main Methods:
- Development of a peptide-dye conjugate using a cyanine dye and octreotate.
- Whole-body in vivo optical imaging of mouse xenografts.
- Quantification of fluorescence in tumor versus normal tissue.
- In vitro internalization studies with primary human neuroendocrine tumor cells.
Main Results:
- Indotricarbocyanine-octreotate accumulated specifically in tumor tissue of mouse xenografts.
- Tumor fluorescence increased significantly, exceeding normal tissue by over threefold between 3 and 24 hours post-application.
- The conjugate demonstrated specific internalization by human neuroendocrine tumor cells.
Conclusions:
- The peptide-dye conjugate serves as an effective in vivo optical contrast agent for tumor imaging.
- This approach combines ligand-receptor specificity with near-infrared fluorescence for enhanced cancer diagnosis.
- The imaging strategy holds potential for broader applications in cancer diagnostics.
