Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Live Imaging of Drug Responses in the Tumor Microenvironment in Mouse Models of Breast Cancer
Published on: March 24, 2013
Integrin imaging to evaluate treatment response
Matthew Morrison1, Alan Cuthbertson
11. GE Healthcare MDx Research, The Grove Centre, Amersham, HP7 9LL, U.K.
Abstract:
Despite the recent development of various radiolabelled RGD peptides for imaging the αvβ3 integrin receptor, relatively little attention has been focused on the ability of these radiotracers to monitor changes in tumour vascularity following treatment with anti-tumour therapies. Here we describe the favourable in vivo kinetics and tumour targeting properties of several novel radiolabeled RGD containing peptides that have the ability to monitor tumour vascularity non-invasively in a variety of preclinical tumor models. These tracers may reveal important information when assessing the impact of anti-tumour therapies, in particular those that predominantly target tumour blood vessels. Consequently, these radiolabelled RGD targeting agents represent a useful approach to quantify tumor vasculature, and when used alone or in combination with additional functional imaging modalities, should enhance our mechanistic understanding of how novel therapeutic strategies impact upon tumors.
Insights
Novel radiolabeled peptides targeting RGD can non-invasively monitor tumor vascularity. These tracers assess anti-tumor therapies, particularly those targeting tumor blood vessels, enhancing understanding of treatment impact.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiochemistry
- Molecular Imaging
Background:
- Radiolabeled Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptides are used to image the αvβ3 integrin receptor.
- Limited research exists on using these radiotracers to monitor changes in tumor vascularity after anti-tumor therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate novel radiolabeled RGD peptides for non-invasively monitoring tumor vascularity.
- To assess the potential of these tracers in evaluating anti-tumor therapies, especially those targeting tumor vasculature.
Main Methods:
- Development and characterization of novel radiolabeled RGD-containing peptides.
- In vivo evaluation of tracer kinetics and tumor targeting in preclinical tumor models.
- Assessment of tracer ability to monitor changes in tumor vascularity.
Main Results:
- Several novel radiolabeled RGD peptides demonstrated favorable in vivo kinetics and tumor targeting.
- These tracers successfully monitored tumor vascularity non-invasively across various preclinical models.
- The tracers showed potential for assessing the impact of anti-tumor therapies on tumor blood vessels.
Conclusions:
- Novel radiolabeled RGD peptides are effective tools for quantifying tumor vasculature non-invasively.
- These agents can provide valuable information for assessing anti-tumor therapies targeting tumor blood vessels.
- The use of these radiotracers can enhance the mechanistic understanding of novel therapeutic strategies' impact on tumors.
