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Imaging primary mouse sarcomas after radiation therapy using cathepsin-activatable fluorescent imaging agents
Kyle C Cuneo1, Jeffrey K Mito, Melodi P Javid
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
|February 9, 2013
Summary
Radiation therapy (RT) does not impact cathepsin-activated fluorescent probes
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cathepsin-activated fluorescent probes detect tumors.
- These probes can identify microscopic residual soft tissue sarcoma (STS) after surgery.
- Preoperative radiation therapy (RT) is common for STS patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of RT on cathepsin-activated probes' ability to differentiate between cancerous and normal tissue.
- To evaluate probe performance in a murine soft tissue sarcoma model treated with RT.
Main Methods:
- A murine STS model was treated with hypofractionated RT.
- Mice received intravenous cathepsin-activated fluorescent probes.
- Tumor and tissue imaging, Western blot, flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy were used.
Main Results:
- RT did not alter probe activation or cathepsin protease expression.
- Higher radiation doses showed a trend toward increased probe activation.
- Probe-labeled cells included CD11b-positive tumor-associated immune cells.
Conclusions:
- RT does not hinder cathepsin-activated probes' tumor-differentiating capability in STS models.
- Probes label both STS cells and tumor-associated macrophages.
- Patients receiving preoperative RT may be candidates for probe-based imaging studies.
