Multimodality imaging of CXCR4 in cancer: current status towards clinical translation

T R Nayak1, H Hong, Y Zhang

  • 1Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Room 7137, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705-2275, USA. wcai@uwhealth.org.

Current Molecular Medicine
|November 12, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Molecular imaging of chemokine receptor CXCR4, upregulated in cancers and HIV, is advancing. CXCR4-targeted probes show promise for diagnosing and managing various diseases, including cancer and myocardial infarction.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular imaging
  • Oncology
  • Infectious diseases

Background:

  • Chemokine receptor CXCR4 is upregulated in numerous cancer types and in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
  • CXCR4 plays a crucial role in disease pathogenesis, driving significant research interest.
  • Molecular imaging of CXCR4 is vital for understanding disease progression and guiding treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current status of molecular imaging techniques targeting CXCR4.
  • To discuss the development and potential clinical applications of CXCR4-targeted imaging probes.
  • To highlight the role of CXCR4 imaging in cancer and other diseases like myocardial infarction and immunodeficiency disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Review of fluorescence, bioluminescence, positron emission tomography (PET), and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging techniques for CXCR4.
  • Investigation of dual-modality probes combining multiple imaging techniques.
  • Summary of small molecules, peptides, and antibodies used as CXCR4-targeting agents.

Main Results:

  • Significant advancements have been made in developing CXCR4-targeted molecular imaging probes.
  • Various imaging modalities demonstrate strengths and weaknesses, leading to the development of dual-modality probes.
  • Noninvasive visualization of CXCR4 expression offers potential clinical applications in patient management.

Conclusions:

  • CXCR4-targeted molecular imaging is a rapidly evolving field with substantial progress.
  • Clinical translation of these imaging agents in cancer patients is highly anticipated.
  • Clinically translatable CXCR4 probes hold promise for diagnosing and managing diverse pathological conditions beyond cancer.