Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
Dual Bioluminescence Imaging of Tumor Progression and Angiogenesis
Published on: August 1, 2019
Tumor lysing genetically engineered T cells loaded with multi-modal imaging agents
Parijat Bhatnagar1, Mian Alauddin2, James A Bankson3
1Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
Abstract:
Genetically-modified T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) exert anti-tumor effect by identifying tumor-associated antigen (TAA), independent of major histocompatibility complex. For maximal efficacy and safety of adoptively transferred cells, imaging their biodistribution is critical. This will determine if cells home to the tumor and assist in moderating cell dose. Here, T cells are modified to express CAR. An efficient, non-toxic process with potential for cGMP compliance is developed for loading high cell number with multi-modal (PET-MRI) contrast agents (Super Paramagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles - Copper-64; SPION-(64)Cu). This can now be potentially used for (64)Cu-based whole-body PET to detect T cell accumulation region with high-sensitivity, followed by SPION-based MRI of these regions for high-resolution anatomically correlated images of T cells. CD19-specific-CAR(+)SPION(pos) T cells effectively target in vitro CD19(+) lymphoma.
Insights
Tracking genetically-modified T cells (CAR T-cells) with imaging agents is crucial for cancer therapy. This study developed a method to load CAR T-cells with multi-modal imaging agents for enhanced tumor detection and biodistribution tracking.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Immunotherapy
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Adoptively transferred T cells engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) show promise in cancer treatment by targeting tumor-associated antigens (TAA).
- Accurate imaging of CAR T-cell biodistribution is essential for optimizing therapeutic efficacy and patient safety, ensuring cells reach the tumor site and enabling precise dose management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an efficient, non-toxic, and potentially cGMP-compliant method for loading T cells with multi-modal imaging contrast agents.
- To enable sensitive detection and high-resolution anatomical correlation of CAR T-cell accumulation at tumor sites.
Main Methods:
- Genetically modified T cells to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR).
- Developed a process for loading T cells with Super Paramagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles conjugated with Copper-64 (SPION-(64)Cu) for multi-modal PET-MRI imaging.
- Evaluated the in vitro targeting capability of CD19-specific CAR(+)SPION(pos) T cells against CD19(+) lymphoma models.
Main Results:
- Successfully developed a method for loading high numbers of T cells with SPION-(64)Cu, suitable for PET-MRI imaging.
- Demonstrated that (64)Cu-based PET can detect T cell accumulation with high sensitivity.
- Showcased that SPION-based MRI provides high-resolution, anatomically correlated images of T cell distribution.
- Confirmed effective in vitro targeting of CD19(+) lymphoma by CD19-specific-CAR(+)SPION(pos) T cells.
Conclusions:
- The developed SPION-(64)Cu loading process offers a viable strategy for tracking CAR T-cell biodistribution using combined PET-MRI.
- This multi-modal imaging approach can enhance the monitoring of CAR T-cell therapy, improving treatment outcomes and safety.
