Antibody-based imaging strategies for cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Antibodies possess high antigen specificity, enabling targeted delivery of diagnostic probes or therapeutic agents to cancer cells.
• Optimal antigen selection for cancer imaging requires consideration of tumor-specific expression relative to normal tissues and expression homogeneity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the translation of antibodies and imaging modalities for clinical cancer identification and surgical treatment.
• To explore the repurposing of FDA-approved therapeutic antibodies for diagnostic imaging applications.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on antibody-based cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
• Analysis of strategies for developing novel antibodies or repurposing existing ones with imaging probes.
• Examination of various imaging modalities used in conjunction with antibodies for cancer detection.

Main Results:

• Antibodies can be engineered or repurposed to serve as targeted delivery systems for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
• Repurposing therapeutic antibodies for diagnostics offers a cost-effective approach due to established safety profiles and availability.
• A range of antibody-based imaging agents and modalities are progressing towards clinical application for cancer management.

Conclusions:

• Antibody-based strategies hold significant promise for improving cancer detection and guiding surgical treatment.
• The repurposing of therapeutic antibodies represents a viable and efficient pathway for developing novel cancer imaging agents.
• Continued research and clinical translation of antibody-guided imaging are crucial for advancing precision oncology.