Imaging using radiolabelled targeted proteins: radioimmunodetection and beyond

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiochemistry
• Molecular Imaging

Background:

• Radiolabelled antibodies were first proposed for cancer staging in the 1970s.
• Widespread use of [18F]-FDG limited early radioimmunodetection adoption.
• Renewed interest in antibody therapeutics has revitalized radiolabelled antibodies for diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of biodistribution and tumor-seeking features of targeting proteins for molecular imaging.
• To highlight the potential of radiolabelled proteins in personalized cancer treatment.
• To guide researchers entering the field of protein-based radionuclide molecular imaging.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on radiolabelled proteins for molecular imaging.
• Analysis of biodistribution and targeting properties of various protein classes.
• Discussion of the role of radiolabelled proteins in pharmacokinetics and target engagement evaluation.

Main Results:

• RadioimmunoPET is a powerful tool for evaluating biotherapeutics' pharmacokinetics and target engagement.
• New radiolabelled engineered proteins offer high-contrast imaging of therapeutic targets in tumors.
• Noninvasive determination of target expression levels and patient stratification for targeted therapies is now possible.

Conclusions:

• Radiolabelled proteins are crucial for personalized targeted cancer treatment development.
• Understanding protein biodistribution and targeting is key for effective molecular imaging.
• These agents show great promise for advancing precision oncology.