Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 29, 2025
Non-Invasive PET/MR Imaging in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Published on: August 31, 2022
An Optimized Integrin α6-Targeted Magnetic Resonance Probe for Molecular Imaging of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Mice
Bing-Quan Lin1, Wen-Biao Zhang2,3, Jing Zhao3
1Department of Medical Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, 510515, People's Republic of China.
Introduction:
Integrin α6 is an attractive diagnostic biomarker for molecular imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as it has an extremely high positive rate (approximately 94%) in clinical early-stage HCC. In this study, based on our previously identified integrin α6-targeted peptide, we developed an optimized integrin α6-targeted magnetic resonance (MR) probe dubbed DOTA(Gd)-ANADYWR for MR imaging of HCC in mice.
Materials And Methods:
The longitudinal (R1) relaxivity of DOTA(Gd)-ANADYWR was measured on a 3.0 T MR system . The specific tumor enhancement of the agent was investigated in four distinct mouse models, including subcutaneous, orthotopic, genetically engineered and chemically induced HCC mice.
Results:
The R1 relaxivity value of DOTA(Gd)-ANADYWR is 5.11 mM-1s-1 at 3.0 T, which is similar to that of the nonspecific clinical agent Gadoteridol. DOTA(Gd)-ANADYWR generated superior enhanced MR signal in HCC lesions and provided complementary enhancement MR signals to the clinically available hepatobiliary MR contrast agent gadoxetate disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA). Importantly, DOTA(Gd)-ANADYWR could efficiently visualize small HCC lesion (approximately 1 mm) which was hardly detected by the clinical Gd-EOB-DTPA.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest the potential application of this integrin α6-targeted MR probe for the detection of HCC, particularly for small HCC.
