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Visualizing surface marker expression and intratumoral heterogeneity with SERRS-NPs imaging
Lara K Rotter1,2,3,4, Naxhije Berisha2,5,6,7, Hsiao-Ting Hsu2
1Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard University Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Nanotheranostics
|February 11, 2022
Summary
Antibody-conjugated nanoparticles offer a non-invasive method to map tumor surface markers like EGFR and HER2, distinguishing high and low expression levels for better therapeutic selection and monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical imaging
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Tumor cell surface marker expression is crucial for therapeutic selection, response, and patient survival.
- Traditional tumor biopsies are invasive and provide limited spatial information due to tumor heterogeneity.
- Accurate assessment of surface marker expression is vital for personalized cancer treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate antibody-conjugated surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering nanoparticles (SERRS-NPs) for depicting and quantifying tumoral surface markers.
- To compare the efficacy of SERRS-NPs in both intracerebral and peripheral tumor models.
- To assess the potential of SERRS-NPs as a non-invasive alternative to biopsies for molecular imaging.
Main Methods:
- Antibody-conjugated SERRS-NPs (cetuximab/trastuzumab) were administered to mice bearing glioblastoma, epidermoid carcinoma, or breast tumors.
- Raman imaging was performed on excised tumors and *in vivo* to analyze SERRS-NP signal intensities.
- Immunohistochemistry and MRI were used for confirmation and comparison with SERRS-NP results.
Main Results:
- SERRS-NPs successfully delineated tumors and provided distinct Raman spectra reflecting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) distribution.
- The SERRS-NP signal intensity accurately differentiated between high and low surface marker expression within and between tumors.
- Results were corroborated by MRI and immunohistochemical evaluations.
Conclusions:
- Antibody-conjugated SERRS-NPs provide a non-invasive approach for comprehensive molecular imaging of tumor surface markers.
- This nanoparticle-based Raman imaging method can overcome the limitations of invasive biopsies.
- SERRS-NPs show potential as a superior alternative to immunohistochemistry for assessing tumor heterogeneity and guiding therapy.
