In vivo optoacoustic imaging of endothelin receptor expression and treatment response in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment

A hypoxic tumor microenvironment promotes cancer progression, with endothelin-A receptor (ET_AR) signaling playing a key role in tumor neoangiogenesis and macrophage infiltration. We hypothesize that multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) using an ET_AR-specific probe could provide improved insights into the hypoxic characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME), either alone or in combination with endogenous markers, and that alterations in ET_AR expression may correlate with increased tumor oxygenation serving as an early indicator of response to anti-angiogenic or immune-modulating therapy.

A fluorescent ET_AR probe was applied for in vivo MSOT evaluation of ET_AR expression in hypoxic murine breast cancer. Optoacoustic signal intensity (SI) of deoxygenated and oxygenated hemoglobin served as additive intrinsic readouts. Furthermore, therapeutic interventions utilizing Bevacizumab, Clodronate and Sorafenib were evaluated with regard to effects on ET_AR expression and hemoglobin oxygen saturation. Imaging results were validated ex vivo via immunohistochemistry.

Exposure of 4T1 murine breast cancer cells to hypoxic conditions led to upregulation of ET_AR in vitro. In vivo, tumor growth correlated with increased ET_AR probe signal intensity in 4T1 tumors. All therapeutic interventions significantly reduced ET_AR SI following treatment. Anti-angiogenic therapies also increased tumor oxygen saturation, indicating therapy-induced re-oxygenation.

ET_AR expression in hypoxic tumor regions can be visualized non-invasively by MSOT using an exogenously administered targeted probe. Combining ET_AR-targeted imaging with intrinsic hemoglobin readouts enables assessment of reoxygenation and immune cell modulation in response to therapy. Thus, ET_AR has potential as an in vivo imaging biomarker for early therapy response in experimental breast cancer studies.