Nectin4-targeted molecular imaging in solid tumors: Current status and future perspectives.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Imaging
• Biomarker Research

Background:

• Nectin cell adhesion molecule 4 (Nectin4) is a Ca2+-independent adhesion molecule.
• Nectin4 is minimally expressed in normal tissues but significantly upregulated in various solid tumors.
• Nectin4 overexpression is linked to tumor proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, and poor prognosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advancements in Nectin4-targeted molecular imaging.
• To explore theranostic applications of Nectin4 imaging in diverse cancers.
• To evaluate current research, diagnostic performance, and limitations of Nectin4 imaging.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of Nectin4-targeted molecular imaging research.
• Focus on theranostic applications in breast, urothelial, gastric, pancreatic, ovarian, and colorectal cancers.
• Evaluation of diagnostic performance and limitations of existing imaging techniques.

Main Results:

• Nectin4-targeted molecular imaging, including PET, SPECT, and NIRF, enables visualization of Nectin4 expression.
• Enfutumomab vedotin, targeting Nectin4, is approved for urothelial carcinoma, demonstrating therapeutic significance.
• Nectin4 imaging is crucial for diagnosis, differentiation, treatment decisions, efficacy evaluation, and prognosis prediction.

Conclusions:

• Nectin4-targeted molecular imaging holds significant potential for comprehensive cancer management.
• Clinical implementation requires addressing current challenges to advance diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
• Further research is needed to optimize Nectin4 imaging for broad clinical application.