PET Imaging of CXCR4 Receptors in Cancer by a New Optimized Ligand
20-Jul-2011
ChemMedChem, 2011, DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201100320, Volume 6, Issue 10, pages 1789–1791 published on 20.07.2011
Nowadays, personalized medicine is considered to be of utmost importance to target the different causes of identical phenotypes. For example, cancer of the same type can significantly differ in its biochemical phenotypes and thus its molecular profile between patients. The disease-specific characterization of malignant cells at the molecular level is a prerequisite for targeted therapy and personalized treatment. Positron emission tomography (PET) and its combination with computer tomography (PET/CT) and magnetic resonance tomography (PET/MRT) in modern hybrid systems offer the possibility to localize and quantify biochemical function by means of PET with anatomical (CT) and morphological (MRT) information. For this purpose, radiolabeled probes are used that target, for example, enzyme activities, transport systems, and surface receptors with high affinity and specificity. We describe the development of the first gallium-68 (t1/2=68 min) ligand for the G-protein- coupled receptor CXCR4 and preliminary demonstrate its potential for in vivo imaging of CXCR4 expression using a mouse model with a human small-cell lung cancer xenograft. This ligand offers the possibility to be used as an initial tool for diagnosis in an approach of personalized medicine for treating CXCR4-related cancer.