Molecular imaging of angiogenesis in nascent Vx-2 rabbit tumors using a novel α_vβ₃-targeted nanoparticle and 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging

Early noninvasive detection and characterization of solid tumors and their supporting neovasculature is a fundamental prerequisite for effective therapeutic intervention, particularly antiangiogenic treatment regimens. Emerging molecular imaging techniques now allow recognition of early biochemical, physiological, and anatomical changes before manifestation of gross pathological changes. Although new tumor, vascular, extracellular matrix, and lymphatic biomarkers continue to be discovered, the α _vβ₃-integrin remains an attractive biochemical epitope that is highly expressed on activated neovascular endothelial cells and essentially absent on mature quiescent cells. In this study, we report the first in vivo use of a magnetic resonance (MR) molecular imaging nanoparticle to sensitively detect and spatially characterize neovascularity induced by implantation of the rabbit Vx-2 tumor using a common clinical field strength (1.5T). New Zealand White rabbits (2 kg) 12 days after implantation of fresh Vx-2 tumors (2 × 2 × 2 mm³) were randomized into one of three treatment groups: (a) α_vβ₃-targeted, paramagnetic formulation; (b) nontargeted, paramagnetic formulation; and (c) α_vβ₃-targeted nonparamagnetic nanoparticles followed by (2 h) the α_vβ₃-targeted paramagnetic formulation to competitively block magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal enhancement. After i.v. systemic injection (0.5 ml of nanoparticles/kg), dynamic T₁-weighted MRI was used to spatially and temporally determine nanoparticle deposition in the tumor and adjacent tissues, including skeletal muscle. At 2-h postinjection, α_vβ ₃-targeted paramagnetic nanoparticles increased MRI signal by 126% in asymmetrically distributed regions primarily in the periphery of the tumor. Similar increases in MR contrast were also observed within the walls of some vessels proximate to the tumor. Despite their relatively large size, nanoparticles penetrated into the leaky tumor neovasculature but did not appreciably migrate into the interstitium, leading to a 56% increase in MR signal at 2 h. Pretargeting of the α_vβ ₃-integrin with nonparamagnetic nanoparticles competitively blocked the specific binding of α_v/β₃-targeted paramagnetic nanoparticles, decreasing the MR signal enhancement (50%) to a level attributable to local extravasation. The MR signal of adjacent hindlimb muscle or contralateral control tissues was unchanged by either the α _vβ₃-targeted or control paramagnetic agents. Immunohistochemistry of α_vβ₃-integrin corroborated the extent and asymmetric distribution of neovascularity observed by MRI. These studies demonstrate the potential of this targeted molecular imaging agent to detect and characterize (both biochemically and morphologically) early angiogenesis induced by minute solid tumors with a clinical 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner, facilitating the localization of nascent cancers or metastases, as well as providing tools to phenotypically categorize and segment patient populations for therapy and to longitudinally follow the effectiveness of antitumor treatment regimens.