Abstract
The primary objective of this study was to utilize MR molecular imaging to compare the 3-dimensional spatial distribution of Robo4 and α Vβ3-integrin as biosignatures of angiogenesis, in a rapidly growing, syngeneic tumor. B16-F10 melanoma-bearing mice were imaged with magnetic resonance (MR; 3.0 T) 11 d postimplantation before and after intravenous administration of either Robo4- or αVβ 3-targeted paramagnetic nanoparticles. The percentage of MR signalenhanced voxels throughout the tumor volume was low and increased in animals receiving αVβ3- and Robo4-targeted nanoparticles. Neovascular signal enhancement was predominantly associated with the tumor periphery (i.e., outer 50% of volume). Microscopic examination of tumors coexposed to the Robo4- and αVβ3- targeted nanoparticles corroborated the MR angiogenesis mapping results and further revealed that Robo4 expression generally colocalized with αVβ3-integrin. Robo4- and α Vβ3--targeted nanoparticles were compared to irrelevant or nontargeted control groups in all modalities. These results suggest that αVβ3-integrin and Robo4 are useful biomarkers for noninvasive MR molecular imaging in syngeneic mouse tumors, but αVβ3-integrin expression was more detectable by MR at 3.0 T than Robo4. Noninvasive, neovascular assessments of the MR signal of Robo4, particularly combined with αVβ3- integrin expression, may help define tumor character prior to and following cancer therapy.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 4262-4270 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | FASEB Journal |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2010 |
Keywords
- Integrin
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- Neovasculature
- Roundabout
- Tumor