Molecular imaging of gefitinib activity in an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-bearing xenograft model

Cancer Biol Ther. 2009 Dec;8(23):2239-47. doi: 10.4161/cbt.8.23.9986. Epub 2009 Dec 2.

Abstract

Finding noninvasive methods to discern which patients' tumors bear a specific target molecule, and are presumably more likely to respond, remains a critical challenge. An anti-phospho-tyrosine antibody was labeled with indium ((111)In) using ethylenedicysteine (EC) as a chelator ((111)In-EC-P-Tyr). We hypothesized that tumor phosphokinase activity would be discernible by imaging with (111)In-EC-P-Tyr. A xenograft of A431 cells, a human epithelial carcinoma cell line overexpressing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), was employed. Biodistribution studies confirmed increased tumor/muscle ratios of (111)In-EC-P-Tyr in the A431 model. Imaging demonstrated that a marked decrease in tumor uptake of (111)In-EC-P-Tyr occurred after 3 d of gefitinib therapy in A431 cells (gefitinib-sensitive), but not in H441 cells (gefitinib-resistant). Our results indicate that (111)In-EC-P-Tyr can detect tumor phospho-tyrosine kinase activity in animal models. This type of agent merits investigation in the clinic to determine if it can predict patient responses to kinase inhibitors based on phosphokinase imaging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cysteine / analogs & derivatives
  • Cysteine / pharmacology
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gefitinib
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Indium Radioisotopes
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Molecular Imaging
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / diagnostic imaging*
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / pathology
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology*
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Technetium / pharmacology
  • Tissue Distribution / drug effects
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays*

Substances

  • Indium Radioisotopes
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Quinazolines
  • ethylene dicysteine
  • Technetium
  • EGFR protein, mouse
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Cysteine
  • Gefitinib