E. coli nitroreductase NfsA is a reporter gene for non-invasive PET imaging in cancer gene therapy applications.

The use of reporter genes to non-invasively image molecular processes inside cells has significant translational potential, particularly in the context of systemically administered gene therapy vectors and adoptively administered cells such as immune or stem cell based therapies. Bacterial nitroreductase enzymes possess ideal properties for reporter gene imaging applications, being of non-human origin and possessing the ability to metabolize a range of clinically relevant nitro(hetero)cyclic substrates. Methods: A library of eleven Escherichia coli nitroreductase candidates were screened for the ability to efficiently metabolize 2-nitroimidazole based positron emission tomography (PET) probes originally developed as radiotracers for hypoxic cell imaging. Several complementary methods were utilized to detect formation of cell-entrapped metabolites, including various in vitro and in vivo models to establish the capacity of the 2-nitroimidazole PET agent EF5 to quantify expression of a nitroreductase candidate. Proof-of-principle PET imaging studies were successfully conducted using 18F-HX4. Results: Recombinant enzyme kinetics, bacterial SOS reporter assays, anti-proliferative assays and flow cytometry approaches collectively identified the major oxygen-insensitive nitroreductase NfsA from E. coli (NfsA_Ec) as the most promising nitroreductase reporter gene. Cells expressing NfsA_Ec were demonstrably labelled with the imaging agent EF5 in a manner that was quantitatively superior to hypoxia, in monolayers (2D), multicellular layers (3D), and in human tumor xenograft models. EF5 retention correlated with NfsA_Ec positive cell density over a range of EF5 concentrations in 3D in vitro models and in xenografts in vivo and was predictive of in vivo anti-tumor activity of the cytotoxic prodrug PR-104. Following PET imaging with 18F-HX4, a significantly higher tumor-to-blood ratio was observed in two xenograft models for NfsA_Ec expressing tumors compared to the parental tumors thereof, providing verification of this reporter gene imaging approach. Conclusion: This study establishes that the bacterial nitroreductase NfsA_Ec can be utilized as an imaging capable reporter gene, with the ability to metabolize and trap 2-nitroimidazole PET imaging agents for non-invasive imaging of gene expression.

The 1.65†Šresolution structure of the complex of AZD4547 with the kinase domain of FGFR1 displays exquisite molecular recognition.

The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) family are expressed widely in normal tissues and play a role in tissue repair, inflammation, angiogenesis and development. However, aberrant signalling through this family can lead to cellular proliferation, evasion of apoptosis and induction of angiogenesis, which is implicated in the development of many cancers and also in drug resistance. The high frequency of FGFR amplification or mutation in multiple cancer types is such that this family has been targeted for the discovery of novel, selective drug compounds, with one of the most recently discovered being AZD4547, a subnanomolar (IC50) FGFR1 inhibitor developed by AstraZeneca and currently in clinical trials. The 1.65 Šresolution crystal structure of AZD4547 bound to the kinase domain of FGFR1 has been determined and reveals extensive drug-protein interactions, an integral network of water molecules and the tight closure of the FGFR1 P-loop to form a long, narrow crevice in which the AZD4547 molecule binds.