18F-Fluorocholine PET uptake correlates with pathologic evidence of recurrent tumor after stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases.

PURPOSE: Radiographic changes of brain metastases after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) can signify tumor recurrence and/or radiation necrosis (RN); however, standard imaging modalities cannot easily distinguish between these two entities. We investigated whether 18F-Fluorocholine uptake in surgical samples of the resected lesions correlates with pathologic evidence of recurrent tumor and PET imaging. METHODS: About 14 patients previously treated with SRS that developed radiographic changes were included. All patients underwent a preoperative 40-min dynamic PET/CT concurrent with 392 ± 11 MBq bolus injection of 18F-Fluorocholine. 18F-Fluorocholine pharmacokinetics were evaluated by standardized uptake value (SUV), graphical analysis (Patlak plot; KiP) and an irreversible two-compartment model (K1, k2, k3, and Ki). 12 out of 14 patients were administered an additional 72 ± 14 MBq injection of 18F-Fluorocholine 95 ± 26 minutes prior to surgical resection. About 113 resected samples from 12 patients were blindly reviewed by a neuropathologist to assess the viable tumor and necrotic content, microvascular proliferation, reactive gliosis, and mono- and polymorphonuclear inflammatory infiltrates. Correlation between these metrics 18F-Fluorocholine SUV was investigated with a linear mixed model. Comparison of survival distributions of two groups of patients (population median split of PET SUVmax) was performed with the log-rank test. RESULTS: Exactly 10 out of 12 patients for which surgical samples were acquired exhibited pathologic recurrence. Strong correlation was observed between SUVmax as measured from a surgically removed sample with highest uptake and by PET (Pearson's r = 0.66). Patients with 18F-Fluorocholine PET SUVmax > 6 experienced poor survival. Surgical samples with viable tumor had higher 18F-fluorocholine uptake (SUV) than those without tumor (4.5 ± 3.7 and 2.6 ± 3.0; p = 0.01). 18F-fluorocholine count data from surgical samples is driven not only by the percentage viable tumor but also by the degree of inflammation and reactive gliosis (p ≤ 0.02; multivariate regression). CONCLUSIONS: 18F-Fluorocholine accumulation is increased in viable tumor; however, inflammation and gliosis may also lead to elevated uptake. Higher 18F-Fluorocholine PET uptake portends worse prognosis. Kinetic analysis of dynamic 18F-Fluorocholine PET imaging supports the adequacy of the simpler static SUV metric.

Tumor stroma interaction is mediated by monocarboxylate metabolism.

Human breast tumors contain significant amounts of stromal cells. There exists strong evidence that these stromal cells support cancer development and progression by altering various pathways (e.g. downregulation of tumor suppressor genes or autocrine signaling loops). Here, we suggest that stromal carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), shown to be generated from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, may (i) recycle tumor-derived lactate for their own energetic requirements, thereby sparing glucose for neighboring glycolytic tumor cells, and (ii) subsequently secrete surplus energetically and biosynthetically valuable metabolites of lactate oxidation, such as pyruvate, to support tumor growth. Lactate, taken up by stromal CAFs, is converted to pyruvate, which is then utilized by CAFs for energy needs as well as excreted and shared with tumor cells. We have interrogated lactate oxidation in CAFs to determine what metabolites may be secreted, and how they may affect the metabolism and growth of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. We found that CAFs secrete pyruvate as a metabolite of lactate oxidation. Further, we show that pyruvate is converted to lactate to promote glycolysis in MDA-MB-231 cells and helps to control elevated ROS levels in these tumor cells. Finally, we found that inhibiting or interfering with ROS management, using the naturally occurring flavonoid phloretin (found in apple tree leaves), adds to the cytotoxicity of the conventional chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin. Our work demonstrates that a lactate-pyruvate, reciprocally-supportive metabolic relationship may be operative within the tumor microenvironment (TME) to support tumor growth, and may be a useful drug target.

Inhibition of prostate cancer proliferation by Deferiprone.

Cancer growth and proliferation rely on intracellular iron availability. We studied the effects of Deferiprone (DFP), a chelator of intracellular iron, on three prostate cancer cell lines: murine, metastatic TRAMP-C2; murine, non-metastatic Myc-CaP; and human, non-metastatic 22rv1. The effects of DFP were evaluated at different cellular levels: cell culture proliferation and migration; metabolism of live cells (time-course multi-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy cell perfusion studies, with 1-13 C-glucose, and extracellular flux analysis); and expression (Western blot) and activity of mitochondrial aconitase, an iron-dependent enzyme. The 50% and 90% inhibitory concentrations (IC50 and IC90 , respectively) of DFP for the three cell lines after 48 h of incubation were within the ranges 51-67 µM and 81-186 µM, respectively. Exposure to 100 µM DFP led to: (i) significant inhibition of cell migration after different exposure times, ranging from 12 h (TRAMP-C2) to 48 h (22rv1), in agreement with the respective cell doubling times; (ii) significantly decreased glucose consumption and glucose-driven tricarboxylic acid cycle activity in metastatic TRAMP-C2 cells, during the first 10 h of exposure, and impaired cellular bioenergetics and membrane phospholipid turnover after 23 h of exposure, consistent with a cytostatic effect of DFP. At this time point, all cell lines studied showed: (iii) significant decreases in mitochondrial functional parameters associated with the oxygen consumption rate, and (iv) significantly lower mitochondrial aconitase expression and activity. Our results indicate the potential of DFP to inhibit prostate cancer proliferation at clinically relevant doses and plasma concentrations.

Understanding the pharmacological properties of a metabolic PET tracer in prostate cancer.

Generally, solid tumors (>400 mm(3)) are inherently acidic, with more aggressive growth producing greater acidity. If the acidity could be targeted as a biomarker, it would provide a means to gauge the pace of tumor growth and degree of invasiveness, as well as providing a basis for predicting responses to pH-dependent chemotherapies. We have developed a (64)Cu pH (low) insertion peptide (pHLIP) for targeting, imaging, and quantifying acidic tumors by PET, and our findings reveal utility in assessing prostate tumors. The new pHLIP version limits indiscriminate healthy tissue binding, and we demonstrate its targeting of extracellular acidification in three different prostate cancer models, each with different vascularization and acid-extruding protein carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) expression. We then describe the tumor distribution of this radiotracer ex vivo, in association with blood perfusion and known biomarkers of acidity, such as hypoxia, lactate dehydrogenase A, and CAIX. We find that the probe reveals metabolic variations between and within tumors, and discriminates between necrotic and living tumor areas.

Synthesis and evaluation of 18F-labeled benzylguanidine analogs for targeting the human norepinephrine transporter.

PURPOSE: Both (131)I- and (123)I-labeled meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) have been widely used in the clinic for targeted imaging of the norepinephrine transporter (NET). The human NET (hNET) gene has been imaged successfully with (124)I-MIBG positron emission tomography (PET) at time points of >24 h post-injection (p.i.). (18)F-labeled MIBG analogs may be ideal to image hNET expression at time points of <8 h p.i. We developed improved methods for the synthesis of known MIBG analogs, [(18)F]MFBG and [(18)F]PFBG and evaluated them in hNET reporter gene-transduced C6 rat glioma cells and xenografts. METHODS: [(18)F]MFBG and [(18)F]PFBG were synthesized manually using a three-step synthetic scheme. Wild-type and hNET reporter gene-transduced C6 rat glioma cells and xenografts were used to comparatively evaluate the (18)F-labeled analogs with [(123)I]/[(124)I]MIBG. RESULTS: The fluorination efficacy on benzonitrile was predominantly determined by the position of the trimethylammonium group. The para-isomer afforded higher yields (75 ± 7%) than meta-isomer (21 ± 5%). The reaction of [(18)F]fluorobenzylamine with 1H-pyrazole-1-carboximidamide was more efficient than with 2-methyl-2-thiopseudourea. The overall radiochemical yields (decay-corrected) were 11 ± 2% (n = 12) for [(18)F]MFBG and 41 ± 12% (n = 5) for [(18)F]PFBG, respectively. The specific uptakes of [(18)F]MFBG and [(18)F]PFBG were similar in C6-hNET cells, but 4-fold less than that of [(123)I]/[(124)I]MIBG. However, in vivo [(18)F]MFBG accumulation in C6-hNET tumors was 1.6-fold higher than that of [(18)F]PFBG at 1 h p.i., whereas their uptakes were similar at 4 h. Despite [(18)F]MFBG having a 2.8-fold lower affinity to hNET and approximately 4-fold lower cell uptake in vitro compared to [(123)I]/[(124)I]MIBG, PET imaging demonstrated that [(18)F]MFBG was able to visualize C6-hNET xenografts better than [(124)I]MIBG. Biodistribution studies showed [(18)F]MFBG and (123)I-MIBG had a similar tumor accumulation, which was lower than that of no-carrier-added [(124)I]MIBG, but [(18)F]MFBG showed a significantly more rapid body clearance and lower uptake in most non-targeting organs. CONCLUSION: [(18)F]MFBG and [(18)F]PFBG were synthesized in reasonable radiochemical yields under milder conditions. [(18)F]MFBG is a better PET ligand to image hNET expression in vivo at 1-4 h p.i. than both [(18)F]PFBG and [(123)I]/[(124)I]MIBG.

Monitoring the induction of heat shock factor 1/heat shock protein 70 expression following 17-allylamino-demethoxygeldanamycin treatment by positron emission tomography and optical reporter gene imaging.

The cell response to proteotoxic cell stresses is mediated primarily through activation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1). This transcription factor plays a major role in the regulation of the heat shock proteins (HSPs), including HSP70. We demonstrate that an [124I]iodide-pQHNIG70 positron emission tomography (PET) reporter system that includes an inducible HSP70 promoter can be used to image and monitor the activation of the HSF1/HSP70 transcription factor in response to drug treatment (17-allylamino-demethoxygeldanamycin [17-AAG]). We developed a dual imaging reporter (pQHNIG70) for noninvasive imaging of the heat shock response in cell culture and living animals previously and now study HSF1/HSP70 reporter activation in both cell culture and tumor-bearing animals following exposure to 17-AAG. 17-AAG (10-1,000 nM) induced reporter expression; a 23-fold increase was observed by 60 hours. Good correspondence between reporter expression and HSP70 protein levels were observed. MicroPET imaging based on [124I]iodide accumulation in pQHNIG70-transduced RG2 xenografts showed a significant 6.2-fold reporter response to 17-AAG, with a corresponding increase in tumor HSP70 and in tumor human sodium iodide symporter and green fluorescent protein reporter proteins. The HSF1 reporter system can be used to screen anticancer drugs for induction of cytotoxic stress and HSF1 activation both in vitro and in vivo.

Concurrent visualization of trafficking, expansion, and activation of T lymphocytes and T-cell precursors in vivo.

We have developed a dual bioluminescent reporter system allowing noninvasive, concomitant imaging of T-cell trafficking, expansion, and activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) in vivo. NFAT activation plays an important role in T-cell activation and T-cell development. Therefore we used this system to determine spatial-temporal activation patterns of (1) proliferating T lymphocytes during graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and (2) T-cell precursors during T-cell development after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In the first days after HSCT, donor T cells migrated to the peripheral lymph nodes and the intestines, whereas the NFAT activation was dominant in the intestines, suggesting an important role for the intestines in the early stages of alloactivation during development of GVHD. After adoptive transfer of in vitro-derived T-cell receptor (TCR) H-Y transgenic T-cell precursors into B6 (H-2(b)) hosts of both sexes, NFAT signaling and development into CD4(+) or CD8(+) single-positive cells could only be detected in the thymus of female recipients indicating either absence of positive selection or prompt depletion of double-positive thymocytes in the male recipients. Because NFAT plays an important role in a wide range of cell types, our system could provide new insights into a variety of biologic processes.

MYCN and MYC regulate tumor proliferation and tumorigenesis directly through BMI1 in human neuroblastomas.

The BMI1 gene is overexpressed in ≈ 90% of human neuroblastomas. However, little is known about the regulation of BMI1 expression. Using microarray and immunohistochemical analysis, we show that BMI1 expression correlated with MYCN levels in MYCN-amplified human neuroblastomas, and with MYC levels in the MYCN-nonamplified group. We further demonstrated that BMI1 is a direct target gene of MYCN/MYC in 3 neuroblastoma cell lines: BE (2)-C, LAN1, and SH-SY5Y. Overexpression of MYCN or MYC transactivated the BMI1 promoter and up-regulated BMI1 gene expression. shRNA-mediated knockdown of MYCN or MYC decreased BMI1 gene expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and point-mutation assays revealed that both MYCN and MYC bind to the E-box within the BMI1 promoter. Overexpression of BMI1, MYCN, and MYC independently increased both cell proliferation and tumor growth. Conversely, specific inhibition of BMI1, MYCN, and MYC decreased tumor cell proliferation and tumor growth. Interestingly, BMI1 suppression in MYCN/MYC-overexpressing cells resulted in significantly greater inhibition compared to that in mock-transduced and parental cells. Our results indicate that MYCN and MYC regulate BMI1 gene expression at the transcriptional level and that dysregulation of the BMI1 gene mediated by MYCN or MYC overexpression, confers increased cell proliferation during neuroblastoma genesis and tumor progression.

Increased tumor glycolysis is associated with decreased immune infiltration across human solid tumors.

Response to immunotherapy across multiple cancer types is approximately 25%, with some tumor types showing increased response rates compared to others (i.e. response rates in melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are typically 30-60%). Patients whose tumors are resistant to immunotherapy often lack high levels of pre-existing inflammation in the tumor microenvironment. Increased tumor glycolysis, acting through glucose deprivation and lactic acid accumulation, has been shown to have pleiotropic immune suppressive effects using in-vitro and in-vivo models of disease. To determine whether the immune suppressive effect of tumor glycolysis is observed across human solid tumors, we analyzed glycolytic and immune gene expression patterns in multiple solid malignancies. We found that increased expression of a glycolytic signature was associated with decreased immune infiltration and a more aggressive disease across multiple tumor types. Radiologic and pathologic analysis of untreated estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancers corroborated these observations, and demonstrated that protein expression of glycolytic enzymes correlates positively with glucose uptake and negatively with infiltration of CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. This study reveals an inverse relationship between tumor glycolysis and immune infiltration in a large cohort of multiple solid tumor types.

ATP-binding cassette transporters modulate both coelenterazine- and D-luciferin-based bioluminescence imaging.

Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) of luciferase reporters provides a cost-effective and sensitive means to image biological processes. However, transport of luciferase substrates across the cell membrane does affect BLI readout intensity from intact living cells. To investigate the effect of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters on BLI readout, we generated click beetle (cLuc), firefly (fLuc), Renilla (rLuc), and Gaussia (gLuc) luciferase HEK-293 reporter cells that overexpressed different ABC transporters (ABCB1, ABCC1, and ABCG2). In vitro studies showed a significant BLI intensity decrease in intact cells compared to cell lysates, when ABCG2 was overexpressed in HEK-293/cLuc, fLuc, and rLuc cells. Selective ABC transporter inhibitors were also applied. Inhibition of ABCG2 activity increased the BLI intensity more than two-fold in HEK-293/cLuc, fLuc, and rLuc cells; inhibition of ABCB1 elevated the BLI intensity two-fold only in HEK-293/rLuc cells. BLI of xenografts derived from HEK-293/ABC transporter/luciferase reporter cells confirmed the results of inhibitor treatment in vivo. These findings demonstrate that coelenterazine-based rLuc-BLI intensity can be modulated by ABCB1 and ABCG2. ABCG2 modulates d-luciferin-based BLI in a luciferase type-independent manner. Little ABC transporter effect on gLuc-BLI intensity is observed because a large fraction of gLuc is secreted. The expression level of ABC transporters is one key factor affecting BLI intensity, and this may be particularly important in luciferase-based applications in stem cell research.

Different strategies for reducing intestinal background radioactivity associated with imaging HSV1-tk expression using established radionucleoside probes.

One limitation of HSV1-tk reporter positron emission tomography (PET) with nucleoside analogues is the high background radioactivity in the intestine. We hypothesized that endogenous expression of thymidine kinase in bacterial flora could phosphorylate and trap such radiotracers, contributing to the high radioactivity levels in the bowel, and therefore explored different strategies to increase fecal elimination of radiotracer. Intestinal radioactivity was assessed by in vivo microPET imaging and ex vivo tissue sampling following intravenous injection of 18F-FEAU, 124I-FIAU, or 18F-FHBG in a germ-free mouse strain. We also explored the use of an osmotic laxative agent and/or a 100% enzymatically hydrolyzed liquid diet. No significant differences in intestinal radioactivity were observed between germ-free and normal mice. 18F-FHBG-derived intestinal radioactivity levels were higher than those of 18F-FEAU and 124I-FIAU; the intestine to blood ratio was more than 20-fold higher for 18F-FHBG than for 18F-FEAU and 124I-FIAU. The combination of Peptamen and Nulytely lowered intestinal radioactivity levels and increased (2.2-fold) the HSV1-tk transduced xenograft to intestine ratio for 18F-FEAU. Intestinal bacteria in germ-free mice do not contribute to the high intestinal levels of radioactivity following injection of radionucleoside analogues. The combination of Peptamen and Nulytely increased radiotracer elimination by increasing bowel motility without inducing dehydration.

Imaging a Genetically Engineered Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus (GLV-1h99) Using a Human Norepinephrine Transporter Reporter Gene.

PURPOSE: Oncolytic viral therapy continues to be investigated for the treatment of cancer, and future studies in patients would benefit greatly from a noninvasive modality for assessing virus dissemination, targeting, and persistence. The purpose of this study was to determine if a genetically modified vaccinia virus, GLV-1h99, containing a human norepinephrine transporter (hNET) reporter gene, could be sequentially monitored by [(123)I]metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) gamma-camera and [(124)I]MIBG positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: GLV-1h99 was tested in human malignant mesothelioma and pancreatic cancer cell lines for cytotoxicity, expression of the hNET protein using immunoblot analysis, and [(123)I]MIBG uptake in cell culture assays. In vivo [(123)I]MIBG gamma-camera and serial [(124)I]MIBG PET imaging was done in MSTO-211H orthotopic pleural mesothelioma tumors. RESULTS: GLV-1h99 successfully infected and provided dose-dependent levels of transgene hNET expression in human malignant mesothelioma and pancreatic cancer cells. The time course of [(123)I]MIBG accumulation showed a peak of radiotracer uptake at 48 hours after virus infection in vitro. In vivo hNET expression in MSTO-211H pleural tumors could be imaged by [(123)I]MIBG scintigraphy and [(124)I]MIBG PET 48 and 72 hours after GLV-1h99 virus administration. Histologic analysis confirmed the presence of GLV-1h99 in tumors. CONCLUSION: GLV-1h99 shows high mesothelioma tumor cell infectivity and cytotoxic efficacy. The feasibility of imaging virus-targeted tumor using the hNET reporter system with [(123)I]MIBG gamma-camera and [(124)I]MIBG PET was shown in an orthotopic pleural mesothelioma tumor model. The inclusion of human reporter genes into recombinant oncolytic viruses enhances the potential for translation to clinical monitoring of oncolytic viral therapy.

Lactate Dehydrogenase A Depletion Alters MyC-CaP Tumor Metabolism, Microenvironment, and CAR T Cell Therapy.

To enhance human prostate-specific membrane antigen (hPSMA)-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in a hPSMA+ MyC-CaP tumor model, we studied and imaged the effect of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDH-A) depletion on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and tumor progression. Effective LDH-A short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown (KD) was achieved in MyC-CaP:hPSMA+ Renilla luciferase (RLuc)-internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-GFP tumor cells, and changes in tumor cell metabolism and in the TME were monitored. LDH-A downregulation significantly inhibited cell proliferation and subcutaneous tumor growth compared to control cells and tumors. However, total tumor lactate concentration did not differ significantly between LDH-A knockdown and control tumors, reflecting the lower vascularity, blood flow, and clearance of lactate from LDH-A knockdown tumors. Comparing treatment responses of MyC-CaP tumors with LDH-A depletion and/or anti-hPSMA CAR T cells showed that the dominant effect on tumor growth was LDH-A depletion. With anti-hPSMA CAR T cell treatment, tumor growth was significantly slower when combined with tumor LDH-A depletion and compared to control tumor growth (p < 0.0001). The lack of a complete tumor response in our animal model can be explained in part by (1) the lower activity of human CAR T cells against hPSMA-expressing murine tumors in a murine host, and (2) a loss of hPSMA antigen from the tumor cell surface in progressive generations of tumor cells.

Registration of planar bioluminescence to magnetic resonance and x-ray computed tomography images as a platform for the development of bioluminescence tomography reconstruction algorithms.

The procedures we propose make possible the mapping of two-dimensional (2-D) bioluminescence image (BLI) data onto a skin surface derived from a three-dimensional (3-D) anatomical modality [magnetic resonance (MR) or computed tomography (CT)] dataset. This mapping allows anatomical information to be incorporated into bioluminescence tomography (BLT) reconstruction procedures and, when applied using sources visible to both optical and anatomical modalities, can be used to evaluate the accuracy of those reconstructions. Our procedures, based on immobilization of the animal and a priori determined fixed projective transforms, should be more robust and accurate than previously described efforts, which rely on a poorly constrained retrospectively determined warping of the 3-D anatomical information. Experiments conducted to measure the accuracy of the proposed registration procedure found it to have a mean error of 0.36+/-0.23 mm. Additional experiments highlight some of the confounds that are often overlooked in the BLT reconstruction process, and for two of these confounds, simple corrections are proposed.

Molecular Imaging with Reporter Genes: Has Its Promise Been Delivered?

The first reporter systems were developed in the early 1980s and were based on measuring the activity of an enzyme-as a surrogate measure of promoter-driven transcriptional activity-which is now known as a reporter gene system. The initial objective and application of reporter techniques was to analyze the activity of a specific promoter (namely, the expression of a gene that is under the regulation of the specific promoter that is linked to the reporter gene). This system allows visualization of specific promoter activity with great sensitivity. In general, there are 2 classes of reporter systems: constitutively expressed (always-on) reporter constructs used for cell tracking, and inducible reporter systems sensitive to endogenous signaling molecules and transcription factors that characterize specific tissues, tumors, or signaling pathways.This review traces the development of different reporter systems, using fluorescent and bioluminescent proteins as well as radionuclide-based reporter systems. The development and application of radionuclide-based reporter systems is the focus of this review. The question at the end of the review is whether the "promise" of reporter gene imaging has been realized. What is required for moving forward with radionuclide-based reporter systems, and what is required for successful translation to clinical applications?

Imaging of HSV-tk Reporter gene expression: comparison between [18F]FEAU, [18F]FFEAU, and other imaging probes.

UNLABELLED: Herpes virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk) and the mutant HSV1-sr39tk are the 2 most widely used "reporter genes" for radiotracer-based imaging. Two pyrimidine nucleoside analogs, [18F]FEAU (1-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-beta-d-arabinofuranosyl)-5-ethyluridine) and [18F]FFEAU (1-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-beta-d-arabinofuranosyl)-5-(2-fluoroethyl)uridine), have generated recent interest as potential new probes for imaging HSV1-tk and HSV1-sr39tk gene expression. METHODS: We compared [18F]FEAU and [18F]FFEAU with a series of other pyrimidine nucleoside derivatives (including 1-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-beta-d-arabinofuranosyl)-5-iodouridine [FIAU]) and with acycloguanosine analogs using a stable HSV1-tk transduced cell line (RG2TK+) and wild-type RG2 cells. RESULTS: The in vitro accumulation data and the calculated and normalized clearance constant, nKi, as well as sensitivity and selectivity indices indicated that 2 pyrimidine nucleoside probes, [18F]FEAU and [18F]FFEAU, had the best uptake characteristics. These probes were selected for further dynamic PET studies in nude rats bearing subcutaneous RG2TK+ and RG2 tumors. The 2-h postinjection [18F]FEAU uptake levels were 3.3% +/- 1.0% and 0.28% +/- 0.07% dose/cm3 in subcutaneous RG2TK+ and RG2 tumors, respectively, and 2.3% +/- 0.2% and 0.19% +/- 0.01% dose/cm3, respectively, for [18F]FFEAU. The corresponding RG2TK+/RG2 uptake ratios were 11.5 +/- 1.5 and 12.2 +/- 1.4, respectively. The inherent problem of comparing different radiolabeled pyrimidine nucleoside and guanosine-based probes for imaging HSV1-tk expression using different transduced cell lines and assay systems in the absence of an independent thymidine kinase-enzyme assay is discussed. CONCLUSION: For HSV1-tk reporter systems that require a 1- to 4-h PET paradigm, HSV1-tk-[18F]FEAU is the current top contender.

Imaging hNET reporter gene expression with 124I-MIBG.

UNLABELLED: The norepinephrine transporter (NET) has recently been suggested as a useful reporter gene. We have extended this effort by constructing an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES)-linked hNET-green fluorescent protein (GFP) hybrid reporter gene for both nuclear and optical imaging. METHODS: A retroviral vector pQCXhNET-IRES-GFP was constructed and used to generate several reporter cell lines and xenografts. Transduced cells were sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting based on GFP expression and used for both in vitro and in vivo imaging studies. RESULTS: The transduced reporter cells accumulated (123)I- or (124)I-labeled metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) to high levels compared with the wild-type parent cell lines. Differences in MIBG accumulation between cell lines were primarily due to differences in influx (K(1)) rather than efflux (k(2)). The estimated MIBG distribution volumes (V(d)) for transduced Jurkat, C6, and COS-7 cells were 572 +/- 13, 754 +/- 25, and 1,556 +/- 38 mL/g, respectively. A correlation between radiotracer accumulation (K(1)) and GFP fluorescence intensity was also demonstrated. Sequential imaging studies of mice bearing pQCXhNET-IRES-GFP transduced and wild-type C6 xenografts demonstrated several advantages of (124)I-MIBG small-animal PET compared with (123)I-MIBG gamma-camera/SPECT. This was primarily due to the longer half-life of (124)I and to the retention and slow clearance (half-time, 63 +/- 6 h) of MIBG from transduced xenografts compared with that from wild-type xenografts (half-time, 12 +/- 1 h) and other organs (half-time, 2.6-21 h). Very high radioactivity ratios were observed at later imaging times; at 73 h after (124)I-MIBG injection, the C6/hNET-IRES-GFP xenograft-to-muscle ratio was 293 +/- 48 whereas the C6 xenograft-to-muscle ratio was 0.71 +/- 0.19. CONCLUSION: These studies demonstrate the potential for a wider application of hNET reporter imaging and the future translation to patient studies using radiopharmaceuticals that are currently available for both SPECT and PET.

Serial in vivo imaging of the targeted migration of human HSV-TK-transduced antigen-specific lymphocytes.

New technologies are needed to characterize the migration, survival, and function of antigen-specific T cells in vivo. Here, we demonstrate that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)--specific T cells transduced with vectors encoding herpes simplex virus-1 thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) selectively accumulate radiolabeled 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxy-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-5-iodouracil (FIAU). After adoptive transfer, HSV-TK+ T cells labeled in vitro or in vivo with [131I]FIAU or [124I]FIAU can be noninvasively tracked in SCID mice bearing human tumor xenografts by serial images obtained by scintigraphy or positron emission tomography (PET), respectively. These T cells selectively accumulate in EBV+ tumors expressing the T cells' restricting HLA allele but not in EBV- or HLA-mismatched tumors. The concentrations of transduced T cells detected in tumors and tissues are closely correlated with the concentrations of label retained at each site. Radiolabeled transduced T cells retain their capacity to eliminate targeted tumors selectively. This technique for imaging the migration of ex vivo-transduced antigen-specific T cells in vivo is informative, nontoxic, and potentially applicable to humans.

Synthesis and evaluation of [18F] labeled pyrimidine nucleosides for positron emission tomography imaging of herpes simplex virus 1 thymidine kinase gene expression.

Synthesis of three novel 2'-deoxy-2'-[18F]fluoro-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil derivatives [18F]FPAU, [18F]FBrVAU, and [18F]FTMAU is reported. The compounds were synthesized by coupling of 1-bromo-2-deoxy-2-fluoro sugars with corresponding silylated uracil derivatives. In vitro cell uptake indicated that all three compounds are taken up selectively in RG2TK+ cells with negligible uptake in RG2 cells. The results indicate that [18F]FBrVAU and [18F]FTMAU have better uptake profiles in comparison to [18F]FPAU and have potential as PET probes for imaging HSV1-tk gene expression.