New Optical Imaging Reporter-labeled Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as a Platform for In Vivo Tumor Targeting in a Mouse Model

Sci Rep. 2018 Sep 10;8(1):13509. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-31998-y.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), originating from multivesicular bodies by invagination of the endosomal membrane, are communication channels between distant cells. They are natural carriers of exogeneous cellular materials and have been exploited as drug delivery carriers in various diseases. Here, we found that tumor cell-derived EVs can be used as efficient targets in tumors by monitoring with an optical reporter system. Anaplastic thyroid cancer (CAL62) cell-derived EVs with Renilla luciferase (Rluc) were used to target CAL62 tumors in a mouse model. Optical imaging revealed that cancer cell-derived EVs (EV-CAL62/Rluc) targeted the original tumor (CAL62) in mice within 30 min after systemic injection. Furthermore, fluorescence imaging revealed that EV-CAL62/Rluc were internalized into CAL62 tumors in the mice. Ex vivo Optical imaging further confirmed the in vivo finding. Here, we successfully monitored the tumor targeting ability of tumor cell-derived EVs by optical imaging. Based on these results, tumor cell-derived EVs are highly effective natural carriers for drug delivery for cancer therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Extracellular Vesicles / chemistry*
  • Female
  • Genes, Reporter / genetics
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / administration & dosage
  • Imidazoles / chemistry
  • Luciferases, Renilla / chemistry
  • Luciferases, Renilla / genetics
  • Luminescent Agents / administration & dosage
  • Luminescent Agents / chemistry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Optical Imaging / methods
  • Pyrazines / administration & dosage
  • Pyrazines / chemistry
  • Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic / diagnostic imaging
  • Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic / drug therapy*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Imidazoles
  • Luminescent Agents
  • Pyrazines
  • coelenterazine
  • Luciferases, Renilla