Noninvasive Imaging and Quantification of Radiotherapy-Induced PD-L1 Upregulation with 89Zr-Df-Atezolizumab

Bioconjug Chem. 2019 May 15;30(5):1434-1441. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00178. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Abstract

Immune checkpoint expression is highly dynamic, and combination treatments including radiotherapy can particularly modulate this expression. PET imaging using 89Zr-Df-atezolizumab can provide insight into the levels of PD-L1 variation following radiotherapy treatments. In vitro screening was used to monitor PD-L1 expression by lung cancer cells following radiotherapy. Mice bearing PD-L1+ (H460) or PD-L1- (A549) tumors were subjected to various external beam radiotherapy regimens and then imaged using 89Zr-Df-atezolizumab PET. ROI analysis and ex vivo biodistribution studies were employed to quantify tracer accumulations. H460 cells were found to have PD-L1 expression at baseline, and this expression increased following daily radiotherapy of 5 fractions of 2 Gy. PD-L1 expression could not be induced on A549 cells, regardless of radiotherapy regimen. The increase in PD-L1 expression in H460 tumors following fractionated radiotherapy could be imaged in vivo using 89Zr-Df-atezolizumab, with statistically significant higher tracer accumulation noted in fractionated H460 tumors over that in all other H460 or A549 groups after 72 h postinjection of the tracer. Significant accumulation of the tracer was also noted in other PD-L1+ organs, including the spleen and lymph nodes. Ex vivo staining of tumor tissues verified that tumor cells as well as tumor-infiltrating immune cells were responsible for increased PD-L1 expression after radiotherapy in tumor tissues. Overall, PD-L1 expression can be modulated with radiotherapy interventions, and 89Zr-Df-atezolizumab is able to noninvasively monitor these changes in preclinical models.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / chemistry
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacology*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / immunology
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / chemistry*
  • Up-Regulation*
  • Zirconium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • atezolizumab
  • Zirconium