Imaging the Met Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (Met) and Assessing Tumor Responses to a Met Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor in Human Xenograft Mouse Models with a [99mTc] (AH-113018) or Cy 5** (AH-112543) Labeled Peptide

Mol Imaging. 2015:14:499-515.

Abstract

Developing an imaging agent targeting the hepatocyte growth factor receptor protein (Met) status of cancerous lesions would aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of Met-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). A peptide targeting Met labeled with [(99m)Tc] had high affinity in vitro (Kd = 3.3 nM) and detected relative changes in Met in human cancer cell lines. In vivo [(99m)Tc]-Met peptide (AH-113018) was retained in Met-expressing tumors, and high-expressing Met tumors (MKN-45) were easily visualized and quantitated using single-photon emission computed tomography or optical imaging. In further studies, MKN-45 mouse xenografts treated with PHA 665752 (Met TKI) or vehicle were monitored weekly for tumor responses by [(99m)Tc]-Met peptide imaging and measurement of tumor volumes. Tumor uptake of [(99m)Tc]-Met peptide was significantly decreased as early as 1 week after PHA 665752 treatment, corresponding to decreases in tumor volumes. These results were comparable to Cy5**-Met peptide (AH-112543) fluorescence imaging using the same treatment model. [(99m)Tc] or Cy5**-Met peptide tumor uptake was further validated by histologic (necrosis, apoptosis) and immunoassay (total Met, p Met, and plasma shed Met) assessments in imaged and nonimaged cohorts. These data suggest that [(99m)Tc] or Cy5**-Met peptide imaging may have clinical diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic monitoring applications.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbocyanines / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Organotechnetium Compounds / metabolism*
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / metabolism*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Sulfones / pharmacology
  • Technetium
  • Tissue Distribution / drug effects
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / methods*
  • Tumor Burden
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays*

Substances

  • 5-((2,6-dichlorobenzyl)sulfonyl)-3-((3,5-dimethyl-4-((2-(pyrrolidin-1-ylmethyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl)carbonyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylene)-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one
  • AH-112543
  • AH-113018
  • Carbocyanines
  • Indoles
  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • Peptides
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Sulfones
  • cyanine dye 5
  • Technetium
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met