Immuno-PET imaging of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes using zirconium-89 radiolabeled anti-CD3 antibody in immune-competent mice bearing syngeneic tumors

PLoS One. 2018 Mar 7;13(3):e0193832. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193832. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The ability to non-invasively monitor tumor-infiltrating T cells in vivo could provide a powerful tool to visualize and quantify tumor immune infiltrates. For non-invasive evaluations in vivo, an anti-CD3 mAb was modified with desferrioxamine (DFO) and radiolabeled with zirconium-89 (Zr-89 or 89Zr). Radiolabeled 89Zr-DFO-anti-CD3 was tested for T cell detection using positron emission tomography (PET) in both healthy mice and mice bearing syngeneic bladder cancer BBN975. In vivo PET/CT and ex vivo biodistribution demonstrated preferential accumulation and visualization of tracer in the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. In tumor bearing mice, 89Zr-DFO-anti-CD3 demonstrated an 11.5-fold increase in tumor-to-blood signal compared to isotype control. Immunological profiling demonstrated no significant change to total T cell count, but observed CD4+ T cell depletion and CD8+ T cell expansion to the central and effector memory. This was very encouraging since a high CD8+ to CD4+ T cell ratio has already been associated with better patient prognosis. Ultimately, this anti-CD3 mAb allowed for in vivo imaging of homeostatic T cell distribution, and more specifically tumor-infiltrating T cells. Future applications of this radiolabeled mAb against CD3 could include prediction and monitoring of patient response to immunotherapy.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies
  • Butylhydroxybutylnitrosamine
  • CD3 Complex / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Deferoxamine
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology*
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / pathology*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / methods*
  • Radioisotopes
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology
  • Zirconium

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • CD3 Complex
  • Radioisotopes
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Butylhydroxybutylnitrosamine
  • Zirconium
  • Deferoxamine
  • Zirconium-89