Immuno-OpenPET: a novel approach for early diagnosis and image-guided surgery for small resectable pancreatic cancer

Sci Rep. 2020 Mar 10;10(1):4143. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-61056-5.

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer (PC) has a poor prognosis owing to difficulties in the diagnosis of resectable PC at early stages. Several clinical studies have indicated that the detection and surgery of small resectable PC (<1 cm) can significantly improve survival; however, imaging diagnosis and accurate resection of small PC remain challenging. Here, we report the feasibility of "immuno-OpenPET" as a novel approach enabling not only early diagnosis but also image-guided surgery, using a small (<1 cm) resectable PC orthotopic xenograft mouse model. For immuno-OpenPET, we utilized our original OpenPET system, which enables high-resolution positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with depth-of-interaction detectors, as well as real-time image-guided surgery, by arranging the detectors to create an open space for surgery and accelerating the image reconstruction process by graphics processing units. For immuno-OpenPET, 64Cu-labeled anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody cetuximab was intraperitoneally administered into mice. It clearly identified PC tumors ≥3 mm. In contrast, neither OpenPET with intravenous-administered 64Cu-cetuximab nor intraperitoneal/intravenous-administered 18F-FDG (a traditional PET probe) could detect PC in this model. Immuno-OpenPET-guided surgery accurately resected small PC in mice and achieved significantly prolonged survival. This technology could provide a novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategy for small resectable PC to improve patient survival.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / immunology
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cetuximab / immunology*
  • Copper Radioisotopes / metabolism*
  • Early Detection of Cancer / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / metabolism
  • Surgery, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Copper Radioisotopes
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Cetuximab