Noninvasive imaging of tumor hypoxia after nanoparticle-mediated tumor vascular disruption

PLoS One. 2020 Jul 24;15(7):e0236245. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236245. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

We have previously demonstrated that endothelial targeting of gold nanoparticles followed by external beam irradiation can cause specific tumor vascular disruption in mouse models of cancer. The induced vascular damage may lead to changes in tumor physiology, including tumor hypoxia, thereby compromising future therapeutic interventions. In this study, we investigate the dynamic changes in tumor hypoxia mediated by targeted gold nanoparticles and clinical radiation therapy (RT). By using noninvasive whole-body fluorescence imaging, tumor hypoxia was measured at baseline, on day 2 and day 13, post-tumor vascular disruption. A 2.5-fold increase (P<0.05) in tumor hypoxia was measured two days after combined therapy, resolving by day 13. In addition, the combination of vascular-targeted gold nanoparticles and radiation therapy resulted in a significant (P<0.05) suppression of tumor growth. This is the first study to demonstrate the tumor hypoxic physiological response and recovery after delivery of vascular-targeted gold nanoparticles followed by clinical radiation therapy in a human non-small cell lung cancer athymic Foxn1nu mouse model.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / blood supply
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / radiotherapy
  • Gold / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / blood supply
  • Lung Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
  • Metal Nanoparticles / therapeutic use*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Optical Imaging / methods
  • Tumor Hypoxia* / drug effects
  • Tumor Hypoxia* / radiation effects
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Gold