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Review
. 2014 Sep;33(2-3):809-22.
doi: 10.1007/s10555-014-9505-5.

Antibody-based imaging strategies for cancer

Jason M Warram  1 , Esther de Boer, Anna G Sorace, Thomas K Chung, Hyunki Kim, Rick G Pleijhuis, Gooitzen M van Dam, Eben L Rosenthal
Affiliations
Review

Antibody-based imaging strategies for cancer

Jason M Warram et al. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2014 Sep.

Abstract

Although mainly developed for preclinical research and therapeutic use, antibodies have high antigen specificity, which can be used as a courier to selectively deliver a diagnostic probe or therapeutic agent to cancer. It is generally accepted that the optimal antigen for imaging will depend on both the expression in the tumor relative to normal tissue and the homogeneity of expression throughout the tumor mass and between patients. For the purpose of diagnostic imaging, novel antibodies can be developed to target antigens for disease detection, or current FDA-approved antibodies can be repurposed with the covalent addition of an imaging probe. Reuse of therapeutic antibodies for diagnostic purposes reduces translational costs since the safety profile of the antibody is well defined and the agent is already available under conditions suitable for human use. In this review, we will explore a wide range of antibodies and imaging modalities that are being translated to the clinic for cancer identification and surgical treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Concept of personalized approach to cancer-specific imaging using antibodies strategically targeted to ideal antigen.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Modality-specific probes available for antibody labeling for the purpose of cancer imaging and localization.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Functionalizing contrast agents through attachment of antibodies on the surface of the microbubbles creates a molecular ultrasound imaging strategy to target specific receptors on the endothelium, thereby improving localization and further increasing vasculature visualization.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Prior to surgery, the mAb-photosensitizer construct is administered systemically. Targeting a tumor-specific antigen with the fluorescent photosensitizer by means of a tumor-targeted monoclonal antibody will allow for real-time fluorescent guided surgery (A), but will also will generate highly reactive singlet oxygen molecules which directly kills unresectable microscopic residual disease (B-C).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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