Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to apply longitudinal positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with 18 F-Annexin V to visualize and evaluate cell death induced by doxorubicin in a human head and neck squamous cell cancer UM-SCC-22B tumor xenograft model.
Procedures
In vitro toxicity of doxorubicin to UM-SCC-22B cells was determined by a colorimetric assay. Recombinant human Annexin V protein was expressed and purified. The protein was labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate for fluorescence staining and 18 F for PET imaging. Established UM-SCC-22B tumors in nude mice were treated with two doses of doxorubicin (10 mg/kg each dose) with 1 day interval. Longitudinal 18 F-Annexin V PET was performed at 6 h, 24 h, 3 days, and 7 days after the treatment started. Following PET imaging, direct tissue biodistribution study was performed to confirm the accuracy of PET quantification.
Results
Two doses of doxorubicin effectively inhibited the growth of UM-SCC-22B tumors by inducing cell death including apoptosis. The cell death was clearly visualized by 18 F-Annexin V PET. The peak tumor uptake, which was observed at day 3 after treatment started, was significantly higher than that in the untreated tumors (1.56 ± 0.23 vs. 0.89 ± 0.31%ID/g, p < 0.05). Moreover, the tumor uptake could be blocked by co-injection of excess amount of unlabeled Annexin V protein. At day 7 after treatment, the tumor uptake of 18 F-Annexin had returned to baseline level.
Conclusions
18 F-Annexin V PET imaging is sensitive enough to allow visualization of doxorubicin-induced cell death in UM-SCC-22B xenograft model. The longitudinal imaging with 18 F-Annexin will be helpful to monitor early response to chemotherapeutic anti-cancer drugs.
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Acknowledgment
This project was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the International Cooperative Program of the National Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (81028009).
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The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.
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Hu, S., Kiesewetter, D.O., Zhu, L. et al. Longitudinal PET Imaging of Doxorubicin-Induced Cell Death with 18F-Annexin V. Mol Imaging Biol 14, 762–770 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-012-0551-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-012-0551-5