New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Molecular MRI aims at component of multiple cancers

Date:
June 8, 2015
Source:
Society of Nuclear Medicine
Summary:
A relatively new biomarker called prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is the bullseye for three new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents that bind to the protein in not only prostate cancer, but a range of tumor types, according to new research.
Share:
FULL STORY

A relatively new biomarker called prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is the bullseye for three new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents that bind to the protein in not only prostate cancer, but a range of tumor types, according to research unveiled at the 2015 annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

'We have shown in this proof-of-concept study that PSMA could serve as a biomarker for MR-based molecular imaging due to its high concentration within target cells, limited expression within non-targeted tissues and accessibility on the cell surface,' said Sangeeta Ray, Ph.D., principal investigator for the study and assistant professor in the Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, Md.

PSMA is found in both primary and metastatic prostate tumors, and within newly developing blood vessels of many non-prostate cancers. An investigational imaging agent, if approved, could one day contribute to patient management by helping clinicians direct biopsies and cancer therapies.

In this study, PSMA binding affinities were assessed for three MR contrast agents, which were then imaged in living cells using a 9.4 tesla magnet MR system. Results of the study showed that the three synthesized gadolinium-based contrast agents (Gd-1, Gd-2, and Gd-3) were able to assess parameters of PSMA in the experimental cell lines and mouse models of prostate cancer. Gd-3 demonstrated the most MR contrast enhancement, about 36 percent, and demonstrated PSMA-mediated uptake on MR images of mice. As encouraging as the research is, these agents are still in preliminary stages of study and will need to be investigated further.

'With adequate funding, we estimate that a lead compound could be tested in human patients within the next two to three years,' said Ray.

More than 13.7 million people are living with cancer in the United Stated alone. An estimated 39.6 percent of Americans are expected to be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime and approximately 589,430 people are expected to die of cancer in 2015, according to statistics released in April by the National Cancer Institute.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Society of Nuclear Medicine. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

Society of Nuclear Medicine. "Molecular MRI aims at component of multiple cancers." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 June 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150608143946.htm>.
Society of Nuclear Medicine. (2015, June 8). Molecular MRI aims at component of multiple cancers. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 27, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150608143946.htm
Society of Nuclear Medicine. "Molecular MRI aims at component of multiple cancers." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150608143946.htm (accessed March 27, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES