Chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is expressed in a variety of cancers, including breast, brain, ovarian, and prostate. CXCR4-CXCL12 interactions are critical for tumor development, growth, and metastasis. Compared with normal tissue, neoplastic tissue (including metastases) expresses high levels of CXCR4. Previous clinical and preclinical observations suggest that CXCR4 levels could be used as a predictive marker of metastatic potential. Here we report the results of SPECT/CT of CXCR4 expression levels in experimental brain tumors using (125)I-labeled anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).
Methods: hCXCR4 antibody 12G5 and control IgG(2A) antibody were radiolabeled. Radio-mAbs were obtained in 40%-60% yield, with 1.4-1.9 MBq/microg specific radioactivities and greater than 95% purity. Severe combined immunodeficient mice harboring U87 xenografts were used for ex vivo biodistribution and imaging studies. Surface CXCR4 expression levels on U87 tumor-derived cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.
Results: Biodistribution and imaging studies showed a specific accumulation of (125)I-12G5 in U87 tumors, with tumor-to-muscle uptake ratios reaching 15 +/- 3 at 48 h after injection. The tumor-to-tumor uptake ratio for (125)I-12G5 and (125)I-IgG(2A) was 2.5 at 48 h after injection. Flow cytometry analysis of tumor-derived cells showed a 2- to 7-fold increase in CXCR4 expression relative to inoculums, accounting for the high mAb uptake observed in the tumors.
Conclusion: Our data demonstrate the feasibility of imaging CXCR4 expression in experimental brain tumors. The elevated CXCR4 levels observed may have been, in part, due to the hypoxic tumor microenvironment.