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Protein scaffold-based molecular probes for cancer molecular imaging

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Abstract

Protein scaffold molecules are powerful reagents for targeting various cell signal receptors, enzymes, cytokines and other cancer-related molecules. They belong to the peptide and small protein platform with distinct properties. For the purpose of development of new generation molecular probes, various protein scaffold molecules have been labeled with imaging moieties and evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Among the evaluated probes Affibody molecules and analogs, cystine knot peptides, and nanobodies have shown especially good characteristics as protein scaffold platforms for development of in vivo molecular probes. Quantitative data obtained from positron emission tomography, single photon emission computed tomography/CT, and optical imaging together with biodistribution studies have shown high tumor uptakes and high tumor-to-blood ratios for these probes. High tumor contrast imaging has been obtained within 1 h after injection. The success of those molecular probes demonstrates the adequacy of protein scaffold strategy as a general approach in molecular probe development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305-5344, USA

    Zheng Miao, Jelena Levi & Zhen Cheng

  2. Bio-X Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305-5344, USA

    Zheng Miao & Zhen Cheng

  3. Canary Center at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305-5344, USA

    Zheng Miao, Jelena Levi & Zhen Cheng

  4. Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford Cancer Center, Stanford University, 1201 Welch Road, Lucas Center, P020A, Stanford, CA, 94305-5484, USA

    Zhen Cheng

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  1. Zheng Miao
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  2. Jelena Levi
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  3. Zhen Cheng
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Correspondence to Zhen Cheng.

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Miao, Z., Levi, J. & Cheng, Z. Protein scaffold-based molecular probes for cancer molecular imaging. Amino Acids 41, 1037–1047 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-010-0503-9

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