6533b82efe1ef96bd1293c09

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Design of Bimodal Ligands of Neurotensin Receptor 1 for Positron Emission Tomography Imaging and Fluorescence-Guided Surgery of Pancreatic Cancer

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description

International audience; Neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) is overexpressed in most human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. It makes it an attractive target for the development of pancreatic cancer imaging agents. In this study, we sought to develop a bimodal PET-fluorescent imaging agent capable of specifically targeting these receptors. Starting from the structure of a known NTSR1 agonist, a series of tracers was synthesized, radiometalated with gallium-68 and evaluated in vitro and in vivo, in mice bearing an AsPC-1 xenograft. PET imaging allowed us to identify the compound [ 68 Ga]Ga-NODAGA-Lys(Cy5**)-AEEAc-[Me-Arg 8 , Tle 12 ]-NT(7-13) as the one with the most promising biodistribution profile, characterized by high tumor uptake (2.56 ± 0.97 %ID/g, 1 h p.i.) and rapid elimination from non-targeted organs, through urinary excretion. Fluorescence imaging gave similar results. On this basis, fluorescence-guided resection of tumor masses was successfully carried out on a preclinical model.