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Improved MC1R-targeted molecular imaging for metastatic melanoma by up-regulation of MC1R expression with MAPK pathway inhibitors and epigenetic modulators
Abstract   Open access   Peer reviewed

Improved MC1R-targeted molecular imaging for metastatic melanoma by up-regulation of MC1R expression with MAPK pathway inhibitors and epigenetic modulators

Mengshi Li, Dijie Liu, Dongyoul Lee, Somya Kapoor, Thomas P Quinn, Frances L Johnson and Michael K Schultz
The Journal of nuclear medicine (1978), Vol.59(2), p.362
02/01/2018
DOI: 10.2967/jnm592abs
url
https://doi.org/10.2967/jnm592absView
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Background: Melanocortin subtype-1 receptor (MC1R) has been long investigated as a potential target to deliver radiation dose to melanoma for molecular imaging and radionuclide therapy. Despite the development of numerous MC1R-targeted peptide ligands in the past few decades, efforts have been largely restricted to B16 murine melanoma cells and tumors that highly express the MCR1 receptor. However, heterogeneous (and often low) MC1R expression in human melanoma cells has stalled clinical translation of the approach. Hypothesis: FDA-approved MAPK pathway inhibitors (BRAFi and MEKi) and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) can be used to pharmacologically up-regulate MC1R expression in human metastatic melanoma cells and tumors to improve imaging. Methods: BRAF V600E cells (A375, A2058, SK-MEL-3), BRAF wild-type cells (MEWO) and BRAFi-resistant cells (451LUBR) were exposed to BRAFi, MEKi or HDACi before analysis of MC1R expression by qRT-PCR, immunoblotting, flow cytometry and [125I]Nle4,D-Phe7,α-MSH binding. In vivo melanoma tumor imaging was performed in athymic nu/nu mice bearing A375, A2058 and 451LUBR tumors that were subjected to BRAFi (vemurafenib) and/or HDACi (4-phenylbutyrate; PBA). Imaging was performed using a Re-cyclized MC1R-targeted peptide that was labeled with 203Pb for SPECT and 68Ga for PET. Images were analyzed using Inveon Research Workplace (Siemens Healthcare). Results: Up-regulated MC1R expression and increased binding with [125I]Nle4D,Phe7,α-MSH were found in human melanoma cells following exposure to MAPK inhibitors and HDAC inhibitors. Enhanced accumulation of MC1R-targeted imaging tracer resulted in improved SPECT and PET images of human melanoma tumor xenografts in mice. Conclusion: Clinically approved MAPKi and HDACi can be used to pharmacologically up-regulate MC1R in human melanoma cells and tumors-and significantly improve MC1Rtageted molecular imaging of human melanoma tumor xenografts in mice.
Flow Cytometry Health Care Inhibitors Pharmacology Radioisotopes Tumors Binding Cytometry Histone deacetylase Imaging Immunoblotting Immunomodulation MAP kinase Melanocortin Melanoma Metastases Mice Modulators Phenylbutyric acid Positron emission Radiation Radiation dosage Radiation therapy Single photon emission computed tomography Tomography Xenografts Xenotransplantation

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