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Abstract #0320

Specific Targeting of EGF Receptor Expression with Monoclonal Antibody Conjugates in Human Gliomas using MRI

Mohammed Salman Shazeeb1,2, Christopher Howard Sotak1,3, Alexei Bogdanov, Jr.3,4

1Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA; 2Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA; 3Radiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA; 4Cell Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA


Specific targeted EGF receptor imaging in Gli36 tumor xenografts implanted in the rat brain was achieved using anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody conjugates (mACs) that facilitate local binding of a paramagnetic molecular substrate diTyr-DTPA(Gd) at the EGFR/EGFRvIII-overexpressing sites. Following anti-EGFR mAC administration, diTyr-DTPA(Gd) was retained for a significantly longer period of time as compared to the administration of the contrast agent without mAC or with anti-EpCAM mAC pre-treatment. Retention of diTyr-DTPA(Gd) following anti-EGFR mAC administration is consistent with enzyme-mediated coupling of the paramagnetic agent to EGFR/EGFRvIII-overexpressing cells in the tumor allowing effective MRI visualization of conjugate co-localization at the targeted site.