Multi-targeted multi-color in vivo optical imaging in a model of disseminated peritoneal ovarian cancer

Abstract

Optical imaging probes with targeting ligands directed at cell surface markers overexpressed on cancers have the potential to detect and characterize tumors in vivo with high sensitivity and specificity.^{1, 2, 3, 4} Such probes could help direct surgery⁵ or guide nonconventional treatments, such as photodynamic therapy.⁶ However, malignant tumors are notorious for their heterogenous and diverse expression of cell surface markers;⁷ the degree and variety of target molecule expression may vary between and within tumor foci. Moreover, there is inevitably some low-level expression in normal tissue. However, by utilizing a strategy that employs more than one type of targeting ligand in a single imaging session, it should be possible to detect more tumor volume with great specificity than can be accomplished with a probe directed at a single target. Thus, if the simultaneous diagnosis of several targets on a tumor cell were possible in vivo, it could improve both tumor detection and characterization, potentially leading to more effective targeted therapy.