Molecular ultrasound imaging using a targeted contrast agent for assessing early tumor response to antiangiogenic therapy.

Objectives: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (US) and targeted microbubbles have been shown to be advantageous for angiogenesis evaluation and disease staging in cancer. This study explored molecular US imaging of a multitargeted microbubble for assessing the early tumor response to antiangiogenic therapy.

Methods: Target receptor expression of 2LMP breast cancer cells was quantified by flow cytometric analysis and characterization established with antibodies against mouse α(V)β3- integrin, P-selectin, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. Tumor-bearing mice (n = 15 per group) underwent contrast-enhanced US imaging of multitargeted microbubbles. Microbubble accumulation was calculated by destruction-replenishment techniques and time-intensity curve analysis. On day 0, mice underwent baseline imaging. Next, therapy group mice were injected with a 0.2-mg dose of bevacizumab, and controls received matched saline injections. Imaging was repeated on days 1 and 3. After imaging was completed on day 3, the mice were euthanized and tumors excised. Histologic analysis of microvessel density and intratumoral necrosis was completed on tumor sections.

Results: On day 3 after bevacizumab dosing, a 71.8% change in tumor vasculature was shown between the therapy and control groups (P = .01). The therapy group had a 15.4% decrease in tumor vascularity, whereas the control group had a 56.4% increase.

Conclusions: Molecular US imaging of angiogenic markers can detect the early tumor response to drug therapy.