GE Healthcare has initiated a first-in-man clinical study designed to validate information provided by a molecular imaging agent in evaluating the extent and nature of cancer.
The body naturally forms new blood vessels during wound healing. However, angiogenesis is also necessary for the growth of many tumours beyond a certain size, as a cancerous tumour will recruit blood vessels in order to sustain accelerated growth.
Amolecular imaging agent that binds to the process of angiogenesis in the body could help physicians identify the location and growth patterns of tumours. Imaging the angiogenic process at the molecular level could also enable researchers and clinicians to monitor the effectiveness of anti-angiogenic cancer drugs and patient response to drug therapy.
The molecule discovered by GE being studied in this clinical trial, is a radiolabelled small peptide in a configuration that allows high affinity and binding of the peptide to a specific integrin receptor calledav/b3. Integrins are associated with endothelial cell differentiation, proliferation, migration and attachment to the extra-cellular matrix, which are critical during angiogenesis. Integrin receptors have limited tissue distribution, with highest levels of expression achieved during tumour growth, invasion and metastasis.
The trial, overseen by David Brooks, MD, chief medical officer at GE IMANET, is currently enrolling patients at the Hammersmith Hospital in London. The av/b3 molecular imaging agent will be used to quantify response to therapy by imaging Stage IV metastatic tumours of the breast before and after cycles of Taxane chemotherapy.
