EDB-FN-targeted probes for near infrared fluorescent imaging and positron emission tomography imaging of breast cancer in mice

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Miles

EDB-FN (extra domain B splice variant fibronectin) is overexpressed across multiple cancers and serves as an approved diagnostic and therapeutic target. This study evaluates the EDB-FN-targeting peptide EDBp as a noninvasive molecular imaging probe for breast cancer in mice, using Western blot, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence to measure expression and binding in multiple cell lines and mouse tumor models. EDBp-Cy5 shows strong binding to MDA-MB-231 cells and specific tumor accumulation in subcutaneous and pulmonary metastasis models, while the radiotracer [18F]-AlF-NOTA-EDBp provides excellent PET diagnostic value, with notably higher uptake in subcutaneous tumors than in kidney.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Breast cancer burden and the need for noninvasive imaging

EDB-FN as a molecular target and EDB-FN–targeted peptides

Methods (brief from abstract)

Expression and binding assays

Cell lines and animal tumor models

Results (brief from abstract)

Fluorescent probe performance (EDBp-Cy5)

PET radiotracer performance ([18F]-AlF-NOTA-EDBp)

Conclusion (from abstract)

Imaging potential for EDB-FN–positive staging

[www. nature.com/scientificreports](www. nature.com/scientificreports) OPEN EDB-FN-targeted probes for near infrared fluorescent imaging and positron emission tomography imaging of breast cancer in mice Yun Zhang1,3, Xiaobin Zheng2,3, Yanfang Huang1,3, Sijia Li1, Xinling Li2􀀍 & Lijun Zhu1􀀍 The extra domain B splice variant offibronectin (EDB-FN), which is overexpressed in several cancers, is an approved diagnostic and therapeutic target of cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the EDB-FN-targeting peptide EDBp as a noninvasive imaging modality for molecular imaging of breast cancer in mice. Western blot, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were used to assess the expression level of EDB-FN and its binding to EDRp in MCF7, SKBR3, 4T1, EMT6, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 cells. Establishment MDA-MB-231-luc cells-based subcutaneous tumor model mice or pulmonary metastasis model mice. The EDRp molecular probes to perform fluorescent probes for nearinfrared fluorescence (NIRF)·and PET imaging of model mice. Our results demonstrate that EDBp-Cy5 had a strong binding ability to the MDA-MB-231 cells and exhibited specific tumor accumulation in MDA-MB-231 subcutaneous and pulmonary metastasis model mice. Importantly, the EDBp peptidebased radiotracer [ 18F]-AlF-NOTA-EDBp provided excellent diagnostic value for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of breast cancer, especially in subcutaneous model mice. The uptake of [ 18F]-AlF-NOTA-EDBp in subcutaneous tumors (6.53 ± 0.89%, ID/g) was unexpectedly higher than that in the kidney (4.96 ± 0.20,%ID/g). The high tumor uptake of these probes in mice suggests their potential for application in imaging of EDB-FN-positive breast cancer for disease staging of regional and distant metastases. Keywords PET, Breast cancer, Molecular imaging, EDB-FN-targeted peptide, NIRF Abbreviations BI-RADS Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System [18F]F-FDG 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose PET Positron emission tomography CT Computed tomography EDB-FN Extra domain B splice variant offibronectin IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer WHO World Health Organization MRI Magnetic resonance imaging ECM Extracellular matrix NIRF Near-infrared fluorescence PBS Phosphate-buffered saline HPLC High-performance liquid chromatography MS Mass spectrometry IACUC Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Cy5 Cyanine5 NOTA 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid IVIS In vivo imaging system HE Hematoxylin and eosin 1School of Nursing, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 280 East Waihuan Road, Guangzhou 510006, China. 2Department of Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, SunYat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510060, China. 3Yun Zhang, Xiaobin Zheng and Yanfang Huang contributed equally to this work. 􀀍 email: [lixl1@sysucc.org.cn](lixl1@sysucc.org.cn); zlj_ [243@163.com](243@163.com) [www. nature.com/scientificreports/](www. nature.com/scientificreports/) IHC SD [18F]-FES FDA RGDSPECT SUVmax ABD Immunohistochemistry Standard deviation 16α-[18F]-fluoro-17β-fluoroestradiol Food and Drug Administration Arg-Gly-Asp Single-photon emission computed tomography Maximum standardized uptake value Albumin binding domain According to the latest data released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer has replaced lung cancer as the most common cancer in the world1. Factors such as population aging, delayed childbearing, and fewer births are contributing to the continuing rise in breast cancer cases2. Although the gold standard for the diagnosis of breast cancer is pathological assessment3, which requires pathological tissue obtained by puncture or surgical biopsy, it is an invasive diagnostic method that can easily cause pathogenic microbial infection,

FAQs

What is the main target studied for breast cancer imaging?

The study focuses on EDB-FN (extra domain B splice variant fibronectin), which is overexpressed in several cancers and functions as a molecular imaging target.

How were EDB-FN expression and probe binding evaluated?

Western blot, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence were used to assess EDB-FN expression and binding of the targeted peptide/probes in multiple breast cancer cell lines.

What imaging modalities and probes were developed or tested?

The work tested EDBp-Cy5 for near-infrared fluorescent imaging and [18F]-AlF-NOTA-EDBp as a PET radiotracer for imaging breast cancer in mouse models.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Miles