Novel 64Cu(II) Based Radiotracer for Diagnostics of Hypoxic Conditions of Tumors

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, development of new methodologies to early and accurate diagnosis of cancer, should reduce these death rates. Hypoxia is associated with low oxygen levels in the cells, which leads to an increase in tumor aggressiveness, and to resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Therefore, there is a compelling need to develop a biomarker for detection and imaging of hypoxic cells. Despite on-going efforts to identify and/or track hypoxia, there is still no routinely used clinical biomarker or a radiotracer of hypoxia.

In the framework of my Alpha project, we succeeded in developing a suitable, highly selective and sensitive radiotracer based on 64Cu(II) for PET-CT/PET-MRI imaging to report on the hypoxic conditions of breast cancer cells. This was achieved by monitoring the cellular copper transfer mechanism in human breast cancer cells, specifically by identifying the various copper-binding sites in those proteins involved and identifying factors critical for proper copper transfer. Based on this molecular-level insight into cellular pathways involving copper, a lead compound was designed and characterized. This research involves both cold and hot experiments. We hope that in the future, we will be able to offer a radiotracer for detection of cancerous tumors by imaging of hypoxia and with that, we can better match the treatment to the patient.