Development and application of new cancer-specific contrast agents for tumour detection by magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Four new potential MR imaging contrast agents were synthesised. Gadolinium-hematoporphyrin (Gd-H) was produced by inserting gadolinium into the naturally occurring porphyrin,hematoporphyrin.Gadolinium-tetra-carboranylmethoxyphenyl-porphyrin acetate (Gd-TCP)was similarly synthesised by gadolinium insertion into the synthetic porphyrin, 1, 6, 11, 16-tetra-[3-(carboranylmethoxy)phenyl] porphyrin. The monoclonal antibodies, 9.2.27 against melanoma and WM53 against leukaemia cell lines, were conjugated with cyclic anhydride gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid (Gd-cDTPAa), yielding the attachment of chelate DTPA to the antibodies. Gadolinium ion was inserted into the chelate DTPA, thus labelled both these antibodies with Gd-DTPA. Overall, with the satisfactory low levels of gadolinium in the liver, kidneys, and spleen, and good tumour uptake, gadolinium antibody conjugates has considerable potential for further diagnostic applications of MR imaging.

Date of Award	2000
Original language	English