Abstract
Nanoparticle-mediated photothermal cancer therapy (PTT) is a treatment which creates localized damage to tumors via nanoparticles that generate heat when irradiated with near infrared light. Substantial work has been dedicated to developing efficient heat-transducing nanoparticles that can be delivered systemically to the tumor. However, less attention has been given to clinically relevant assessment methods of treatment outcome that could be used for personalizing the therapy. Here, we compare 18F-FDG positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for early evaluation and prognosis of PTT in tumor-bearing mice using silica-gold nanoshells (NS). The NS-treated mice experienced inhibited tumor growth and significantly prolonged survival compared to control mice. One day after PTT, PET/CT and DWI scans showed a decrease in tumor 18F-FDG uptake of ~90% and an increase of ~50% in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values respectively, compared to baseline. No significant changes were observed for control groups. Additionally, the changes in 18F-FDG uptake and ADC values correlated significantly with survival, demonstrating that both methods can be used for early evaluation of PTT although 18F-FDG PET/CT showed the strongest prognostic value. Based on these results, both modalities should be considered for therapy monitoring of PTT when clinically translated.
Highlights
Nanoparticle-mediated photothermal cancer therapy (PTT) is a treatment which creates localized damage to tumors via nanoparticles that generate heat when irradiated with near infrared light
Tumor-bearing mice were injected with silica-gold nanoshells (NS), which are nanoparticles already used in clinical trials on PTT21–23
Post-treatment scans were performed one day after PTT since our previous study showed that significant changes in 18F-FDG uptake could be detected[10] and Zhang et al.[18] reported www.nature.com/scientificreports
Summary
Nanoparticle-mediated photothermal cancer therapy (PTT) is a treatment which creates localized damage to tumors via nanoparticles that generate heat when irradiated with near infrared light. The changes in 18F-FDG uptake and ADC values correlated significantly with survival, demonstrating that both methods can be used for early evaluation of PTT 18FFDG PET/CT showed the strongest prognostic value. Based on these results, both modalities should be considered for therapy monitoring of PTT when clinically translated. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is an MR technique that characterizes diffusion of water molecules within tissues[15,16] and has been used clinically for evaluating diseases such as acute stroke[17] It has been explored for early response monitoring of PTT18–20. DWI is quantified by the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC), which are normally found to increase when tissue barriers responsible for restricting water motion are broken down, as is the case in acute necrosis found following PTT
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