Abstract
BackgroundImproved methods for the early and specific detection of ovarian cancer are needed.MethodsIn this experimental study, we used folic acid (FA)-targeted iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) as a T2-negative contrast agent for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to accurately detect ovarian cancer tissues in an intraperitoneal xenograft tumor model. Human serous ovarian cell line (Skov-3), with overexpressed FA receptors, was chosen as the targeted tumor cell mode. For in vivo experiments, the cells were injected intraperitoneally into nude mice to produce intraabdominal ovarian cancers. FA-targeted and non-targeted Fe3O4 NPs were prepared.ResultsFA-targeted Fe3O4 NPs with a mean size of 9.2 ± 1.7 nm have a negligible cytotoxicity to human serous ovarian cell line (Skov-3). Importantly, the results of cellular uptake suggested that FA-targeted Fe3O4 NPs have a targeting specificity to Skov-3 cells overexpressing FA receptors. FA-targeted Fe3O4 NPs could be specifically localized by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to the intraperitoneal human ovarian carcinoma tissues, as documented by a statistically significant difference (p = 0.002, n = 3) in T2 signal intensities of xenograft tumor tissues when injected with FA-targeted and non-targeted Fe3O4 NPs at 4 h post-injection.ConclusionFA-targeted Fe3O4 NPs appear to be promising agents for the detection of human ovarian carcinoma by MR imaging, and possibly also for the hyperthermal treatment of the tumors.
Highlights
Improved methods for the early and specific detection of ovarian cancer are needed
Synthesis and characterization techniques The morphology of the folic acid (FA)-targeted iron oxide (Fe3O4) NPs and nontargeted Fe3O4 NPs was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) (Fig. 1)
In this study, we report our preliminary experience in imaging human ovarian cancer in the xenograft tumor model by using FA-targeted Fe3O4 NPs as contrast agents
Summary
Improved methods for the early and specific detection of ovarian cancer are needed. Ovarian cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world, accounting 4 % of all cancers in women [1], and it is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies in the western world [2, 3]. Most ovarian cancers are first diagnosed in an advanced stage because patients’ symptoms may be minimal or nonspecific and no reliable biomarkers are available [4]. The MR diagnostic criteria for ovarian malignancies are based on morphology: thick septum, vegetations, ascites, lymphadenopathy, and vividly enhancing solid component, which are features well described in numerous reports [8, 9]. Identification of the tumor tissues at an early stage with available imaging modalities still possesses a great challenge for both radiologists and clinicians
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