Molecular imaging of immune checkpoints in oncology: Current and future applications. (1st November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ge, Shushan; Jia, Tongtong; Li, Jihui; Zhang, Bin; Deng, Shengming; Sang, Shibiao
• Is Part Of: Cancer letters. Volume 548(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11-01
• Subjects: Cancers -- Immune checkpoint proteins -- Immunotherapy -- Immune checkpoint inhibitors -- Nuclide molecular imaging; ICIs Immune checkpoint inhibitors -- PD-1 Programmed cell death protein 1 -- PD-L1 Programmed death ligand-1 -- CTLA-4 Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 -- irAEs immune-related adverse events -- RCC renal cell carcinoma -- HNSCC head and neck squamous cell carcinoma -- mAbs monoclonal antibodies -- FDA Food and Drug Administration -- MSI-H microsatellite instability-high -- dMMR DNA mismatch repair deficient -- TMB tumor mutational burden -- IHC immunohistochemistry -- TME tumor microenvironment -- Treg regulatory T cell -- TILs tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes -- PFS progression-free survival -- OS overall survival -- LAG-3 lymphocyte activation gene-3 -- TIGIT T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains -- NK natural killer -- DCs dendritic cells -- SPECT single-photon emission computed tomography -- PET positron emission tomography -- NSCLC non-small cell lung cancer; Cancer -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215896
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3835

Abstract

Abstract: Immune checkpoint (IC) blockade therapy has become the first-line treatment for various cancers. However, the low response rate and acquired drug resistance severely restrict the clinical application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Nuclide molecular imaging of ICs can provide non-invasive and whole-body visualization of in vivo IC dynamic biodistribution. Therefore, molecular imaging of ICs can predict and monitor responses to ICIs as a complementary tool to existing immunohistochemical techniques. Herein, we outlined the current status and recent advances in molecular imaging of the "first-generation" and "next-generation" ICs in preclinical and clinical studies. Highlights: Blockade of immune checkpoints such as CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 has dramatically changed clinical oncology over the past decade. Molecular imaging allows non-invasive, quantitative and repetitive assessment of immune checkpoints distribution in vivo. Noninvasive imaging of immune checkpoints can guide cancer immunotherapy into the era of precision medicine. We focused on the molecular probes used in preclinical and clinical PET/SPECT imaging studies targeting immune checkpoints.