In vivo and in situ imaging of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using near-infrared fluorescent quantum dot probes conjugated with epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies in mice

• Published in: Oncology reports Vol. 27; no. 6; pp. 1925 - 1931
• Main Authors: KAI YANG, CHENG ZHAO, CAO, Yu-An, HONG TANG, BAI, Yun-Long, HAO HUANG, ZHAO, Chuen-Rong, RUI CHEN, DAN ZHAO
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Athens Spandidos 01.06.2012
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnosis; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Cell Line, Tumor; Diagnostic Imaging - methods; ErbB Receptors - biosynthesis; ErbB Receptors - immunology; Fluorescent Dyes; Head and Neck Neoplasms - diagnosis; Head and Neck Neoplasms - pathology; Infrared Rays; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Nude; Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous); Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Quantum Dots; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Tumors; Quantum dot; in vivo imaging; In situ; Rodentia; Malignant tumor; Monoclonal antibody; Epidermal growth factor receptor; In vivo; Vertebrata; Growth factor receptor; Mammalia; Cancerology; Mouse; Animal; ENT disease; Head and neck cancer; Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Medical imagery; Cancer
• ISSN: 1021-335X; 1791-2431
• DOI: 10.3892/or.2012.1705

In this study, we applied near-infrared fluorescent quantum dots (NIRF-QDs) for non-invasive in vivo and in situ imaging of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The U14 squamous cancer cell line with high expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was implanted subcutaneously into the head and neck regions of nude mice to establish HNSCC models. NIRF-QDs with an emission wavelength of 800 nm (NIRF-QD800) were conjugated with EGFR monoclonal antibodies to develop the QD800-EGFR Ab probe. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that the QD800-EGFR Ab probe can specifically bind EGFR expressed on U14 cells. U14 squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck can be clearly visualized by in vivo imaging after intravenous injection of QD800-EGFR Ab probes. The results suggested that in situ imaging using NIRF-QD-EGFR Ab probes has unique advantages and prospects for the investigation of tumor development, early diagnosis and personalized therapy of HNSCC.