In vivo imaging and therapy using labeled antibody derivatives

Glycans play a central role in numerous events in cell-cell recognition, cell communication and cell mobility. Errors in glycan architecture and expression level can lead to pathologies such as cancer. Tumor Associated Carbohydrate Antigens (TACA) are specific glycans that can serve as biomarkers for tumor diagnostics as is already the case for carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA). This project will focus on the xeno-glycan Neu5Gc (N-glycolylneuraminic acid) and the onco-fetal glycan Globo-H (globoside H type 3 trisaccharide) as new targets for in vivo imaging with theranostic potential. Both glycans, detected on the outer cell membrane in breast, ovarian and gastrointestinal cancer, are in clinical studies as antigen for anti-tumor vaccination. We want to investigate the use of fluorine-labeled small biomolecules for visualization of Neu5Gc and Globo-H expression on tumors. Antibodies are suboptimal for in vivo imaging because they require a relatively long waiting time between injection and imaging, necessitating the use of relatively long-lived radionuclides. Depending on the contrast and the pharmacokinetics, the biomolecules will be examined for targeted radionuclide therapy.