MRI can track clinically applicable labeled natural killer (NK) cells with a 12-hour labeling time, according to a new study.
In “MRI Monitoring Transcatheter Intraarterial Delivery of Clinical Magnetically Labeled Natural Killer Adoptive Immunotherapy,” one of the Featured Abstracts at SIR 2023 (which will be presented on Wednesday, March 8, 3 p.m., Room 222AB of the Phoenix Convention Center), researchers used a rat model with a liver tumor to test whether transcatheter intrahepatic arterial (IHA) NK infusion improves cell-homing efficacy in targeted tumors compared with intravenous injection. They also sought to see whether serial MRI monitoring of NK cell migration in targeted tumors is an effective early biomarker to predict long-term efficacy.
“NK cells aren’t destructive to the human body,” said Aydin Eresen, PhD, one of the researchers. “They can kill cancer cells without damaging the surrounding structures, which makes them great candidates for various types of treatment.”
According to researchers, the existing techniques and therapies for cancers—such as liver cancer—need more research to improve the efficacy and longitudinal monitoring for efficacy.
“In our lab, we have developed a new methodology that can provide functional information that allows assessment of key biomarkers that can direct our therapies,” said Farouk Nouizi, PhD.
Researchers combined three drugs (heparin, protamine and ferumoxytol) to create nanocomplexes for magnetic NK labeling. This allowed for researchers to track the distribution of the NK cells using MRI. 24 rat models were put into three cohorts: a saline infusion control group, a transcatheter IHA NK infusion group and an IV NK infusion group. The rat models were checked via MRI from baseline to 8 days later.
According to researchers, there was a significant difference in tumor values within 24 hours in the transcatheter NK delivery group compared to the IV NK infusion group. At 8 days, all three groups had significant differences in tumor volume.
Theses results indicate that MRI is an effective tool for tracking labeled NK cells with a 12-hour labeling time. It also indicates that transcatheter IHA infusion, rather than IV infusion, improves NK cell homing and immunotherapeutic efficiency.
From an imaging perspective, this technique will provide a new tool for clinical evaluation, Dr. Nouizi said, and this technique will hopefully enable physicians to evaluate their protocols and standardize their methods.
“Immunotherapy is the future cancer treatment, and we want to create a technique that combines imaging and immunotherapy that can be used across all kinds of cancers,” said lead researcher Zhouli Zhang, PhD. “Everything we are doing can be translated into practice and clinical study.”
Dr. Eresen added that all drugs used in their study are FDA-approved, so these results can translate directly into clinical study.
Researchers have additional trials planned and currently running, as well as several other papers that have been submitted to SIR 2023.
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