Abstract 4938: In vivo visualization using two-photon laser scanning microscopy of anti-c-MET antibody in peritoneal metastatic gastric cancer
Authors: Ide Shozo , Tanaka Koji , Shimura Tadanobu , Okigami Masato , Kondo Satoru , Kitajima Takahito , Imaoka Hiroki , Okugawa Yoshinaga , Saigusa Susumu , Toiyama Yuji , Yasuda Hiromi , Ohi Masaki , Inoue Yasuhiro , Araki Toshimitsu , Uchida Keiichi , Mohri Yasuhiko , Kusunoki Masato 
Published: May 2015

Background: c-MET (hepatocyte growth factor receptor) gene is overexpressed in approximately 20% of gastric cancer. Onartuzumab, a MET-selective humanized one-armed monoclonal antibody, has been studied in metastatic Met-positive non-small cell lung cancer and expected to be introduced to MET-positive gastric cancer. Two-photon laser scanning microscopy (TPLSM) has revolutionized in vivo real-time imaging because of the benefits of higher resolution, increased tissue penetration, and reduced photodamage. We established a method of intravital imaging for intra-abdominal organs using TPLSM with an organ stabilizing system (Japanese Patent No.5268282).

Aim: To visualize the binding of fluorescence labeled-antibody to its receptor of cancer cells in peritoneal metastatic xenografts of living mice using a TPLSM.

Method: Human gastric cancer cell lines (NUGC4) were inoculated into the peritoneal cavity of green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing nude mice to make macroscopic peritoneal metastases. In vitro study, the binding of Zenon Alexa

Fluor 594 labeled anti-c-MET antibody to viable NUGC4 cells was imaged using fluorescence microscopy. In vivo study, the binding of fluorescence labeled-antibody to viable NUGC4 cells of peritoneal metastatic xenografts was imaged using a TPLSM.

Result: Zenon Alexa Fluor 594 labeled anti-c-MET antibody (red) was bound to the surface of viable NUGC4 cells, and clearly visualized under a fluorescence microscopy. Peritoneal metastases with label-free NUGC4 cells (black) and murine stromal cells (green) were imaged under TPLSM in vivo real-time. Fluorescence labeled-antibody could be visualized within tumor vessels of peritoneal metastases after its intravenous administration. Thereafter, label-free NUGC4 cells were identified by the binding of fluorescence labeled- anti-c-MET antibody to c-MET of NUGC4 cells.

Conclusion: We could visualize fluorescence labeled-antibody in peritoneal metastases of gastric cancer in living mice using a TPLSM. The binding of fluorescence labeled- anti-c-MET antibody to c-MET of viable NUGC4 cells was clearly imaged at high magnification and high resolution in vivo real-time. It is valuable to develop a method of in vivo optical pathology for therapeutic monoclonal antibodies using MPM on metastatic tumor xenografts.

Citation Format: Shozo Ide, Koji Tanaka, Tadanobu Shimura, Masato Okigami, Satoru Kondo, Takahito Kitajima, Hiroki Imaoka, Yoshinaga Okugawa, Susumu Saigusa, Yuji Toiyama, Hiromi Yasuda, Masaki Ohi, Yasuhiro Inoue, Toshimitsu Araki, Keiichi Uchida, Yasuhiko Mohri, Masato Kusunoki. In vivo visualization using two-photon laser scanning microscopy of anti-c-MET antibody in peritoneal metastatic gastric cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4938. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4938