NU 2008-067

Inventors

Teresa Woodruff   

Thomas Meade*   

Preeti Sukerkar   

Jiyoun Lee 

Short Description

Cell-permeable steroid hormone-targeted magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents.

Abstract

Northwestern researchers have synthesized Gd(III)-chelated steroids that target steroid hormone receptors, including progesterone, estrogen and androgen receptors. The compositions provide novel contrast agents for MRI diagnosis. The water soluble complexes are cell-permeable and label cells and tissues expressing the targeted receptor at lower in vitro and in vivo toxicity than the more hydrophobic ProGlo MRI agent. Receptor status can be used to diagnose, non-invasively, prevalent diseases, such as breast, ovarian, endometrial and prostate cancers, as well as a measure of receptor-positive or -negative status to determine the best course of treatment. 

Applications

• Determination of receptor-positive or receptor-negative tumor status
• Detection, characterization and monitoring of steroid-related diseases

Advantages

• Non-invasive
• Enables targeted imaging
• Enables spatial and temporal imaging

Publication 

Lee J, Burdette J, MacRenaris K, Mustafi D, Woodruff T, Meade T (2007) Rational design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of progesterone-modified MRI contrast agents. Chemistry & Biology, 14(7):824-34

Sukerkar P, MacRenaris K, Townsend T, Ahmed R, Burdette J, and Meade T (2011) Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Water-Soluble Progesterone-Conjugated Probes for Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Hormone Related Cancers. Bioconjugate Chemistry. 22, 2304-2316 

IP Status

Issued US Patent No:8,580,231