In vivo optoacoustic imaging of endothelin receptor expression and treatment response in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment.

Purpose: A hypoxic tumor microenvironment promotes cancer progression, with endothelin-A receptor (ETAR) signaling playing a key role in tumor neoangiogenesis and macrophage infiltration. We hypothesize that multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) using an ETAR-specific probe could provide impr...

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Published in:European Journal of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging Vol. 53; no. 2; pp. 1331 - 1343
Main Authors: Höltke, Carsten, Mallik, Moushami, Stölting, Miriam, Hoffmann, Emily, Geyer, Christiane, Erapaneedi, Raghu, Kiefer, Friedemann, Helfen, Anne
Format: Journal Article
Published: Springer Nature Jan2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jan2026
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      pub: Springer Nature
      place: New York, New York
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        191135979
        187294579
        10.1007/s00259-025-07494-7
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        atl: In vivo optoacoustic imaging of endothelin receptor expression and treatment response in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment.
      aug:
        au:
          Höltke, Carsten
          Mallik, Moushami
          Stölting, Miriam
          Hoffmann, Emily
          Geyer, Christiane
          Erapaneedi, Raghu
          Kiefer, Friedemann
          Helfen, Anne
        affil: https://ror.org/01856cw59 Clinic for Radiology, University of Muenster and University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
      sug:
      ab: Purpose: A hypoxic tumor microenvironment promotes cancer progression, with endothelin-A receptor (ETAR) signaling playing a key role in tumor neoangiogenesis and macrophage infiltration. We hypothesize that multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) using an ETAR-specific probe could provide improved insights into the hypoxic characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME), either alone or in combination with endogenous markers, and that alterations in ETAR expression may correlate with increased tumor oxygenation serving as an early indicator of response to anti-angiogenic or immune-modulating therapy. Methods: A fluorescent ETAR probe was applied for in vivo MSOT evaluation of ETAR expression in hypoxic murine breast cancer. Optoacoustic signal intensity (SI) of deoxygenated and oxygenated hemoglobin served as additive intrinsic readouts. Furthermore, therapeutic interventions utilizing Bevacizumab, Clodronate and Sorafenib were evaluated with regard to effects on ETAR expression and hemoglobin oxygen saturation. Imaging results were validated ex vivo via immunohistochemistry. Results: Exposure of 4T1 murine breast cancer cells to hypoxic conditions led to upregulation of ETAR in vitro. In vivo, tumor growth correlated with increased ETAR probe signal intensity in 4T1 tumors. All therapeutic interventions significantly reduced ETAR SI following treatment. Anti-angiogenic therapies also increased tumor oxygen saturation, indicating therapy-induced re-oxygenation. Conclusion: ETAR expression in hypoxic tumor regions can be visualized non-invasively by MSOT using an exogenously administered targeted probe. Combining ETAR-targeted imaging with intrinsic hemoglobin readouts enables assessment of reoxygenation and immune cell modulation in response to therapy. Thus, ETAR has potential as an in vivo imaging biomarker for early therapy response in experimental breast cancer studies.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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