HProCA32.Collagen, a protein-based MRI contrast agent, can detect lung tumors and metastases without radiation exposure, enabling earlier diagnosis of invasive lung cancer and multiorgan metastasis than traditional imaging methods.
- The innovative hProCA32.Collagen MRI agent detects lung tumors and metastases as small as 1 millimeter
- The agent targets collagen type I, a structural protein found at elevated levels in aggressive lung lesions and metastatic tumors
- The method provides insights into cancer aggressiveness and spread likelihood, potentially reducing the need for invasive biopsies
A novel protein-based MRI contrast agent can identify lung tumors and metastases as small as one millimeter. Jenny J. Yang, PhD, MS, led the development of the precision MRI method that can detect invasive lung cancer as well as metastatic disease at earlier stages than traditional imaging approaches.
The research paper, “Early Detection of Invasive Lung Cancer and Multiorgan Metastasis by a Collagen-Targeted Protein MRI Contrast Agent,” was published in Science Advances.
“Lung cancer is often diagnosed only after it has spread, when treatment options become more limited,” said Dr. Yang, who is Regents’ Professor Emerita of biochemistry and biophysical chemistry at Georgia State University in Atlanta, in a news release. “Our technology can detect tiny tumors and hidden metastases without exposing patients to radiation. It also helps reveal how aggressive a cancer may be and how likely it is to spread, potentially reducing the need for invasive biopsies.”
The MRI contrast agent, hProCA32.Collagen, targets collagen type I, a structural protein found at heightened levels in aggressive lung lesions and metastatic tumors. Specifically, the agent can detect abnormal collagen development within the tumor microenvironment. The biomarker-targeting approach enhances the imaging process and enables earlier and more accurate diagnosis of cancerous cells, the researchers said.
Partly funded by the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Yang’s research combines innovative imaging technology with complex models of cancer metastasis, allowing clinicians to pinpoint invasive lung cancer and its spread. In preclinical trials, the sophisticated approach was particularly effective at identifying lung adenocarcinomas caused by certain mutations that are frequently prone to multiorgan metastasis and resistant to treatment.
According to the researchers, hProCA32.Collagen also captures collagen remodeling in tumors, which can help classify metastatic risk, guide treatment selection and monitor therapeutic response in a noninvasive manner.
“This is a game changer for cancer diagnosis and precision medicine,” Dr. Yang said. “For the first time, we’ve shown that precision MRI can detect tiny tumors and whole body metastases without using harmful radiation while also providing important clues about how aggressively a cancer may behave.”
The team plans to submit an Investigational New Drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct clinical trials.
