Recent Advances and Future Perspectives in Radiolabeled Antibody Fragments for Breast Cancer Molecular Imaging

Reza  Gerami; Mana  Altafi; Zahra  Shahpar; Ensieh  Izadpanah; Siamak  Soltani; Omid  Naderloo; Ali  Tarighatnia

doi:10.18502/fbt.v11i4.16517

Reza Gerami Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mana Altafi Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Shiraz Pardis Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
Zahra Shahpar Health and Medical Department, Immunology, koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
Ensieh Izadpanah Tabesh Imaging Center, Shiraz, Iran
Siamak Soltani Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Omid Naderloo Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Gorgan Branch, Gorgan, Iran
Ali Tarighatnia Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/fbt.v11i4.16517

Keywords: Breast Cancer; Antibody-Based Imaging; Radiolabel; Molecular Imaging; Nanobody.

Abstract

Breast Cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women and the most common cancer worldwide. It is classified based on its anatomical origin, the presence of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER-2), and the presence of Estrogen Receptor (ER) and/or Progesterone Receptor (PR). Around 20% of breast cancers are HER-2 positive. While biopsy-based diagnoses are valuable in clinical settings, they have limitations in terms of sampling and interpretation. However, laboratory tests such as Immunohistochemistry (IHC) or Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) are also limited, including being time-consuming, expensive, and requiring specialized equipment. Ongoing research and technological advancements aim to address the challenges associated with biopsy-based diagnoses and laboratory tests to develop more accurate and efficient methods for assessing HER-2 status. To this end, various radioactively labeled proteins and small compounds, such as single-chain variable Fragments (scFv), F(ab')2, affibody, and nanobody, have been developed to target HER-2 using molecular array techniques. These smaller targeted compounds offer improved image quality, shorter circulating half-life, and reduced immunogenicity compared to their larger counterparts. This is due to their better biodistribution, clearance, and stability. This study investigates the current understanding and ongoing efforts in utilizing antibody fragments for molecular imaging. The specific objectives were to evaluate the advantages of antibody fragments over full-length antibodies regarding biodistribution, clearance, and stability. Additionally, this study aims to assess the current knowledge and ongoing research in utilizing antibody fragments for molecular imaging.