Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide. More than 80% of these are Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancers (NSCLC). They are often discovered in an advanced stage because there are no specific early symptoms. Like all cancers that are diagnosed very late, NSCLC show an unfavorable prognosis with a low relative 5-year survival rate of about 22% for women and 17% for men. Moreover, this cancer preferably metastasizes to the brain and skeletal system, which causes severe disease.

A large subset of NSCLC, lung adenocarcinomas, are not always easily discerned by established medical imaging protocols, calling for improved diagnosis by advanced methods. For advanced-stage patients not amenable to surgical treatment, new therapy options are needed.

The biomarker αvβ6-integrin is correlated to poor prognosis of NSCLC patients, since it has the ability to enhance TGFβ activity in cancer cells [1]. TRIMT's joint research with academic partners has revealed that almost 80% of human lung adenocarcinomas indeed show a medium or strong αvβ6-integrin expression, amenable for clinical PET imaging (see Image).

Immunohistochemical analysis of β6-integrin expression in human non-small-cell lung cancer specimen. Expression scores of 2 and 3 are expected to result in a high contrast in Ga-68-Trivehexin PET. Data produced in collaboration with Dr. Tanja Groll, Dr. Simone Ballke, PD Dr. Katja Steiger (Technical University of Munich) and Radiopharm Theranostics.

The αvβ6-integrin targeted PET tracer Ga-68-Trivehexin has proven its ability to visualize lung adenocarcinoma cells in preclinical models [2]. A high value of Ga-68-Trivehexin for clinical PET imaging of NSCLC is thus anticipated. Corresponding radionuclide therapeutics are currently being developed by TRIMT, with the aim to add novel therapeutic options for patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

[1] Sheppard, D. Roles of αv integrins in vascular biology and pulmonary pathology. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 2004;16:552-557.

[2] Quigley, NG, et al., Eur. J. Nucl. Med. Mol. Imaging 2022;49:1136–1147. doi: 10.1007/s00259-021-05559-x https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00259-021-05559-x