Molecular imaging and targeted therapy of the aggressive phenotype: development of uPAR theranostics for cancer patients

Project Information

uPET

Grant agreement ID: 670261

DOI

10.3030/670261

Project closed

EC signature date 7 September 2015

Start date 1 October 2015

End date 31 March 2021

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 2 072 000,00

EU contribution

€ 2 072 000,00

Coordinated by

REGION HOVEDSTADEN
Denmark

Periodic Reporting for period 4 - uPET (Molecular imaging and targeted therapy of the aggressive phenotype: development of uPAR theranostics for cancer patients)

Reporting period: 2020-04-01 to 2021-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

For practice of personalized medicine in cancer, non-invasive tools for diagnosing at the molecular level are needed. Molecular imaging methods are capable of this while at the same time circumventing sampling error as the whole tumor burden is evaluated.

Based on our recent breakthrough with the the first-ever clinical PET scan of uPAR, a proteolytic system known to be strongly associated with metastatic potential in most cancer forms, we sought to develop new tools for improving personalized medicine in cancer. We worked along lines that could improve surgery, improve therapy planning and finally uPAR-targeted radionuclide therapy. The ambition was to demonstrate that the new concept of uPAR-targeted technologies could fulfill significant unmet needs in prostate and other cancer types.

The aim of the project was to develop, evaluate and translate into patients, new and highly innovative molecular imaging methods with PET and optical imaging demonstrating the aggressiveness and metastatic potential of cancers. This was successfully achieved. Also work with radionuclide therapy in preclinical models was undertaken. Together, these methods will support practicing personalized medicine in cancer patients.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Most important achievements
• Development of uPAR-PET imaging for imaging of the aggressive cancer phenotype. We translated the technology into first-in-human use and have initiated several phase II clinical trials. Most notably, we have demonstrated in prostate cancer that we can use uPAR-PET/MR as a non-invasive biopsy, replacing random, invasive biopsies which are hampered by side effects as bleeding and infection. So far, more than 400 patients with various cancer types have been scanned with the technology.
• Development of uPAR-targeted optical imaging for delineation of tumors during surgery. Following an array of preclinical proof-of-concept studies demonstrating how uPAR optical imaging could assist in cancer surgery, we were ready to prepare for clinical use. The technology was out-licensed to a spin-out company, FluoGuide, that is currently undertaking a first-in-human phase I/IIa study. So far, 18 patients with brain cancer have successfully received the optical probe.
• Development of uPAR targeting radionuclide therapy for the invasive cancer phenotype. We have continued our work with uPAR-targeting radionuclide therapy using 177Lu as the radioisotope (beta-emitter with range of 1 mm). Here, we have focused on development of a next-generation ligand and successfully synthesized a new ligand that has demonstrated improved binding to uPAR compared to our starting molecule. We will continue this work in order to proceed into humans once a sufficiently high uptake and retention in the tumors have been observed.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Novel concepts of using uPAR targeting for PET imaging, radionuclide therapy and optical imaging. We expect the technologies to be translated into human testing during the project.

uPAR optical imaging