Abstract 4163: Improving the dynamic range of pH low insertion peptides for targeted imaging of pancreatic tumors

Abstract Objective: Current intraoperative imaging modalities such as near-infrared fluorescent imaging (NIR) or ultrasound are limited due to operator experience and depth, and targeted imaging of pancreatic tumors would be beneficial. However, specific pancreatic tumor biomarkers available for targeting in a novel imaging protocol are lacking. As such, we focus on developing a novel targeted imaging paradigm utilizing multispectral optoacoustic imaging (MSOT) to target the acidic microenvironment of pancreatic tumors. Peptides know as pH low insertion peptides (pHLIPs) when bound to dye allow for contrasted imaging selectively based on pH using MSOT. We have identified the need for a pHLIP with improved dynamic range to improve imaging accuracy. Here, we synthesize the novel pHLIP V7FS for comparison to V3 with aims of improving the dynamic range of imaging with MSOT in pancreatic cancer. Methods: Using microwave chemistry, V7FS and V3 were synthesized with 90% purity. Peptides were conjugated to HiLyte 750 dye, and peptide-dye conjugation confirmed via spectroscopy. Intraoperative measurements of human pancreatic tumor and surrounding uninvolved tissue were obtained using a microsensor. Near-infrared fluorescent imaging was used to measure probe uptake in S2VP10 and S2013 pancreatic cancer cells lines grown in pH specific media (7. 4, 6. 8, 6. 6) in replicates. MSOT was then used to image probes in phantoms mimicking tissue and then in mice with pancreatic tumors from orthotopically implanted S2VP10. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA. Results: Compared to surrounding uninvolved pancreatic tissue, human pancreatic tumor was more acidic with pH 6. 2-6. 7 vs 7. 2-7. 3 (p0. 01). Signal at pH 7. 4, 6. 8 and 6. 6 was higher for V7FS-750 compared to V3-750 (p=0. 0105). Signal for V7FS-750 was centered around pH 6. 6 and signal for V3-750 centered around pH 6. 8. Interaction between probe and pH did not reach significance (p=0. 745). Peak uptake in orthotopic murine models was observed at 3 hours following intravenous injection. Conclusions: V7FS-750 was shown to have higher signal accumulation compared to V3-750 favoring a more acidic environment (pH 6. 6 vs pH 6. 8). This novel pHLIP was demonstrated to be viable for use in an imaging paradigm utilizing MSOT in an orthotopic murine model. Continued improvement in the dynamic range of these probes is promising for the use of pHLIPS in imaging of pancreatic cancer with MSOT. Citation Format: Ryan Bynum, Emma Sanderson, Barish H. Edil, Ajay Jain, Lacey R. McNally. Improving the dynamic range of pH low insertion peptides for targeted imaging of pancreatic tumors abstract. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts) ; 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84 (6Suppl): Abstract nr 4163.