Sp17 was found in 66% of endometrial cancers (11), and 61% 3-MA mw of cervical cancers [14] in our previous work. As the expression of Sp17 in normal tissue is limited and its function is obscure, it is reasonable to predict that aberrant expression of Sp17 in malignant tumors could be a molecular marker for tumor imaging diagnosis and targeting therapy of the diseases. Molecular imaging methods permit noninvasive detection of cellular and molecular events by using highly specific probes and gene reporters in living animals, some of which can be directly translated to patient studies. A novel optical imaging technique in cancer is the use of near-infrared (NIR) light (700 to 900 nm) to monitor

the site and size of the cancers [15]. The fundamental advantage of imaging in the NIR range is that photon penetration into living tissue is higher because of lower photon absorption and scatter [16]. An additional advantage is that tissue emits limited intrinsic fluorescence (i.e., autofluorescence) in the 700 nm to 900 nm range. Therefore, fluorescence contrast

agents that emit in the NIR range demonstrate a favorable signal-to-background ratio(SBR) when Go6983 used in animal models or for patient care, especially for endoscopy. Optical imaging is a very versatile, sensitive, and powerful tool for molecular imaging in small animals. The near infrared fluorescence dye ICG-Der-02 (indocyanine Green derivative 02) is a derivative of indocyanine green (ICG), which was approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to be used in human subjects. Compared to ICG, the self-synthesized ICG-Der-02 organic dye holds favorable hydrophilicity click here and higher fluorescence quantum yield with excitation and emission peaks at 780 nm and 810 nm,

respectively. ICG-Der-02 offers one carboxyl functional group on the side chain which enables the dye to be covalently conjugated to the biomarker for in vivo optical imaging [17]. In this study, we first demonstrated the overexpression of Sp17 in the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 and in xenografts in mice. After synthesis of anti-Sp17-ICG-Der-02, we evaluated the targeting effect of anti-Sp17-ICG-Der-02 on tumors in vivo with a whole-body optical imaging system in animal models. Materials and methods Cell line and monoclonal antibody The human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 Wortmannin expresses high levels of Sp17 and was used for in vitro and in vivo experiments, Sp17- HO8910 ovarian cancer cell line used as negative control. The cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium (Invitrogen) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (Hyclone) in a humidified incubator maintained at 37°C with 5% CO2 atmosphere and medium was replaced every 3 days. The anti-human Sp17 monoclonal antibody clone 3C12 was produced in our laboratory as previously described [14].