Detecting Immune Response to Therapies Targeting PDL1 and BRAF by Using Ferumoxytol MRI and Macrin in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

Radiology. 2021 Jan;298(1):123-132. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2020201791. Epub 2020 Oct 27.

Abstract

Background Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is aggressive with a poor prognosis, partly because of the immunosuppressive microenvironment created by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Purpose To understand the relationship between TAM infiltration, tumor vascularization, and corresponding drug delivery by using ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI and macrin in an ATC mouse model. Materials and Methods ATC tumors were generated in 6-8-week-old female B6129SF1/J mice through intrathyroid injection to model orthotopic tumors, or intravenously to model hematogenous metastasis, and prospectively enrolled randomly into treatment cohorts (n = 94 total; August 1, 2018, to January 15, 2020). Mice were treated with vehicle or combined serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf (BRAF) kinase inhibitor (BRAFi) and anti-PDL1 antibody (aPDL1). A subset was cotreated with therapies, including an approximately 70-nm model drug delivery nanoparticle (DDNP) to target TAM, and an antibody-neutralizing colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R). Imaging was performed at the macroscopic level with ferumoxytol-MRI and microscopically with macrin. Genetically engineered BrafV600E/WT p53-null allografts were used and complemented by a GFP-transgenic derivative and human xenografts. Tumor-bearing organs were processed by using tissue clearing and imaged with confocal microscopy and MRI. Two-tailed Wilcoxon tests were used for comparison (≥five per group). Results TAM levels were higher in orthotopic thyroid tumors compared with pulmonary metastatic lesions by 79% ± 23 (standard deviation; P < .001). These findings were concordant with ferumoxytol MRI, which showed 136% ± 88 higher uptake in thyroid lesions (P = .02) compared with lung lesions. BRAFi and aPDL1 combination therapy resulted in higher tumor DDNP delivery by 39% ± 14 in pulmonary lesions (P = .004). Compared with the untreated group, tumors following BRAFi, aPDL1, and CSF1R-blocking antibody combination therapy did not show greater levels of TAM or DDNP (P = .82). Conclusion In a mouse model of anaplastic thyroid cancer, ferumoxytol MRI showed 136% ± 88 greater uptake in orthotopic thyroid tumors compared with pulmonary lesions, which reflected high vascularization and greater tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) levels. Serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf inhibitor and anti-programmed death ligand 1 antibody elicited higher local TAM levels and 43% ± 20 greater therapeutic nanoparticle delivery but not higher vascularization in pulmonary tumors. © RSNA, 2020 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Luker in this issue.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / immunology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Ferrosoferric Oxide
  • Immunity / immunology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / immunology
  • Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic / diagnostic imaging*
  • Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic / drug therapy*
  • Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic / immunology
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • atezolizumab
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
  • Ferrosoferric Oxide