Background:The recent introduction of a dynamic nuclear polarisation technique has permitted noninvasive imaging of tumour cell metabolism in vivo following intravenous administration of 13C-labelled cell substrates.Methods:Changes in hyperpolarised [1-13C]pyruvate and [1,4-13C2]fumarate metabolism were evaluated in both MDA-MB-231 cells and in implanted MDA-MB-231 tumours following doxorubicin treatment.Results:Treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells resulted in the induction of apoptosis, which was accompanied by a decrease in hyperpolarised 13C label flux between [1-13C]pyruvate and lactate, which was correlated with a decrease in the cellular NAD(H) coenzyme pool. There was also an increase in the rate of fumarate conversion to malate, which accompanied the onset of cellular necrosis. In vivo, the decrease in 13C label exchange between pyruvate and lactate and the increased flux between fumarate and malate, following drug treatment, were shown to occur in the absence of any detectable change in tumour size.Conclusion:We show here that the early responses of a human breast adenocarcinoma tumour model to drug treatment can be followed by administration of both hyperpolarised [1-13C]pyruvate and [1,4-13C2]fumarate. These techniques could be used, therefore, in the clinic to detect the early responses of breast tumours to treatment.

The Gd(3+)-DO3A-arylsulphonamide (DO3A-SA) complex is a promising pH-sensitive MRI agent. The stability constants of the DO3A-SA and DO3A complexes formed with Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Mn(2+), Zn(2+), and Cu(2+) ions are similar, whereas the logKLnL values of Ln(DO3A-SA) complexes are 2 orders of magnitude higher than those of the Ln(DO3A) complexes. The protonation constant (log KMHL) of the sulphonamide nitrogen in the Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Mn(2+), Zn(2+), and Cu(2+) complexes is very similar to that of the free ligand, whereas the logKLnHL values of the Ln(DO3A-SA) complexes are lower by about 4 logK units, indicating a strong interaction between the Ln(3+) ions and the sulphonamide N atom. The Ln(HDO3A-SA) complexes are formed via triprotonated *Ln(H3DO3A-SA) intermediates which rearrange to the final complex in an OH(-)-assisted deprotonation process. The transmetalation reaction of Gd(HDO3A-SA) with Cu(2+) is very slow (t1/2 = 5.6 × 10(3) h at pH = 7.4), and it mainly occurs through proton-assisted dissociation of the complex. The (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra of the La-, Eu-, Y-, and Lu(DO3A-SA) complexes have been assigned using 2D correlation spectroscopy (COSY, EXSY, HSQC). Two sets of signals are observed for Eu-, Y-, and Lu(DO3A-SA), showing two coordination isomers in solution, that is, square antiprismatic (SAP) and twisted square antiprismatic (TSAP) geometries with ratios of 86-14, 93-7, and 94-6%, respectively. Line shape analysis of the (13)C NMR spectra of La-, Y- , and Lu(DO3A-SA) gives higher rates and lower activation entropy values compared to Ln(DOTA) for the arm rotation, which indicates that the Ln(DO3A-SA) complexes are less rigid due to the larger flexibility of the ethylene group in the sulphonamide pendant arm. The fast isomerization and the lower activation parameters of Ln(DO3A-SA) have been confirmed by theoretical calculations in vacuo and by using the polarizable continuum model. The solid state X-ray structure of Cu(H2DO3A-SA) shows distorted octahedral coordination. The coordination sites of Cu(2+) are occupied by two ring N- and two carboxylate O-atoms in equatorial position. The other two ring N-atoms complete the coordination sphere in axial positions. The solid state structure also indicates that a carboxylate O atom and the sulphonamide nitrogen are protonated and noncoordinated.

Four novel MRI Gd(III)-based probes have been synthesized and evaluated for their labeling properties on cultured cell lines K562, C6, and B16. The labeling strategy relies upon the fact that cells display a large number of reactive exofacial protein thiols (EPTs) that can be exploited as anchorage points for suitably activated MRI probes. The probes are composed of a Gd(III) chelate (based on either DO3A or DTPA) connected through a flexible linker to the 2-pyridyldithio chemical function for binding to EPTs. GdDO3A-based chelates could efficiently label cells (up to a level of 1.2 x 10(10) Gd(III) atoms/cell), whereas GdDTPA-based chelates showed poor or no cell labeling ability at all. Among the GdDO3A based compounds, that having the longest spacer (compound GdL1A) showed the best labeling efficacy. The mechanism of EPT mediated cell labeling by GdL1A involves probe internalization without sequestration of the Gd(III) chelate within subcellular structures such as endosomes.

The in vitro validation of a new pH mapping MRI method based on a supramolecular poly-beta-cyclodextrin-19F-Gd adduct is reported.

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