Well over a thousand patients have now received chemically distinct, nano-encapsulated chemotherapeutics, generally showing lower toxicity, increased tumoral accumulation of payloads and occasionally improved progression free survival. Experimentally, an even larger number of new constructs and approaches have been pioneered by Nanotechnology Alliance members and other groups. Testing in mice usually involves measuring tumor sizes, survival or the use of histopathology and other molecular diagnostics. Yet, despite these advances, much less is known on how these nanomaterials actually work or fail in vivo, what the spatial and temporal heterogeneity is and how efficacy can be improved. Armed with new biological insight from recent feasibility studies leading to this application (Sci Transl Med, 2015;7,314ra183; Nat Comm 2015;6,8692) and the recent developments of new in vivo imaging technologies (Nat Commun 2013;4,1504; PLoS One 2013;8:e60988; Nat Methods. 2015;12:577-585; ChemMedChem 2014;9:1131-5) we are now able to address these important cancer nanotechnology questions in ways that were not previously possible. The goal of this project is to perform imaging analyses of therapeutic nanoparticles, addressing key questions on nanoparticle distribution (pharmacokinetics, PK) and cellular response (pharmacodynamics, PD): i) why aren't current clinical TNP more efficient (aim 1); ii) how much does tumor targeting with affinity ligands help to improve efficacy (aim 2) and iii) can we select responders from non-responders by nanoparticle enhanced MR imaging (aim 3)? We hypothesize that a considerable proportion of tumor cell accumulation is mediated by tumoral myeloid cells (macrophages) rather than by cancer cells, offering a new strategy to further enhance efficacy. To the best of our knowledge, this project is complementary to existing Alliance projects and will be useful to other Alliance members across the consortium through future interactions. It will also provide a much needed biological understanding of nanoparticle enhanced MR imaging findings to interpret clinical data.

Public Health Relevance

The goal of this project is to perform imaging analyses of therapeutic nanoparticles in vivo, addressing key questions on nanoparticle distribution (pharmacokinetics, PK) and cellular response (pharmacodynamics, PD). This project is complementary to existing Alliance projects and will provide mechanistic understanding of nanotherapeutics efficacy and how it can be improved.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
1U01CA206997-01A1
Application #
9261150
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1-TCRB-6 (O1))
Program Officer
Hartshorn, Christopher
Project Start
2017-03-23
Project End
2022-02-28
Budget Start
2017-03-23
Budget End
2018-02-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
$585,707
Indirect Cost
$242,239
Name
Massachusetts General Hospital
Department
Type
Independent Hospitals
DUNS #
073130411
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02114
Rodell, Christopher B; Arlauckas, Sean P; Cuccarese, Michael F et al. (2018) TLR7/8-agonist-loaded nanoparticles promote the polarization of tumour-associated macrophages to enhance cancer immunotherapy. Nat Biomed Eng 2:578-588
Miller, Miles A; Mikula, Hannes; Luthria, Gaurav et al. (2018) Modular Nanoparticulate Prodrug Design Enables Efficient Treatment of Solid Tumors Using Bioorthogonal Activation. ACS Nano :
Pineda, Javier J; Miller, Miles A; Song, Yuyu et al. (2018) Site occupancy calibration of taxane pharmacology in live cells and tissues. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 115:E11406-E11414
Miller, Miles A; Chandra, Ravi; Cuccarese, Michael F et al. (2017) Radiation therapy primes tumors for nanotherapeutic delivery via macrophage-mediated vascular bursts. Sci Transl Med 9:
Miller, Miles A; Arlauckas, Sean; Weissleder, Ralph (2017) Prediction of Anti-cancer Nanotherapy Efficacy by Imaging. Nanotheranostics 1:296-312
Miller, Miles A; Weissleder, Ralph (2017) Imaging the pharmacology of nanomaterials by intravital microscopy: Toward understanding their biological behavior. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 113:61-86
Miller, Miles A; Kim, Eunha; Cuccarese, Michael F et al. (2017) Near infrared imaging of Mer tyrosine kinase (MERTK) using MERi-SiR reveals tumor associated macrophage uptake in metastatic disease. Chem Commun (Camb) 54:42-45
Miller, Miles A; Askevold, Bjorn; Mikula, Hannes et al. (2017) Nano-palladium is a cellular catalyst for in vivo chemistry. Nat Commun 8:15906
Cuccarese, Michael F; Dubach, J Matthew; Pfirschke, Christina et al. (2017) Heterogeneity of macrophage infiltration and therapeutic response in lung carcinoma revealed by 3D organ imaging. Nat Commun 8:14293