VEGF-Targeted Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography and Fluorescence Molecular Imaging in Human Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques

Vulnerable atherosclerotic carotid plaques are prone to rupture, resulting in ischemic strokes. In contrast radiological imaging techniques, molecular techniques have the potential assess plaque vulnerability by visualizing diseases-specific biomarkers. A risk factor for rupture is intra-plaque neovascularization, which characterized overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). Here, we study if administration bevacizumab-800CW, a near-infrared tracer targeting VEGF-A, safe and assessment vivo possible using multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT). Healthy volunteers patients with symptomatic artery stenosis scheduled endarterectomy were imaged MSOT. Secondly, two days after intravenous 4.5 bevacizumab-800CW. Ex fluorescence surgically removed specimen was performed correlated histopathology. this first-in-human MSOT study, show that mg bevacizumab-800CW appeared be five accumulated plaque. Although could visualize bifurcation area all subjects MSOT, bevacizumab-800CW-resolved signal not detected patients. Future studies should evaluate safety, higher doses or develop dedicated agents