Cyanine Fluorochrome-Labeled Antibodies in Vivo: Assessment of Tumor Imaging Using Cy3, Cy5, Cy5.5, and Cy7

Ballou, Byron Ph.D.
Fisher, Gregory W. Ph.D.
Deng, Jau-Shyong M.D.
Hakala, Thomas R. M.D.
Srivastava, Meera Ph.D.
Farkas, Daniel L. Ph.D.

^aCenter for Light Microscope Imaging and Biotechnology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA; ^bDivision of Urologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, and ^cDepartment of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA;^d VA Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA; and ^eNIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

Address all correspondence and reprint requests to: Byron Ballou, Center for Light Microscope Imaging and Biotechnology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

Received October 18, 1996; Revised March 28, 1997; Accepted for publication April 4, 1997.

Cancer Detection & Prevention 22(3):p 251-257, 1998.

ABSTRACT:

Monoclonal antibodies to two different targetable antigens were conjugated to each of four commercially available cyanine fluorochromes. Equal amounts of all four antibodies were coinjected into tumor-bearing animals and imaged. Small, superficial tumors were adequately labeled using all four fluorochromes. Large tumors were labeled well only by Cy7, probably due to self-masking and dilution effects. Cy7 was superior to other cyanine fluorochromes for visualizing structures located deep within the animal.