{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "ab67eb7a966e4796b3cb5750aa00c79b", "timestamp": "2026-08-22T08:30:40.934Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/ab67eb7a966e4796b3cb5750aa00c79b.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/ab67eb7a966e4796b3cb5750aa00c79b"}}, "title": "Radionuclide Molecular Imaging of EpCAM Expression in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Using the Scaffold Protein DARPin Ec1.", "authors": [{"family": "Vorobyeva", "given": "Anzhelika", "initials": "A", "orcid": "0000-0002-4778-3909", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/99703faa11ab4c19aff2f426f61c3134.json"}}, {"family": "Bezverkhniaia", "given": "Ekaterina", "initials": "E", "orcid": "0000-0001-7699-5719", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/211d24252bc84d43aed1d7ed4c3d3238.json"}}, {"family": "Konovalova", "given": "Elena", "initials": "E"}, {"family": "Schulga", "given": "Alexey", "initials": "A", "orcid": "0000-0003-3425-0828", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/45b1c8e5447c41bbb93e61706377a0c7.json"}}, {"family": "Garousi", "given": "Javad", "initials": "J", "orcid": "0000-0002-7224-6304", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/e103143bca5f4a5791c496ed36351132.json"}}, {"family": "Vorontsova", "given": "Olga", "initials": "O"}, {"family": "Abouzayed", "given": "Ayman", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Orlova", "given": "Anna", "initials": "A", "orcid": "0000-0001-6120-2683", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/1c374f429702489494c05f84f298b4b7.json"}}, {"family": "Deyev", "given": "Sergey", "initials": "S", "orcid": "0000-0002-3952-0631", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/fb88df2aaa8a46a5957370b9258e2834.json"}}, {"family": "Tolmachev", "given": "Vladimir", "initials": "V", "orcid": "0000-0002-6122-1734", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/896ae9fae8b74251afe11b4354c62794.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2020-10-14", "journal": {"title": "Molecules", "issn": "1420-3049", "volume": "25", "issue": "20", "issn-l": "1420-3049"}, "abstract": "Efficient treatment of disseminated triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains an unmet clinical need. The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is often overexpressed on the surface of TNBC cells, which makes EpCAM a potential therapeutic target. Radionuclide molecular imaging of EpCAM expression might permit selection of patients for EpCAM-targeting therapies. In this study, we evaluated a scaffold protein, designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) Ec1, for imaging of EpCAM in TNBC. DARPin Ec1 was labeled with a non-residualizing [125I]I-para-iodobenzoate (PIB) label and a residualizing [99mTc]Tc(CO)3 label. Both imaging probes retained high binding specificity and affinity to EpCAM-expressing MDA-MB-468 TNBC cells after labeling. Internalization studies showed that Ec1 was retained on the surface of MDA-MB-468 cells to a high degree up to 24 h. Biodistribution in Balb/c nu/nu mice bearing MDA-MB-468 xenografts demonstrated specific uptake of both [125I]I-PIB-Ec1 and [99mTc]Tc(CO)3-Ec1 in TNBC tumors. [125I]I-PIB-Ec1 had appreciably lower uptake in normal organs compared with [99mTc]Tc(CO)3-Ec1, which resulted in significantly (p < 0.05) higher tumor-to-organ ratios. The biodistribution data were confirmed by micro-Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography (microSPECT/CT) imaging. In conclusion, an indirectly radioiodinated Ec1 is the preferable probe for imaging of EpCAM in TNBC.", "doi": "10.3390/molecules25204719", "pmid": "33066684", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC7587533"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "molecules25204719"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-21T13:04:24.418Z", "modified": "2026-08-21T13:04:24.508Z"}