Early detection of invasive lung cancer and multiorgan metastasis by a collagen-targeted protein MRI contrast agent
Abstract
Lung cancer with multiorgan metastasis remains the leading cause of cancer death. Current CT imaging and biopsy are suboptimal for detecting early tumors or subclinical metastases. We address this gap using LUAD with LKB1/STK11 inactivation, which alters collagen via focal adhesion kinase activation. Collagen I overexpression in the tumor microenvironment and invasive edge was identified as a biomarker. We developed hProCA32.Collagen, a protein MRI contrast agent targeting collagen I, which exhibits 10-fold higher relaxivity than clinical GBCAs, with strong Gd 3+ binding, high stability, and low toxicity risk. Precision MRI with hProCA32.Collagen enables early, noninvasive detection and quantification of lung tumors and metastases with improved contrast, outperforming CT and standard MRI. This is a demonstration of simultaneous MRI detection of primary tumors and metastases in the lung and adrenal glands, with collagen mapping. This approach offers a radiation-free tool for early diagnosis, staging, and monitoring in LUAD.
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BibTeX
@article{li2026early,
title = {{Early detection of invasive lung cancer and multiorgan metastasis by a collagen-targeted protein MRI contrast agent}},
author = {Dongjun Li and Oluwabukola Bamishaye and Sandi Li and Jingjuan Qiao and Francis Akinlotan and Farzaneh Dorabadizare and Xuxin Chen and Yijan Fan and Yi Yuan and Zongxiang Gui and Khan Hekmatyar and Éva Tóth and Agnès Pallier and Yiting Xu and Yusheng Zhang and Xiaofeng Ke and Alton Farris and Hua Yang and Jian-Xiong Wang and Jennifer Carlisle and Suresh Ramalingam and Michael Kirberger and Hans Grossniklaus and Xiaofeng Yang and Zhiren Liu and Wei Zhou and Jenny Yang},
journal = {Science Advances},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adz6815},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05843463v1},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Early detection of invasive lung cancer and multiorgan metastasis by a collagen-targeted protein MRI contrast agent
AU - Dongjun Li
AU - Oluwabukola Bamishaye
AU - Sandi Li
AU - Jingjuan Qiao
AU - Francis Akinlotan
AU - Farzaneh Dorabadizare
AU - Xuxin Chen
AU - Yijan Fan
AU - Yi Yuan
AU - Zongxiang Gui
AU - Khan Hekmatyar
AU - Éva Tóth
AU - Agnès Pallier
AU - Yiting Xu
AU - Yusheng Zhang
AU - Xiaofeng Ke
AU - Alton Farris
AU - Hua Yang
AU - Jian-Xiong Wang
AU - Jennifer Carlisle
AU - Suresh Ramalingam
AU - Michael Kirberger
AU - Hans Grossniklaus
AU - Xiaofeng Yang
AU - Zhiren Liu
AU - Wei Zhou
AU - Jenny Yang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/11
JO - Science Advances
DO - 10.1126/sciadv.adz6815
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05843463v1
AB - Lung cancer with multiorgan metastasis remains the leading cause of cancer death. Current CT imaging and biopsy are suboptimal for detecting early tumors or subclinical metastases. We address this gap using LUAD with LKB1/STK11 inactivation, which alters collagen via focal adhesion kinase activation. Collagen I overexpression in the tumor microenvironment and invasive edge was identified as a biomarker. We developed hProCA32.Collagen, a protein MRI contrast agent targeting collagen I, which exhibits 10-fold higher relaxivity than clinical GBCAs, with strong Gd 3+ binding, high stability, and low toxicity risk. Precision MRI with hProCA32.Collagen enables early, noninvasive detection and quantification of lung tumors and metastases with improved contrast, outperforming CT and standard MRI. This is a demonstration of simultaneous MRI detection of primary tumors and metastases in the lung and adrenal glands, with collagen mapping. This approach offers a radiation-free tool for early diagnosis, staging, and monitoring in LUAD.
SN - 2375-2548
ER -