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Researchers at UCLA have found a way using nanotechnology to safely light up and identify the cells of small endocrine tumors, whose size makes it difficult for surgeons to locate and completely remove them. The results will be presented Friday at The Endocrine Society’s 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Nanotechnology—the use of ultra-small manmade particles called nanoparticles, which are a billionth of a meter in size—is rapidly finding widespread applications in biomedicine, including “labeling” (tagging) cells. Such identification would be useful during surgery to remove small pituitary tumors, such as the usually noncancerous tumors that are responsible for the chronic, debilitating disorder Cushing’s disease.

Because these tumors often are small and difficult to locate, surgeons sometimes are unable to remove the entire tumor. Long-term recurrence rates currently exceed 20 percent, said study co-author Anthony Heaney, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine and neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles.

Many nanoparticles, however, are made of heavy metal and thus are likely to be toxic in the body, Heaney said. Therefore, he and his co-workers tested a ceramic-based, phosphorescent (light-emitting) nanoparticle, known as YAG: Y3A15O12:Ce (Nanogram Corp.), in cultured pituitary tumor cells obtained from mice and humans. The investigators first showed that this nanoparticle was not toxic to either mouse or human cells.

Then Heaney and colleagues tagged the nanoparticle with specific peptides that are expressed on the surface of pituitary tumors. This new approach carried the nanoparticle into the tumor cells of both mice and humans, and the researchers then applied light. The resulting phosphorescence made the tumor cells shine brightly for up to 20 hours, the authors reported.

Heaney’s research group plans to conduct animal studies of this nanotechnology approach. Heaney said they ultimately aim to translate their findings to clinical trials in humans.

He added that this nanoparticle could be used for a purpose other than cell labeling because its surface can potentially carry other substances, such as drugs or radioisotopes.

“If successful, our use of specifically targeted nanoparticles may enable novel therapeutic approaches for pituitary and other neuroendocrine tumors, including cancers,” Heaney said.

The UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center helped fund this study.

 

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Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 14,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in more than 80 countries. Together, these members represent all basic, applied, and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, Md. To learn more about the Society, and the field of endocrinology, visit our web site at www.endo-society.org.