Protein-based MRI agent detects lung cancer and hidden metastases earlier than current scans
A multi-institutional research team led by Georgia State University Regents' Professor Emerita of Biochemistry and Biophysical Chemistry Jenny J. Yang has developed a new class of protein-based MRI contrast agents that detect invasive lung cancer and metastatic disease at earlier stages than conventional imaging approaches. Results of this research, recently published in the journal Science…
An innovative class of protein-based MRI contrast agents has been developed by researchers at Georgia State University, potentially revolutionizing early detection of lung cancer and metastases. Led by Prof. Emerita Jenny J. Yang, the multi-institutional research team, including Emory University and UAB, has created hProCA32.Collagen, a collagen-targeted contrast agent that can identify tumors and metastases as small as 1 millimeter without exposing patients to radiation.
Conventional scans often fail to diagnose lung cancer until it has spread, limiting treatment options. This breakthrough technology detects aggressive lung adenocarcinomas associated with specific mutations, often resistant to current therapies. By visualizing collagen remodeling within tumor microenvironments, the agent may help identify high-risk patients, guide personalized treatment, and monitor therapy response.
Researchers are actively seeking FDA approval for clinical trials to test the technology's efficacy in actual patients.
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