Abstract #0160

A Bright Multi-Imaging Modality Gene Reporter

P. Stephen Patrick¹,², Jayne Hammersley², Louiza Loizou², Mikko I. Kettunen¹, Tiago B. Rodrigues¹, De-En Hu², Sui Seng Tee,²³, Robin Hesketh², Scott K. Lyons¹, Silvio Aime⁴, Sandra M. Fulton², Kevin M. Brindle,¹²

¹Cancer Research UK, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom; ²Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom; ³School of Medicine, University of Stanford, Palo Alto, CA, United States; ⁴Molecular Biotechnology Centre, University of Turin, Turin, Piedmont, Italy

A new reporter gene for MRI is described that gives rapid, intense, and reversible T₁-weighted contrast enhancement. We have achieved this through the expression of Oatp1, which is a transporter for the clinically approved contrast agent gadoxetate. R₁ was enhanced by over four fold in reporter expressing tissue 5 hours post intravenous gadoxetate injection, while R₁ for control tissue was not significantly different than before injection. This system therefore has the