Research Summary
Dr. Pomper’s research projects in central nervous system imaging include using positron emission tomography (PET) and advanced magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) techniques to uncover brain metabolic correlates of AIDS dementia; using PET to study molecular (neurotransmitter) and cellular abnormalities in patients with AIDS dementia; and the development of new radiopharmaceuticals for imaging nicotinic and glutamatergic neurotransmission as well as for imaging inflammation.
In oncology, he focuses on advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, such as diffusion tensor and amide proton transfer imaging to study brain tumors. In addition, radiopharmaceutical and optical imaging agents are being developed to study prostate cancer, metastatic potential, infection, inflammation and to study the pharmacokinetics of chemotherapeutic agents in vivo. Molecular-genetic imaging of cancer is another priority.
His research group consists of chemists, physicists, molecular biologists and clinicians working together toward clinical molecular imaging.
Lab
The Johns Hopkins Small Animal Imaging Resource Program (SAIRP) works to generate the confidence necessary to move new cancer therapies to patients. Its ultimate goal is to move small animal imaging science forward to the point where the incorporation of such imaging techniques becomes second nature in the daily practice of cancer researchers.
Lab Website: Laboratory of Martin G. Pomper
Core Facility:
Clinical Trial Keywords
AIDS; Dementia; MS; HIV; PSMA
Selected Publications
View all on PubMed
Banerjee, S.R., Pullambhatla, M., Byun, Y., Nimmagadda, S., Foss, C.A., Green, G., Fox, J.J., Lupold, S.E., Mease, R.C., Pomper, M.G. “Sequential SPECT and optical imaging of experimental models of prostate cancer with a dual modality inhibitor of the prostate-specific membrane antigen.” Angew. Chem. Int. Edit. 2011, in press.
Bhang, H.-E., Gabrielson, K.L., Laterra, J., Fisher, P.B., Pomper, M.G. “Tumor-specific imaging through progression elevated gene-3 promoter-driven gene expression.” Nat. Med. 17:123-129, 2011.
Banerjee, S.R., Pullambhatla, M., Byun, Y., Nimmagadda, S., Green, G., Fox, J.J., Horti, A., Mease ,R.C., Pomper, M.G. (68) “Ga-labeled inhibitors of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) for imaging prostate cancer.” J. Med. Chem. 2010 Jun 22.
Nimmagadda, S., Pullambhatla, M., Stone, K., Green, G., Bhujwalla, Z.M., Pomper, M.G. “Molecular imaging of CXCR4 receptor expression in human cancer xenografts with [64Cu]AMD3100 positron emission tomography.” Cancer Res. 70(10):3935-44, 2010.
Wang, H., Byun, Y., Barinka, C., Pullambhatla, M., Bhang, H.-E., Fox, J.J., Lubkowski, J., Mease, R.C., Pomper, M.G. “Bioisosterism of urea-based GCPII inhibitors: synthesis and structure-activity relationships.” Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 20(1):392-7, 2010.
Patents
Labeled inhibitors of prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), biological evaluation, and use as imaging agents
Patent # US9044468 B2 | 06/02/2015
The prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is increasingly recognized as a viable target for imaging and therapy of cancer. Various 99mTc/Re-labeled compounds were prepared by attaching known Tc/Re chelating agents to an amino-functionalized PSMA inhibitor with or without a variable length linker moiety. Ex vivo biodistribution and in vivo imaging demonstrated the degree of specific binding to engineered PSMA+ PC3 PIP tumors.
PSMA-binding agents and uses thereof
Patent # US8778305 B2 | 07/15/2014
Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) binding compounds having radioisotope substituents are described, as well as chemical precursors thereof. Compounds include pyridine containing compounds, compounds having phenylhydrazine structures, and acylated lysine compounds. The compounds allow ready incorporation of radionuclides for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) for imaging, for example, prostate cancer cells and angiogenesis.
TSPO-targeting compounds and uses thereof
Patent # US8778304 B2 | 07/15/2014
Translocator protein (TSPO) targeting compounds are described. Methods of making the compounds, and uses of the compounds for imaging are also described.
Imaging infection with compounds that bind to thymidine kinase
Patent # US8691186 B2 | 04/08/2014
The instant invention provides a method for diagnosing an infection in a subject by administering to the subject a compound suitable for imaging which binds to a thymidine kinase present in the infecting organism, and obtaining an image of the subject to determine the presence and location of the compound, wherein a localization of the compound is indicative that the subject has an infection.
Imaging agents and methods of imaging NAALADase or PSMA
Patent # US8227634 B2 | 07/24/2012
The present invention relates to compounds particularly asymmetric urea compounds which are labeled with one or more radioisotopes and which are suitable for imaging or therapeutic treatment of tissues, organs, or tumors which express NAALADase and/or PSMA. In another embodiment, the invention relates to methods of imaging tissues, organs, or tumors using radiolabeled compounds of the invention, particularly tissues, organs, or tumors which express NAALADase and/or PSMA to which the compounds of the invention have an affinity.