Molecular Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Dysregulated Zinc Secretion Detects Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Lesions and Response to KRASG12D Inhibitor Treatment

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal cancer, primarily due to late-stage diagnosis and limited treatment options. Zinc homeostasis is markedly dysregulated in PDAC, and this dysregulation can be probed by administering a secretagogue to stimulate zinc secretion (SSZS) in the exocrine pancreas and imaging with a zinc sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probe. This study demonstrated the potential of SSZS MRI for sensitive detection, monitoring treatment response, and assessing recurrence after treatment withdrawal in PDAC. The approach relied on interrogating the pancreas, circumventing the challenge of locating small, elusive tumors. SSZS MRI enabled PDAC detection by observing the unique zinc hypersecretory activity of the pancreas when malignancy was present. PDAC led to dysregulation of zinc transporters in both human and mouse pancreas. Combining secretagogues such as secretin and caerulein maximized zinc secretion and MRI signal in the pancreas. Notably, SSZS MRI detected treatment responses to KRASG12D inhibition within 3-5 days and identified cancer recurrence as early as one day post-treatment withdrawal. Additionally, secretagogue stimulation improved treatment responses and delayed recurrence in both treatment models. These findings suggest that SSZS MRI could significantly enhance PDAC diagnosis and management, providing an imaging modality that can help to optimize patient outcomes.