University of Missouri researchers report that a small antibody fragment targeting the EphA2 protein can be tagged with a radioactive marker to make EphA2-positive tumors stand out on PET scans in mouse experiments, a step they say could help match patients to EphA2-targeted therapies.
Researchers at the University of Missouri say they have developed a small antibody fragment designed to bind to EphA2, a cell-surface receptor that is often overexpressed in several cancers.
In a study cited by the university and summarized by ScienceDaily, the team—led by W. Barry Edwards, an associate professor of biochemistry in the University of Missouri School of Medicine—reported attaching a radioactive marker to the antibody fragment so it can be visualized with positron emission tomography (PET). In mouse experiments, the researchers said the labeled antibody fragment illuminated tumors that produced EphA2, supporting its potential use as an “immunoPET” tool to identify EphA2-positive cancers.
Edwards said the approach could help clinicians determine which patients are more likely to benefit from therapies aimed at EphA2. “By finding out which patients have high or low amounts of EphA2, we can determine who is most likely to benefit from a targeted cancer treatment,” he said, adding that “this new process we created saves time and money while advancing precision medicine.”
The university described the method as a faster and less invasive alternative to common approaches used to assess tumors, such as biopsies and MRI scans, which it said can be time-consuming and may provide limited insight into specific proteins in cancer cells. Edwards said PET imaging with the new agent could deliver results “in hours rather than days,” which he called significant for patients who travel long distances for care.
The underlying research paper—titled “Preclinical Evaluation of an Anti-EphA2 Minibody-Based ImmunoPET Agent as a Diagnostic Tool For Cancer”—was published in Molecular Imaging and Biology. According to the PubMed record, the article appeared in the journal’s December 2025 issue (27(6): 993–1005) and was first published online Sept. 19, 2025 (DOI: 10.1007/s11307-025-02048-7). The listed authors are Peggy A. Birikorang, H. E. G. Wedaarachchi, Jordan A. Smith, Gary Kohanbash and W. Barry Edwards.
Edwards said he hopes the work can progress from preclinical models to human clinical trials within the next seven years.
