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Bolzati C, Gobbi C, Ferro-Flores G, Turato S, Ocampo-Garcia B, Carpanese D, Marzano C, Spolaore B, Fracasso G, Rosato A, Meléndez-Alafort L. Development and Characterization of 99mTc-scFvD2B as a Potential Radiopharmaceutical for SPECT Imaging of Prostate Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:492. [PMID: 38203663 PMCID: PMC10779128 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Previously, we demonstrated that the 177Lu-labeled single-chain variable fragment of an anti-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) IgG D2B antibody (scFvD2B) showed higher prostate cancer (PCa) cell uptake and tumor radiation doses compared to 177Lu-labeled Glu-ureide-based PSMA inhibitory peptides. To obtain a 99mTc-/177Lu-scFvD2B theranostic pair, this research aimed to synthesize and biochemically characterize a novel 99mTc-scFvD2B radiotracer. The scFvD2B-Tag and scFvD2B antibody fragments were produced and purified. Then, two HYNIC derivatives, HYNIC-Gly-Gly-Cys-NH2 (HYNIC-GGC) and succinimidyl-HYNIC (S-HYNIC), were used to conjugate the scFvD2B-Tag and scFvD2B isoforms, respectively. Subsequently, chemical characterization, immunoreactivity tests (affinity and specificity), radiochemical purity tests, stability tests in human serum, cellular uptake and internalization in LNCaP(+), PC3-PIP(++) or PC3(-) PCa cells of the resulting unlabeled HYNIC-scFvD2B conjugates (HscFv) and 99mTc-HscFv agents were performed. The results showed that incorporating HYNIC as a chelator did not affect the affinity, specificity or stability of scFvD2B. After purification, the radiochemical purity of 99mTc-HscFv radiotracers was greater than 95%. A two-sample t-test of 99mTc-HscFv1 and 99mTc-HscFv1 uptake in PC3-PIP vs. PC3 showed a p-value < 0.001, indicating that the PSMA receptor interaction of 99mTc-HscFv agents was statistically significantly higher in PSMA-positive cells than in the negative controls. In conclusion, the results of this research warrant further preclinical studies to determine whether the in vivo pharmacokinetics and tumor uptake of 99mTc-HscFv still offer sufficient advantages over HYNIC-conjugated peptides to be considered for SPECT/PSMA imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Bolzati
- Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Energy Technologies, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy; (C.B.); (C.G.)
| | - Carolina Gobbi
- Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Energy Technologies, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy; (C.B.); (C.G.)
| | - Guillermina Ferro-Flores
- Laboratorio Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo de Radiofármacos, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, Carretera México-Toluca S/N. La Marquesa, Ocoyoacac 52750, Mexico; (G.F.-F.); (B.O.-G.)
| | - Sofia Turato
- Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35138 Padova, Italy; (S.T.); (A.R.)
| | - Blanca Ocampo-Garcia
- Laboratorio Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo de Radiofármacos, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, Carretera México-Toluca S/N. La Marquesa, Ocoyoacac 52750, Mexico; (G.F.-F.); (B.O.-G.)
| | - Debora Carpanese
- Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35138 Padova, Italy; (S.T.); (A.R.)
| | - Cristina Marzano
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (B.S.)
| | - Barbara Spolaore
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (B.S.)
| | - Giulio Fracasso
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Antonio Rosato
- Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35138 Padova, Italy; (S.T.); (A.R.)
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche Oncologiche e Gastroenterologiche, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Gattamelata 64, 35138 Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Meléndez-Alafort
- Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35138 Padova, Italy; (S.T.); (A.R.)
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Brunello S, Salvarese N, Carpanese D, Gobbi C, Melendez-Alafort L, Bolzati C. A Review on the Current State and Future Perspectives of [ 99mTc]Tc-Housed PSMA-i in Prostate Cancer. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27092617. [PMID: 35565970 PMCID: PMC9099988 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has gained momentum in tumor nuclear molecular imaging as an excellent target for both the diagnosis and therapy of prostate cancer. Since 2008, after years of preclinical research efforts, a plentitude of radiolabeled compounds mainly based on low molecular weight PSMA inhibitors (PSMA-i) have been described for imaging and theranostic applications, and some of them have been transferred to the clinic. Most of these compounds include radiometals (e.g., 68Ga, 64Cu, 177Lu) for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging or endoradiotherapy. Nowadays, although the development of new PET tracers has caused a significant drop in single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) research programs and the development of new technetium-99m (99mTc) tracers is rare, this radionuclide remains the best atom for SPECT imaging owing to its ideal physical decay properties, convenient availability, and rich and versatile coordination chemistry. Indeed, 99mTc still plays a relevant role in diagnostic nuclear medicine, as the number of clinical examinations based on 99mTc outscores that of PET agents and 99mTc-PSMA SPECT/CT may be a cost-effective alternative for 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT. This review aims to give an overview of the specific features of the developed [99mTc]Tc-tagged PSMA agents with particular attention to [99mTc]Tc-PSMA-i. The chemical and pharmacological properties of the latter will be compared and discussed, highlighting the pros and cons with respect to [68Ga]Ga-PSMA11.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Brunello
- Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy ICMATE-CNR, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy; (S.B.); (N.S.)
| | - Nicola Salvarese
- Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy ICMATE-CNR, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy; (S.B.); (N.S.)
| | - Debora Carpanese
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35124 Padova, Italy;
| | - Carolina Gobbi
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy;
| | - Laura Melendez-Alafort
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35124 Padova, Italy;
- Correspondence: (L.M.-A.); (C.B.)
| | - Cristina Bolzati
- Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy ICMATE-CNR, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy; (S.B.); (N.S.)
- Correspondence: (L.M.-A.); (C.B.)
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