The development of new radiopharmaceuticals

In silico development of new PET radiopharmaceuticals from mTOR inhibitors

Rapamycin (or sirolimus) is a macrolide that has shown to be useful as an immunosuppressant and that was studied in metabolic, neurological, or genetic disorders. Rapamycin is a specific natural inhibitor of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) that is a kinase protein playing a pivotal role in cell growth and proliferation by activation of several metabolic processes. This work aimed to evaluate the utility of several compounds obtained from rapamycin and its semi-synthetic analogs everolimus and temsirolimus as possible radiopharmaceuticals oriented to this protein. Density Functional Theory calculations of these molecules were made and further analysis of the dual descriptor, charges populations, and of the electrostatic potential surfaces were performed. Molecular docking simulations were used to evaluate the interactions of the rapamycin with the studied candidates. They allowed us to propose two strategies for the synthesis of novel compounds based on electrophilic reactions. Molecular docking results also helped us to eliminate molecules that did not interact correctly with the target. Finally, we found for the first time, that the novel compounds synthesized through the electrophilic addition reaction that employed ¹⁸F-selectfluor, should maintain the biological activity of original compounds and could be suitable as Positron Emission Tomography radiopharmaceuticals targeting mTOR Complex1 system.

Glypican-3-targeting F(ab')2 for 89Zr PET of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an increasingly lethal malignancy for which management is critically dependent on accurate imaging. Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a cell surface receptor overexpressed in most HCCs and provides a unique target for molecular diagnostics. The use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target GPC3 (αGPC3) in PET imaging has shown promise but comes with inherent limitations associated with mAbs such as long circulation times. This study used (89)Zr-conjugated F(ab')2 fragments directed against GPC3 ((89)Zr-αGPC3-F(ab')2) to evaluate the feasibility of the fragments as a diagnostic immuno-PET imaging probe.

METHODS

Immobilized ficin was used to digest αGPC3, creating αGPC3-F(ab')2 fragments subsequently conjugated to (89)Zr. In vivo biodistribution and PET studies were performed on GPC3-expressing HepG2 and GPC3-nonexpressing RH7777 orthotopic xenografts.

RESULTS

Reliable αGPC3-F(ab')2 production via immobilized ficin digestion was verified by high-performance liquid chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. (89)Zr-αGPC3-F(ab')2 demonstrated F(ab')2-dependent, antigen-specific cell binding. HepG2 tumor uptake was higher than any other tissue, peaking at 100 ± 21 percentage injected dose per gram (%ID/g) 24 h after injection, a value 33- to 38-fold higher than GPC3-nonexpressing RH7777 tumors. The blood half-life of the (89)Zr-αGPC3-F(ab')2 conjugate was approximately 11 h, compared with approximately 115 h for historic mAb controls. This shorter half-life enabled clear tumor visualization on PET 4 h after administration, with a resultant peak tumor-to-liver contrast ratio of 23.3. Blocking antigen-expressing tumors with an excess of nonradiolabeled αGPC3 resulted in decreased tumor uptake similar to native liver. The kidneys exhibited high tissue uptake, peaking at 24 h with 83 ± 12 %ID/g. HepG2 tumors ranging from 1.5 to 7 mm were clearly visible on PET, whereas larger RH7777 tumors displayed signal lower than background liver tissue.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the feasibility of using (89)Zr-αGPC3-F(ab')2 for intrahepatic tumor localization with small-animal PET. Faster blood clearance and lower background liver uptake enable excellent signal-to-noise ratios at early time points. Increased renal uptake is similar to that as has been seen with clinical radioactive peptide imaging. (89)Zr-αGPC3-F(ab')2 addresses some of the shortcomings of whole-antibody immuno-PET probes. Further optimization is warranted to maximize probe sensitivity and specificity in the process of clinical translation.

In Vitro and In Vivo Pre-Clinical Analysis of a F(ab')(2) Fragment of Panitumumab for Molecular Imaging and Therapy of HER1 Positive Cancers

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to characterize the in vitro and in vivo properties of the F(ab')(2) fragment of panitumumab and to investigate its potential for imaging and radioimmunotherapy.

METHODS

The panitumumab F(ab')(2) was generated by enzymatic pepsin digestion. After the integrity and immunoreactivity of the F(ab')(2) was evaluated, the fragment was radiolabeled. In vivo studies included direct quantitation of tumor targeting and normal organ distribution of the radiolabeled panitumumab F(ab')(2) as well as planar γ-scintigraphy and PET imaging.

RESULTS

The panitumumab F(ab')(2) was successfully produced by peptic digest. The F(ab')(2) was modified with the CHX-A"-DTPA chelate and efficiently radiolabeled with either (111)In or (86)Y. In vivo tumor targeting was achieved with acceptable uptake of radioactivity in the normal organs. The tumor targeting was validated by both imaging modalities with good visualization of the tumor at 24 h.

CONCLUSIONS

The panitumumab F(ab')(2) fragment is a promising candidate for imaging of HER1 positive cancers.

The synthesis and toxicity of tripodal tricarbonyl rhenium complexes as radiopharmaceutical models

We report the synthesis and toxicity of a series of rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes incorporating the trisaminomethylethane (TAME) ligand. Compounds with the (TAME)Re(CO)(3)(+) cation were synthesized via several routes, including by use of Re(CO)(5)X precursors as well as the aqueous cation Re(CO)(3)(H(2)O)(3)(+). Salts of the formula [(TAME)Re(CO)(3)]X where X=Br(-), Cl(-), NO(3)(-), PF(6)(-) and ClO(4)(-) were evaluated using two cell lines: the monoclonal S3 HeLa line and a vascular smooth muscle cell line harvested from mice. All compounds have isostructural cations and differ only in the identity of the non-coordinating anion. None of the complexes exhibited any appreciable toxicity in the HeLa line up to the solubility limit. In the vascular smooth muscle cell line, the bromide salt exhibited some cytotoxicity, but this observation most likely results from the presence of bromide anion, which has been shown to have limited toxicity.

Evolution of Tc-99m in diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals

The progress in diagnostic nuclear medicine over the years since the discovery of 99mTc is indeed phenomenal. Over 80% of the radiopharmaceuticals currently being used make use of this short-lived, metastable radionuclide, which has reigned as the workhorse of diagnostic nuclear medicine. The preeminence of 99mTc is attributable to its optimal nuclear properties of a short half-life and a gamma photon emission of 140 keV, which is suitable for high-efficiency detection and which results in low radiation exposure to the patient. 99mTcO4-, which is readily available as a column eluate from a 99Mo/99mTc generator, is reduced in the presence of chelating agents. The versatile chemistry of technetium emerging from the 8 possible oxidation states, along with a proper understanding of the structure-biologic activity relationship, has been exploited to yield a plethora of products meant for morphologic and functional imaging of different organs. This article reviews the evolution of 99mTc dating back to its discovery, the development of 99Mo/99mTc generators, and the efforts to exploit the diverse chemistry of the element to explore a spectrum of compounds for diagnostic imaging, planar, and single photon emission computed tomography. A brief outline of the 99mTc radiopharmaceuticals currently being used has been categorically presented according to the organs being imaged. Newer methods of labeling involving bifunctional chelating agents (which encompass the "3 + 1" ligand system, Tc(CO)3(+1)-containing chelates, hydrazinonicotinamide, water-soluble phosphines, and other Tc-carrying moieties) have added a new dimension for the preparation of novel technetium compounds. These developments in technetium chemistry have opened new avenues in the field of diagnostic imaging. These include fundamental aspects in the design and development of target-specific agents, including antibodies, peptides, steroids, and other small molecules that have specific receptor affinity.

Conceptualisation of diagnostic agents: from empirical in vivo screening to rational in vitro predictive parameters

A new rational conceptualisation protocol in new isotopic diagnostic agents has been designed to avoid systematic empirical in vivo screening. This protocol is based on multiple regression analysis, in order to determine the pharmacokinetic model capable of explaining in the best possible way the in vivo behaviour of molecules injected into an organism. Nine technetium complexes (99mTc-L) were synthesised from aminothiol ligand vectors. These complexes were characterised in terms of their physical, chemical and biological in vitro properties, i.e. lipophilicity (P), free fraction unbound to plasmatic proteins (Fup), the fraction unbound to blood cells (FuCb), and membrane adsorption fraction (Fad), an original factor assessed in vitro. Thus, two pharmacokinetic models were tested. The first takes into account the parameters classically used in pharmacokinetics (P, Fup, FuCb), and the second, in parallel with the first, includes the membrane adsorption rate (polar/apolar/polar membrane model). According to the phenomenon of tissular distribution, the explanatory power of the second model, including the Fad, is radically greater than that of the classical model. The comparative adjusted coefficient of determination (R2) of the model, including the Fad versus R2 of the first model, are heart (91%/6%), liver (89%/47%), spleen (64%/44%), lung (78%/26%), kidney (70%/33%) and brain (73%/8%), respectively. In addition, as for the myocardium, the membrane adsorption factor seems to be the only predictive factor of the affinity between the myocardium and neutral or cationic molecules. This refutes the generally held view that only cationic molecules could have an affinity with the heart.

Requirement of monocytes and T-helper cells during development of tumor cell cytotoxicity in targeted T cells

In cocultures of human placental alkaline phosphatase(PLAP)-positive MO4 tumor cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), also containing a heteroconjugate (7E8-OKT3) synthesized between the anti-PLAP monoclonal antibody 7E8 and the anti-CD3 antibody OKT3, and supplemented with low levels of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2), T cells are progressively activated, resulting in tumor cell lysis. To unravel the contribution of PBMC subsets to the generation of this targetable cytotoxicity, PBMC subsets were studied after their isolation by cell sorting, either from fresh PBMC or from PBMC pre-activated with OKT3 and rIL-2. Whereas no targetable cytotoxicity was found in Fc-receptor-bearing CD3- cells, tumor cells were lysed by CD3+ T cells (mostly CD8+) isolated from pre-activated PBMC. When isolated from fresh PBMC, neither the CD8+ T cell subset, nor the total CD3+ T cell population developed significant targetable cytotoxicity, even in the presence of rIL-2. Thus, additional cell types are essential for the CD8+ T cell activation. Indeed, CD4+ T cells isolated from pre-activated but not from fresh PBMC were capable of eliciting cytotoxicity in fresh CD8+ T cells. The non-targeted monocytes were found to be the activators of the CD4+ T cells. In summary, targeting T cells to the surface of a tumor cell is not sufficient per se to achieve activation and lysis. The progressive tumor cell lysis by targeted T cells seems to be initiated by non-targeted monocytes activating CD4+ T cells, these cells in turn promoting CD8+ T cell activation, necessary for the development of cytotoxicity.

Radiopharmaceuticals: state of the art

In the past four years most of the effort in radiopharmaceutical chemistry has been devoted to compounds for positron emission tomography, but widespread use of this technique is still compromised by its high cost. On the other hand, steady progress has also been made in the development of technetium-99m-labelled radiopharmaceuticals. A variety of 99mTc-labelled agents is now available or in clinical evaluation for the study of brain perfusion (99mTc-labelled HMPAO, ECD, MRP20), myocardial perfusion (99mTc-labelled MIBI, teboroxime and phosphines) and renal function (99mTc-MAG3, 99mTc-L,L-EC). Different direct reduction methods and indirect conjugation methods have been developed to label antibodies or their fragments efficiently with 99mTc with preservation of immunoreactivity. However, the strict requirements of the regulatory authorities with respect to purification and quality of these preparations limit their use drastically in clinical practice. Radiopharmaceuticals labelled with beta-emitting radionuclides for radioimmunotherapy and palliative treatment of skeletal metastases are receiving increasing interest. Numerous agents are now available for imaging inflammation, but more clinical experience is required to determine which of them is the most appropriate. The growing importance of radiolabelled receptor-imaging agents is apparent from the commercial availability of the first such compound in Europe.