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Huang Y, Li Z, Li C, Zang Z, Wang Q, Huang S, Liu Q, Liang Y. Bioorthogonal Diels-Alder Click Chemistry-Based Pretargeted PET Imaging Strategy for Monitoring Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Expression. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:36969-36981. [PMID: 39246495 PMCID: PMC11375721 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c01063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
The development of antibody tracers for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging enables real-time monitoring of tumor expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in vivo, aiming to facilitate the selection of immunotherapy responders. However, the slow pharmacokinetics of the antibodies in vivo limits their applications in PET imaging with commonly used radionuclides with short half-lives. In this study, we developed a pretargeted PET imaging strategy based on Diels-Alder (IEDDA) click chemistry to overcome these limitations. Atezolizumab and durvalumab, the most commonly used PD-L1 antibodies in cancer immunotherapy, were selected and compared in the development of the pretargeted PET imaging strategy. Fluorine-18-labeled derivatives of methyl tetrazine ([18F]Tz, [18F]PEG6-Tz, and [18F]PEG12-Tz) were tested in biodistribution and PET imaging of A549-PDL1 xenografts (PD-L1 positive) pretargeted with the trans-cyclooctene (TCO)-functionalized atezolizumab/durvalumab. The biodistribution and imaging results indicated that atezolizumab-TCO/[18F]PEG12-Tz was more suitable for pretargeted PET imaging strategy, and the optimal interval time was 48 h after atezolizumab-TCO administration, where the atezolizumab-TCO/[18F]PEG12-Tz pretargeted approach clearly delineated the A549-PDL1 tumor with a tumor-to-muscle ratio of 5.33, while the ratios are 3.39 and 2.39 for durvalumab/[18F]PEG12-Tz and mock-pretargeting controls, respectively. In conclusion, a pretargeted 18F-immuno-PET imaging technology was successfully established on atezolizumab. The high-contrast PET images of the A549-PDL1 tumor models demonstrate that the pretargeting strategy incorporating short-lived fluorine-18 is viable in identifying tumors with high PD-L1 expression, marking this strategy as a potential candidate for further clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Huang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China
| | - Zhongjing Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China
| | - Chengze Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China
| | - Zihan Zang
- Shenzhen Middle School, Shenzhen 518024, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China
| | - Size Huang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China
| | - Qi Liu
- International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Ying Liang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China
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Wang Y, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Wang S, Liu W, Liu Z, Hu M. [ 18F]AlF-NOTA-PCP2: a novel PET/CT tracer for enhanced PD-L1 heterogeneity imaging and comparative analysis with [ 18F]AlF-NOTA-WL12 in glioblastoma xenografts. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2024; 51:3161-3175. [PMID: 38713298 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-024-06743-5] [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: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The unsatisfactory efficacy of PD-L1 antibodies in glioblastoma (GBM) is largely due to the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of PD-L1 expression. Molecular imaging can enhance understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment and guide immunotherapy. However, highly sensitive imaging agents capable of effectively visualizing PD-L1 heterogeneity are limited. This study introduces a novel PET tracer, offering improved imaging of PD-L1 heterogeneity in GBM xenografts, with a comparative analysis to [18F]AlF-NOTA-WL12. METHODS [18F]AlF-NOTA-PCP2 was synthesized with high purity and its affinity for PD-L1 was characterized using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and cell binding assays. Its specificity for PD-L1 was evaluated both in vitro using various cell lines and in vivo with GBM xenograft models in NOD/SCID mice. PET/CT imaging was conducted to evaluate the tracer's biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and ability to quantify tumoral spatial heterogeneity of PD-L1 expression. A focused comparative analysis between [18F]AlF-NOTA-PCP2 and [18F]AlF-NOTA-WL12 was conducted, examining binding affinity, biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and imaging effectiveness in GBM xenografts. Additionally, human radiation dosimetry estimates compared the safety profiles of both tracers. RESULTS [18F]AlF-NOTA-PCP2 demonstrated high radiochemical purity (> 95%) and a strong affinity for PD-L1, comparable to [18F]AlF-NOTA-WL12. In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed its specificity for PD-L1, with increased uptake in PD-L1 expressing cells and tumors. Toxicological profiles indicated no significant abnormalities in serum biochemical indicators or major organ tissues. MicroPET/CT imaging showed [18F]AlF-NOTA-PCP2's effectiveness in visualizing PD-L1 expression levels and spatial heterogeneity in GBM xenografts. Comparative studies revealed [18F]AlF-NOTA-PCP2's improved pharmacokinetic properties, including higher tumor-to-blood ratios and lower nonspecific liver uptake, as well as reduced radiation exposure compared to [18F]AlF-NOTA-WL12. CONCLUSION [18F]AlF-NOTA-PCP2 distinguishes itself as an exceptionally sensitive PET/CT tracer, adept at non-invasively and accurately quantifying PD-L1 expression and its spatial heterogeneity in tumors, especially in GBM. Its favorable pharmacokinetic properties, safety profile, and high affinity for PD-L1 highlight its potential for enhancing the precision of cancer immunotherapy and guiding individualized treatment strategies. While promising, its clinical translation, especially in brain imaging, necessitates further validation in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China
| | - Yunhao Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China
| | - Shijie Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China
| | - Zhiguo Liu
- Department of PET/CT Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
| | - Man Hu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
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Zhou M, Chen B, Lu C, Yang J, Liu P, Wang X, Hu S. ImmunoPET imaging of LAG-3 expression in tumor microenvironment with 68Ga-labelled cyclic peptides tracers: from bench to bedside. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e009153. [PMID: 39060024 PMCID: PMC11284836 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009153] [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] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3) has been considered as the next generation of immune checkpoint and a promising prognostic biomarker of immunotherapy. As with programmed cell death protein-1/programmed death-ligand 1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 inhibitors, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging strategies could benefit the development of clinical decision-making of LAG-3-related therapy. In this study, we developed and validated 68Ga-labeled cyclic peptides tracers for PET imaging of LAG-3 expression in bench-to-bedside studies. METHODS A series of LAG-3-targeted cyclic peptides were modified and radiolabeled with 68GaCl3 and evaluated their affinity and specificity, biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and radiation dosimetry in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, hu-PBL-SCID (PBL) mice models were constructed to validate the capacity of [68Ga]Ga-CC09-1 for mapping of LAG-3+ lymphocytes infiltrates using longitudinal PET imaging. Lastly, [68Ga]Ga-CC09-1 was translated into the first-in-human studies to assess its safety, biodistribution and potential for imaging of LAG-3 expression. RESULTS A series of cyclic peptides targeting LAG-3 were employed as lead compounds to design and develop 68Ga-labeled PET tracers. In vitro binding assays showed higher affinity and specificity of [68Ga]Ga-CC09-1 in Chinese hamster ovary-human LAG-3 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In vivo PET imaging demonstrated better imaging capacity of [68Ga]Ga-CC09-1 with a higher tumor uptake of 1.35±0.33 per cent injected dose per gram and tumor-to-muscle ratio of 17.18±3.20 at 60 min post-injection. Furthermore, [68Ga]Ga-CC09-1 could detect the LAG-3+ lymphocyte infiltrates in spleen, lung and salivary gland of PBL mice. In patients with melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer, primary lesions with modest tumor uptake were observed in [68Ga]Ga-CC09-1 PET, as compared with that of [18F]FDG PET. More importantly, [68Ga]Ga-CC09-1 delineated the heterogeneity of LAG-3 expression within large tumors. CONCLUSION These findings consolidated that [68Ga]Ga-CC09-1 is a promising PET tracer for quantifying the LAG-3 expression in tumor microenvironment, indicating its potential as a companion diagnostic for patients stratification and therapeutic response monitoring in anti-LAG-3 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zhou
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Bei Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chenxi Lu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jinhui Yang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Biological Nanotechnology of National Health Commission, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shuo Hu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Biological Nanotechnology of National Health Commission, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Yuan H, Chen X, Zhao M, Zhao X, Chen X, Han J, Zhang Z, Zhang J, Wang J, Dai M, Liu Y. Human Biodistribution and Radiation Dosimetry of the Targeting Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1-Positive Tumors Tracer [ 68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FGFR1-Peptide. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2024. [PMID: 39023401 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2024.0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective: [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FGFR1-peptide is a novel positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer targeting fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1). This study aimed to evaluate the safety, biodistribution, radiation dosimetry, and imaging potential of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FGFR1-peptide. Methods: The FGFR1-targeting peptide DOTA-(PEG2)-KAEWKSLGEEAWHSK was synthesized by manual solid-phase peptide synthesis and high-performance liquid chromatography purification, and labeled with 68Ga with DOTA as chelating agent. We recruited 14 participants and calculated the radiation dose of 4 of these pathologically confirmed nontumor subjects using OLINDA/EXM 2.2.0 software. At the same time, the imaging potential in 10 of these lung cancer patients was evaluated. Results: The biodistribution of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FGFR1-peptide in 4 subjects showed the highest uptake in the bladder and kidney. Dosimetry analysis indicated that the bladder wall received the highest effective dose (3.73E-02 mSv/MBq), followed by the lungs (2.36E-03 mSv/MBq) and red bone marrow (2.09E-03 mSv/MBq). No normal organs were found to have excess specific absorbed doses. The average systemic effective dose was 4.97E-02 mSv/MBq. The primary and metastatic tumor lesions were clearly visible on PET/computed tomography (CT) images in 10 patients. Conclusion: Our results indicate that [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FGFR1-peptide has a good dosimetry profile and can be used safely in humans, and it has significant potential value for clinical PET/CT imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiqing Yuan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaoshan Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Mengmeng Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xinming Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Drug Resistance, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaolin Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jingya Han
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Zhaoqi Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jingmian Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jianfang Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Meng Dai
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yunuan Liu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
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Fan M, Yao J, Zhao Z, Zhang X, Lu J. Application of 99mTc-Labeled WL12 Peptides as a Tumor PD-L1-Targeted SPECT Imaging Agent: Kit Formulation, Preclinical Evaluation, and Study on the Influence of Coligands. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:906. [PMID: 39065756 PMCID: PMC11279916 DOI: 10.3390/ph17070906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
With the development of PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, the ability to monitor PD-L1 expression in the tumor microenvironment is important for guiding therapy. This study was performed to develop a novel radiotracer with optimal pharmacokinetic properties to reflect PD-L1 expression in vivo via single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. [99mTc]Tc-HYNIC-WL12-tricine/M (M = TPPTS, PDA, ISONIC, 4-PSA) complexes with high radiochemical purity (>97%) and suitable molar activity (from 100.5 GBq/μmol to 300 GBq/μmol) were prepared through a kit preparation process. All 99mTc-labeled HYNIC-WL12 radiotracers displayed good in vitro stability for 4 h. The affinity and specificity of the four radiotracers for PD-L1 were demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. The results of biodistribution studies displayed that the pharmacokinetics of the 99mTc-HYNIC-conjugated radiotracers were significantly influenced by the coligands of the radiotracers. Among them, [99mTc]Tc-HYNIC-WL12-tricine/ISONIC exhibited the optimal pharmacokinetic properties (t1/2α = 8.55 min, t1/2β = 54.05 min), including the fastest clearance in nontarget tissues, highest tumor-to-background contrast (e.g., tumor-to-muscle ratio, tumor-to-blood ratio: 40.42 ± 1.59, 14.72 ± 2.77 at 4 h p.i., respectively), and the lowest estimated radiation absorbed dose, highlighting its potential as a clinical SPECT imaging probe for tumor PD-L1 detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxuan Fan
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (M.F.)
| | - Jingjing Yao
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (M.F.)
| | - Zuoquan Zhao
- Theranostics and Translational Research Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Xianzhong Zhang
- Theranostics and Translational Research Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Jie Lu
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (M.F.)
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Wu Y, Xu D, Gu Y, Li G, Wang H, Cao M, Wei W, Wan P, Guan Y, Chen X, Xie F. Assessment of PD-L1 Expression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers Using [ 68Ga]Ga-DOTA-WL12 PET/CT. SMALL METHODS 2024:e2400358. [PMID: 38880776 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202400358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Assessing programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly in metastatic cases, remains challenging. In this study, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis and [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-WL12 micro-PET/CT imaging are performed. [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-WL12 PET/CT and [18F]FDG PET/CT are performed on a cohort of 20 patients with NSCLC. Semi-quantitative assessments include SUVmax, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and target-to-background ratio (TBR). DOTA-WL12 exhibits robust PD-L1 binding with a KD value of 0.2 nM. Subsequent human studies reveal significant correlations between PD-L1 expression and the [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-WL12 SUVmax in primary and metastatic lesions, surpassing the [18F]FDG results (r = 0.8889, p <0.0001 vs r = 0.0469, p = 0.8127). Notably, [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-WL12 imaging discerned SUVmax and TBR differences between PD-L1 TPS ≤1% and PD-L1 TPS > 1% groups (p all <0.001). In an NSCLC patient with brain metastases, [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-WL12 shows a SUVmean of 0.04 in the brain background, with TBR values of 17 and 23, underscoring its potential for detecting brain metastases. The study provides initial evidence for the clinical utility of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-WL12 PET/CT for lesion detection, immunotherapy selection, and therapeutic efficacy evaluation in PD-L1-expressing NSCLC, demonstrating its potential as a valuable tool in NSCLC research and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfei Wu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Dong Xu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Yue Gu
- Central Research Institute, United Imaging Healthcare Group Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 201807, China
| | - Guanglei Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Min Cao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Weijun Wei
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Posum Wan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Yihui Guan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Xiaofeng Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Fang Xie
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
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Badenhorst M, Windhorst AD, Beaino W. Navigating the landscape of PD-1/PD-L1 imaging tracers: from challenges to opportunities. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1401515. [PMID: 38915766 PMCID: PMC11195831 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1401515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy targeted to immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as the program cell death receptor (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1), has revolutionized cancer treatment. However, it is now well-known that PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy response is inconsistent among patients. The current challenge is to customize treatment regimens per patient, which could be possible if the PD-1/PD-L1 expression and dynamic landscape are known. With positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, it is possible to image these immune targets non-invasively and system-wide during therapy. A successful PET imaging tracer should meet specific criteria concerning target affinity, specificity, clearance rate and target-specific uptake, to name a few. The structural profile of such a tracer will define its properties and can be used to optimize tracers in development and design new ones. Currently, a range of PD-1/PD-L1-targeting PET tracers are available from different molecular categories that have shown impressive preclinical and clinical results, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. This review will provide an overview of current PET tracers targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. Antibody, peptide, and antibody fragment tracers will be discussed with respect to their molecular characteristics and binding properties and ways to optimize them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda Badenhorst
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, De Boelelaan, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Imaging and Biomarkers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Albert D. Windhorst
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, De Boelelaan, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Imaging and Biomarkers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Wissam Beaino
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, De Boelelaan, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Imaging and Biomarkers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Zhao Y, Hsu JC, Hu S, Cai W. PET imaging of PD-L1 with a small molecule radiotracer. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2024; 51:1578-1581. [PMID: 38459976 PMCID: PMC11042986 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-024-06663-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya), Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biological Nanotechnology of National Health Commission, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, China
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, K6/562 Clinical Science Center, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53705-2275, USA
| | - Jessica C Hsu
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, K6/562 Clinical Science Center, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53705-2275, USA
| | - Shuo Hu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya), Changsha, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biological Nanotechnology of National Health Commission, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, China.
| | - Weibo Cai
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, K6/562 Clinical Science Center, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53705-2275, USA.
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Yang H, Zeng X, Liu J, Wen X, Liu H, Liang Y, Wang X, Fang J, Zhang Q, Li J, Zhang X, Guo Z. Development of small-molecular-based radiotracers for PET imaging of PD-L1 expression and guiding the PD-L1 therapeutics. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2024; 51:1582-1592. [PMID: 38246910 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-024-06610-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a crucial biomarker for immunotherapy. However, nearly 70% of patients do not respond to PD-L1 immune checkpoint therapy. Accurate monitoring of PD-L1 expression and quantification of target binding during treatment are essential. In this study, a series of small-molecule radiotracers were developed to assess PD-L1 expression and direct immunotherapy. METHODS Radiotracers of [68Ga]Ga-D-PMED, [68Ga]Ga-D-PEG-PMED, and [68Ga]Ga-D-pep-PMED were designed based on a 2-methyl-3-biphenyl methanol scaffold and successfully synthesized. Cellular experiments and molecular docking assays were performed to determine their specificity for PD-L1. PD-L1 status was investigated via positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in MC38 tumor models. PET imaging of [68Ga]Ga-D-pep-PMED was performed to noninvasively quantify PD-L1 blocking using an anti-mouse PD-L1 antibody (PD-L1 mAb). RESULTS The radiosyntheses of [68Ga]Ga-D-PMED, [68Ga]Ga-D-PEG-PMED, and [68Ga]Ga-D-pep-PMED were achieved with radiochemical yields of 87 ± 6%, 82 ± 4%, and 79 ± 9%, respectively. In vitro competition assays demonstrated their high affinities (the IC50 values of [68Ga]Ga-D-PMED, [68Ga]Ga-D-PEG-PMED, and [68Ga]Ga-D-pep-PMED were 90.66 ± 1.24, 160.8 ± 1.35, and 51.6 ± 1.32 nM, respectively). At 120 min postinjection (p.i.) of the radiotracers, MC38 tumors displayed optimized tumor-to-muscle ratios for all radioligands. Owing to its hydrophilic modification, [68Ga]Ga-D-pep-PMED had the highest target-to-nontarget (T/NT) ratio of approximately 6.2 ± 1.2. Interestingly, the tumor/liver ratio was hardly affected by different concentrations of the inhibitor BMS202. We then evaluated the impacts of dose and time on accessible PD-L1 levels in the tumor during anti-mouse PD-L1 antibody treatment. The tumor uptake of [68Ga]Ga-D-pep-PMED significantly decreased with increasing PD-L1 mAb dose. Moreover, after 8 days of treatment with a single antibody, the uptake of [68Ga]Ga-D-pep-PMED in the tumor significantly increased but remained lower than that in the saline group. CONCLUSION PET imaging with [68Ga]Ga-D-pep-PMED, a small-molecule radiotracer, is a promising tool for evaluating PD-L1 expression and quantifying the target blockade of PD-L1 to assist in the development of effective therapeutic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongzhang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Xinying Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Jia Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Xuejun Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Huanhuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Yuanyuan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Xueqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Jianyang Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Qinglin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Jindian Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Xianzhong Zhang
- Theranostics and Translational Research Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine & Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Zhide Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
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Huang W, Son MH, Ha LN, Kang L, Cai W. Challenges coexist with opportunities: development of a macrocyclic peptide PET radioligand for PD-L1. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2024; 51:1574-1577. [PMID: 38492018 PMCID: PMC11131584 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-024-06680-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Wenpeng Huang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, No.8 Xishiku Str, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Mai Hong Son
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital 108, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Le Ngoc Ha
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital 108, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Lei Kang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, No.8 Xishiku Str, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, China.
| | - Weibo Cai
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, K6/562 Clinical Science Center, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53705-2275, USA.
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Zhang Y, Cao M, Wu Y, Malih S, Xu D, Yang E, Younis MH, Lin W, Zhao H, Wang C, Liu Q, Engle JW, Rasaee MJ, Guan Y, Huang G, Liu J, Cai W, Xie F, Wei W. Preclinical development of novel PD-L1 tracers and first-in-human study of [ 68Ga]Ga-NOTA-RW102 in patients with lung cancers. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008794. [PMID: 38580333 PMCID: PMC11002357 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-008794] [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] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed death receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1) axis critically facilitates cancer cells' immune evasion. Antibody therapeutics targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis have shown remarkable efficacy in various tumors. Immuno-positron emission tomography (ImmunoPET) imaging of PD-L1 expression may help reshape solid tumors' immunotherapy landscape. METHODS By immunizing an alpaca with recombinant human PD-L1, three clones of the variable domain of the heavy chain of heavy-chain only antibody (VHH) were screened, and RW102 with high binding affinity was selected for further studies. ABDRW102, a VHH derivative, was further engineered by fusing RW102 with the albumin binder ABD035. Based on the two targeting vectors, four PD-L1-specific tracers ([68Ga]Ga-NOTA-RW102, [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-ABDRW102, [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-ABDRW102, and [89Zr]Zr-DFO-ABDRW102) with different circulation times were developed. The diagnostic efficacies were thoroughly evaluated in preclinical solid tumor models, followed by a first-in-human translational investigation of [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-RW102 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). RESULTS While RW102 has a high binding affinity to PD-L1 with an excellent KD value of 15.29 pM, ABDRW102 simultaneously binds to human PD-L1 and human serum albumin with an excellent KD value of 3.71 pM and 3.38 pM, respectively. Radiotracers derived from RW102 and ABDRW102 have different in vivo circulation times. In preclinical studies, [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-RW102 immunoPET imaging allowed same-day annotation of differential PD-L1 expression with specificity, while [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-ABDRW102 and [89Zr]Zr-DFO-ABDRW102 enabled longitudinal visualization of PD-L1. More importantly, a pilot clinical trial shows the safety and diagnostic value of [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-RW102 immunoPET imaging in patients with NSCLCs and its potential to predict immune-related adverse effects following PD-L1-targeted immunotherapies. CONCLUSIONS We developed and validated a series of PD-L1-targeted tracers. Initial preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that immunoPET imaging with [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-RW102 holds promise in visualizing differential PD-L1 expression, selecting patients for PD-L1-targeted immunotherapies, and monitoring immune-related adverse effects in patients receiving PD-L1-targeted treatments. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT06165874.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Cao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery,Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanfei Wu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sara Malih
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Dong Xu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Huashan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Erpeng Yang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Muhsin H Younis
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Wilson Lin
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Haitao Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiufang Liu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Jonathan W Engle
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Mohammad J Rasaee
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yihui Guan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gang Huang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianjun Liu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weibo Cai
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Fang Xie
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weijun Wei
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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Krutzek F, Donat CK, Stadlbauer S. Chelator impact: investigating the pharmacokinetic behavior of copper-64 labeled PD-L1 radioligands. EJNMMI Radiopharm Chem 2024; 9:14. [PMID: 38372838 PMCID: PMC10876507 DOI: 10.1186/s41181-024-00243-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) plays a critical role in the tumor microenvironment and overexpression in several solid cancers has been reported. This was associated with a downregulation of the local immune response, specifically of T-cells. Immune checkpoint inhibitors showed a potential to break this localized immune paralysis, but only 30% of patients are considered responders. New diagnostic approaches are therefore needed to determine patient eligibility. Small molecule radiotracers targeting PD-L1, may serve as such diagnostic tools, addressing the heterogeneous PD-L1 expression between and within tumor lesions, thus aiding in therapy decisions. RESULTS Four biphenyl-based small-molecule PD-L1 ligands were synthesized using a convergent synthetic route with a linear sequence of up to eleven steps. As a chelator NODA-GA, CB-TE2A or DiAmSar was used to allow radiolabeling with copper-64 ([64Cu]Cu-14-[64Cu]Cu-16). In addition, a dimeric structure based on DiAmSar was synthesized ([64Cu]Cu-17). All four radioligands exhibited high proteolytic stability (> 95%) up to 48 h post-radiolabeling. Saturation binding yielded moderate affinities toward PD-L1, ranging from 100 to 265 nM. Real-time radioligand binding provided more promising KD values around 20 nM for [64Cu]Cu-14 and [64Cu]Cu-15. In vivo PET imaging in mice bearing both PC3 PD-L1 overexpressing and PD-L1-mock tumors was performed at 0-2, 4-5 and 24-25 h post injection (p.i.). This revealed considerably different pharmacokinetic profiles, depending on the substituted chelator. [64Cu]Cu-14, substituted with NODA-GA, showed renal clearance with low liver uptake, whereas substitution with the cross-bridged cyclam chelator CB-TE2A resulted in a primarily hepatobiliary clearance. Notably, the monomeric DiAmSar radioligand [64Cu]Cu-16 demonstrated a higher liver uptake than [64Cu]Cu-15, but was still renally cleared as evidenced by the lack of uptake in gall bladder and intestines. The dimeric structure [64Cu]Cu-17 showed extensive accumulation and trapping in the liver but was also cleared via the renal pathway. Of all tracer candidates and across all timepoints, [64Cu]Cu-17 showed the highest accumulation at 24 h p.i. in the PD-L1-overexpressing tumor of all timepoints and all radiotracers, indicating drastically increased circulation time upon dimerization of two PD-L1 binding motifs. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that chelator choice significantly influences the pharmacokinetic profile of biphenyl-based small molecule PD-L1 radioligands. The NODA-GA-conjugated radioligand [64Cu]Cu-14 exhibited favorable renal clearance; however, the limited uptake in tumors suggests the need for structural modifications to the binding motif for future PD-L1 radiotracers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Krutzek
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Cornelius K Donat
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sven Stadlbauer
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.
- School of Science, Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technical University Dresden, 01069, Dresden, Germany.
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13
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Zhu S, Liang B, Zhou Y, Chen Y, Fu J, Qiu L, Lin J. Development of novel peptide-based radiotracers for detecting PD-L1 expression and guiding cancer immunotherapy. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2024; 51:625-640. [PMID: 37878029 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-023-06480-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Due to tumor heterogeneity, immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed poor accuracy in detecting the expression of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) in patients. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is considered as a non-invasive technique to detect PD-L1 expression at the molecular level visually, real-timely and quantitatively. This study aimed to develop novel peptide-based radiotracers [68Ga]/[18F]AlF-NOTA-IMB for accurately detecting the PD-L1 expression and guiding the cancer immunotherapy. METHODS NOTA-IMB was prepared by connecting 2,2'-(7-(2-((2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl)oxy)- 2-oxoethyl)-1,4,7-triazonane-1,4-diyl) diacetic acid (NOTA-NHS) with PD-L1-targeted peptide IMB, and further radiolabeled with 68Ga or 18F-AlF. In vitro binding assay was conducted to confirm the ability of [68Ga]/[18F]AlF-NOTA-IMB to detect the expression of PD-L1. In vivo PET imaging of [68Ga]NOTA-IMB and [18F]AlF-NOTA-IMB in different tumor-bearing mice was performed, and dynamic changes of PD-L1 expression level induced by immunotherapy were monitored. Radioautography, western blotting, immunofluorescence staining and biodistribution analysis were carried out to further evaluate the specificity of radiotracers and efficacy of PD-L1 antibody immunotherapy. RESULTS [68Ga]NOTA-IMB and [18F]AlF-NOTA-IMB were both successfully prepared with high radiochemical yield (> 95% and > 60%, n = 5) and radiochemical purity (> 95% and > 98%, n = 5). Both tracers showed high affinity to human and murine PD-L1 with the dissociation constant (Kd) of 1.00 ± 0.16/1.09 ± 0.21 nM (A375-hPD-L1, n = 3) and 1.56 ± 0.58/1.21 ± 0.39 nM (MC38, n = 3), respectively. In vitro cell uptake assay revealed that both tracers can specifically bind to PD-L1 positive cancer cells A375-hPD-L1 and MC38 (5.45 ± 0.33/3.65 ± 0.15%AD and 5.87 ± 0.27/2.78 ± 0.08%AD at 120 min, n = 3). In vivo PET imaging and biodistribution analysis showed that the tracer [68Ga]NOTA-IMB and [18F]AlF-NOTA-IMB had high accumulation in A375-hPD-L1 and MC38 tumors, but low uptake in A375 tumor. Treatment of Atezolizumab induced dynamic changes of PD-L1 expression in MC38 tumor-bearing mice, and the tumor uptake of [68Ga]NOTA-IMB decreased from 3.30 ± 0.29%ID/mL to 1.58 ± 0.29%ID/mL (n = 3, P = 0.026) after five treatments. Similarly, the tumor uptake of [18F]AlF-NOTA-IMB decreased from 3.27 ± 0.63%ID/mL to 0.89 ± 0.18%ID/mL (n = 3, P = 0.0004) after five treatments. However, no significant difference was observed in the tumor uptake before and after PBS treatment. Biodistribution, radioautography, western blotting and immunofluorescence staining analysis further demonstrated that the expression level of PD-L1 in tumor-bearing mice treated with Atezolizumab significantly reduced about 3 times and correlated well with the PET imaging results. CONCLUSION [68Ga]NOTA-IMB and [18F]AlF-NOTA-IMB were successfully prepared for PET imaging the PD-L1 expression noninvasively and quantitatively. Dynamic changes of PD-L1 expression caused by immunotherapy can be sensitively detected by both tracers. Hence, the peptide-based radiotracers [68Ga]NOTA-IMB and [18F]AlF-NOTA-IMB can be applied for accurately detecting the PD-L1 expression in different tumors and monitoring the efficacy of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Zhu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Beibei Liang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China
| | - Yuxuan Zhou
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yinfei Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Jiayu Fu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Ling Qiu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China.
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Jianguo Lin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China.
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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Xie R, Cai Q, Chen T, Huang H, Chen C. Current and future on definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy for inoperable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1303068. [PMID: 38344202 PMCID: PMC10853813 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1303068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive and fatal disease that is usually diagnosed when the chances for surgical intervention has been missed. Definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) is the first choice of treatment for inoperable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA-ESCC). Nevertheless, the local recurrence rate for esophageal cancer patients undergoing dCRT remains high at 40-60%, with a 5-year overall survival rate of solely 10-30%. Immunotherapy in combination with dCRT is a promising treatment for inoperable LA-ESCC, for that improved long-term survival is expected. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of the evolutionary trajectory of dCRT for LA-ESCC, delineates notable relevant clinical studies, addresses unresolved concerns regarding the combination of dCRT with immunotherapy, and highlights promising directions for future research. When dCRT is combined with immunotherapy, the following aspects should be carefully explored in the future studies, including the optimal irradiation dose, segmentation scheme, radiotherapy technique, timing, sequence and duration of radiotherapy, and the selection of chemotherapeutic and immunologic drugs. In addition, further investigations on the mechanisms of how dCRT combined with immunotherapy exerts synergistic anti-tumor effects and molecular biomarkers ensuring precise screening of ESCC patients are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renxian Xie
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Qingxin Cai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Tong Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Hongxin Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Chuangzhen Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
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Zhou M, Xiang S, Zhao Y, Tang Y, Yang J, Yin X, Tian J, Hu S, Du Y. [ 68Ga]Ga-AUNP-12 PET imaging to assess the PD-L1 status in preclinical and first-in-human study. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2024; 51:369-379. [PMID: 37759096 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-023-06447-2] [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: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE PD-L1 PET imaging, as a non-invasive procedure, can perform a real-time, dynamic and quantitative analysis of PD-L1 expression at tumor sites. In this study, we developed a novel peptide-based PET tracer, [68 Ga]Ga-AUNP-12, for preclinical and first-of-its-kind imaging of PD-L1 expression in patients. METHODS Radiosynthesis of [68 Ga]Ga-AUNP-12 was conducted. Assays for cellular uptake and binding were conducted on the PANC02, CT26, and B16F10 cell lines. Preclinical models were used to investigate its biodistribution, imaging capacity, and pharmacokinetics. Furthermore, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) was used for development of an animal model with high PD-L1 expression for targeted PET imaging and efficacy evaluation of PD-L1 blocking therapy. In healthy volunteers and cancer patients, the PD-L1 imaging, radiation dosimetry, safety, and biodistribution were further evaluated. RESULTS In vitro and in vivo animal studies showed that [68 Ga]Ga-AUNP-12 PET imaging displayed a high specificity in evaluating PD-L1 expression. The radiochemical yield of [68 Ga]Ga-AUNP-12 was 71.7 ± 8.2%. Additionally, its molar activity and radiochemical purity were satisfactory. The B16F10 tumor was visualized with the tumor uptake of 6.86 ± 0.71% ID/g and tumor-to-muscle ratio of 6.83 ± 0.36 at 60 min after [68 Ga]Ga-AUNP-12 injection. Furthermore, [68 Ga]Ga-AUNP-12 PET imaging could sensitively detect the PD-L1 dynamic changes in CT26 tumor xenograft models regulated by IFN-γ treatment, and correspondingly can effectively guide immunotherapy. Regarding radiation dosimetry, [68 Ga]Ga-AUNP-12 is safe for human use. The first human study found that [68 Ga]Ga-AUNP-12 can be rapidly cleared from blood and other nonspecific organs through the kidney excretion, leading to form a clear imaging contrast in the clinical framework. The specificity of [68 Ga]Ga-AUNP-12 was validated and tumor uptake strongly correlated with the high PD-L1 expression in patients with lung adenocarcinoma and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). CONCLUSION [68 Ga]Ga-AUNP-12 was successfully developed as a PD-L1-specific PET imaging tracer in preclinical and first-in-human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zhou
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Shijun Xiang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Yajie Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Yongxiang Tang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Jinhui Yang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Xiaoqin Yin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Jie Tian
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 95 Zhongguancun East Road, Beijing, 100190, China.
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, Beihang University, No. 95 Zhongguancun East Road, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Shuo Hu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya), Changsha, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biological Nanotechnology of National Health Commission, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Rd, Changsha, 410008, China.
| | - Yang Du
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 95 Zhongguancun East Road, Beijing, 100190, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100080, People's Republic of China.
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Ma X, Zhou X, Hu B, Li X, Yao M, Li L, Qin X, Li D, Yao Y, Hou X, Liu S, Chen Y, Wang Z, Zhou W, Li N, Zhu H, Jia B, Yang Z. Preclinical evaluation and pilot clinical study of [ 68Ga]Ga-THP-APN09, a novel PD-L1 targeted nanobody radiotracer for rapid one-step radiolabeling and PET imaging. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2023; 50:3838-3850. [PMID: 37555904 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-023-06373-3] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Programmed cell death protein-1/ligand-1 (PD-1/L1) blockade has been a breakthrough in the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but there is still a lack of effective methods to screen patients. Here we report a novel 68 Ga-labeled nanobody [68 Ga]Ga-THP-APN09 for PET imaging of PD-L1 status in mouse models and a first-in-human study in NSCLC patients. METHODS [68 Ga]Ga-THP-APN09 was prepared by site-specific radiolabeling, with no further purification. Cell uptake assays were completed in the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549, NSCLC cell line H1975 and human PD-L1 gene-transfected A549 cells (A549PD-L1). The imaging to image PD-L1 status and biodistribution were investigated in tumor-bearing mice of these three tumor cell types. The first-in-human clinical translational trial was registered as NCT05156515. The safety, radiation dosimetry, biodistribution, and correlations of tracer uptake with immunohistochemical staining and major pathologic response (MPR) were evaluated in NSCLC patients who underwent adjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. RESULTS Radiosynthesis of [68 Ga]Ga-THP-APN09 was achieved at room temperature and a pH of 6.0-6.5 in 10 min with a high radiochemical yield (> 99%) and 13.9-27.8 GBq/μmol molar activity. The results of the cell uptake study reflected variable levels of surface PD-L1 expression observed by flow cytometry in the order A549PD-L1 > H1975 > A549. In small-animal PET/CT imaging, H1975 and A549PD-L1 tumors were clearly visualized in an 8.3:1 and 2.2:1 ratios over PD-L1-negative A549 tumors. Ex vivo biodistribution studies showed that tumor uptake was consistent with the PET results, with the highest A549PD-L1 being taken up the most (8.20 ± 0.87%ID/g), followed by H1975 (3.69 ± 0.50%ID/g) and A549 (0.90 ± 0.16%ID/g). Nine resectable NSCLC patients were enrolled in the clinical study. Uptake of [68 Ga]Ga-THP-APN09 was mainly observed in the kidneys and spleen, followed by low uptake in bone marrow. The radiation dose is within a reliable range. Tumor uptake was positively correlated with PD-L1 expression TPS (rs = 0.8763, P = 0.019). Tumor uptake of [68 Ga]Ga-THP-APN09 (SUVmax) in MPR patients was higher than that in non-MPR patients (median SUVmax 2.73 vs. 2.10, P = 0.036, determined with Mann-Whitney U-test). CONCLUSION [68 Ga]Ga-THP-APN09 has the potential to be transformed into a kit-based radiotracer for rapid, simple, one-step, room temperature radiolabeling. The tracer can detect PD-L1 expression levels in tumors, and it may make it possibility to predict the response of PD-1 immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. Confirmation in a large number of cases is needed. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trial (NCT05156515). Registered 12 December 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopan Ma
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No.52 Fucheng Rd., Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No.52 Fucheng Rd., Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Biao Hu
- Medical Isotopes Research Center and Department of Radiation Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, No.38 Xueyuan Rd., Beijing, 100191, China
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Molecular Imaging Lab, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoda Li
- Medical Isotopes Research Center and Department of Radiation Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, No.38 Xueyuan Rd., Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Meinan Yao
- Medical Isotopes Research Center and Department of Radiation Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, No.38 Xueyuan Rd., Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Liqiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No.52 Fucheng Rd., Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Xue Qin
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No.52 Fucheng Rd., Beijing, 100142, China
| | - DaPeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No.52 Fucheng Rd., Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Yuan Yao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No.52 Fucheng Rd., Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Xingguo Hou
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No.52 Fucheng Rd., Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Song Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No.52 Fucheng Rd., Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No.52 Fucheng Rd., Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Zilei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No.52 Fucheng Rd., Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Wenyuan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No.52 Fucheng Rd., Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Nan Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No.52 Fucheng Rd., Beijing, 100142, China.
| | - Hua Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No.52 Fucheng Rd., Beijing, 100142, China.
| | - Bing Jia
- Medical Isotopes Research Center and Department of Radiation Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, No.38 Xueyuan Rd., Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Zhi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No.52 Fucheng Rd., Beijing, 100142, China.
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Ge S, Zhang B, Li J, Shi J, Jia T, Wang Y, Chen Z, Sang S, Deng S. A novel 68Ga-labeled cyclic peptide molecular probe based on the computer-aided design for noninvasive imaging of PD-L1 expression in tumors. Bioorg Chem 2023; 140:106785. [PMID: 37639759 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) serves as a crucial biomarker for guiding the screening of cancer patients and the stratification of immunotherapy. However, due to the high heterogeneity of tumors, the current gold standard for detecting PD-L1 expression (immunohistochemistry) fails to comprehensively evaluate the overall PD-L1 expression levels in the body. Fortunately, the use of PD-L1 targeted radiotracers enables quantitative, real-time, and noninvasive assessment of PD-L1 expression levels and dynamics in tumors. Notably, analyzing the binding mode between the precursor and the target protein to find linker binding sites that do not affect the activity of the target molecule can greatly enhance the successful development of molecular probes. This study introduced a groundbreaking cyclic peptide molecular probe called 68Ga-DOTA-PG1. It was derived from the BMS-71 cyclic peptide and was specifically designed to evaluate the expression of PD-L1 in tumors. The radiolabeling yield of 68Ga-DOTA-PG1 surpassed 97% while maintaining a radiochemical purity of over 99%. In vitro experiments demonstrated the effective targeting of PD-L1 in tumor cells by 68Ga-DOTA-PG1, with significantly higher cellular uptake observed in A375-hPD-L1 cells (PD-L1 + ) compared to A375 cells (PD-L1-). Biodistribution and PET imaging studies consistently showed specific accumulation of 68Ga-DOTA-PG1 in A375-hPD-L1 tumors, with a maximum uptake of 11.06 ± 1.70% ID/g at 2 h, significantly higher than the tumor uptake in A375 cells (1.70 ± 0.17% ID/g). These results strongly indicated that 68Ga-DOTA-PG1 held great promise as a PET radiotracer for imaging PD-L1-positive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shushan Ge
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China; Nuclear Medicine Laboratory of Mianyang Central Hospital, Mianyang 621099, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Jihui Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Jinyu Shi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Tongtong Jia
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Zhengguo Chen
- Nuclear Medicine Laboratory of Mianyang Central Hospital, Mianyang 621099, China.
| | - Shibiao Sang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
| | - Shengming Deng
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China; Nuclear Medicine Laboratory of Mianyang Central Hospital, Mianyang 621099, China.
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Huang Y, Li C, Li Z, Wang Q, Huang S, Liu Q, Liang Y. Development and Preclinical Evaluation of [ 68Ga]BMSH as a New Potent Positron Emission Tomography Tracer for Imaging Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Expression. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1487. [PMID: 37895958 PMCID: PMC10610256 DOI: 10.3390/ph16101487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy targeting the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)/programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) pathway has shown remarkable efficacy against various cancers, but the overall response rate (ORR) is still low. PD-L1 expression in tumors may predict treatment response to immunotherapy. Indeed, ongoing clinical studies utilize a few PD-L1 radiotracers to assess PD-L1 expression as a predictive biomarker for immunotherapy. Here, we present a novel positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer called [68Ga]BMSH, which is derived from a small molecule inhibitor specifically targeting the binding site of PD-L1. The inhibitor was modified to optimize its in vivo pharmacokinetic properties and enable chelation of 68Ga. In vitro evaluation revealed [68Ga]BMSH possessed a strong binding affinity, high specificity, and rapid internalization in PD-L1 overexpressing cells. Biodistribution studies showed that PD-L1 overexpressing tumors had an uptake of [68Ga]BMSH at 4.22 ± 0.65%ID/g in mice, while the number was 2.23 ± 0.41%ID/g in PD-L1 low-expressing tumors. Micro-PET/CT imaging of tumor-bearing mice further confirmed that, compared to [18F]FDG, [68Ga]BMSH can specifically identify tumors with varying levels of PD-L1 expression. Our findings suggest that the [68Ga]BMSH is a PD-L1 radioligand with ideal imaging properties, and its further application in the clinical screening of PD-L1 overexpressing tumors may improve ORR for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Huang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China; (Y.H.); (C.L.); (Z.L.); (Q.W.); (S.H.)
| | - Chengze Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China; (Y.H.); (C.L.); (Z.L.); (Q.W.); (S.H.)
| | - Zhongjing Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China; (Y.H.); (C.L.); (Z.L.); (Q.W.); (S.H.)
| | - Qiong Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China; (Y.H.); (C.L.); (Z.L.); (Q.W.); (S.H.)
| | - Size Huang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China; (Y.H.); (C.L.); (Z.L.); (Q.W.); (S.H.)
| | - Qi Liu
- International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518057, China
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ying Liang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China; (Y.H.); (C.L.); (Z.L.); (Q.W.); (S.H.)
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Zhang L, Zhang S, Wu J, Wang Y, Wu Y, Sun X, Wang X, Shen J, Xie L, Zhang Y, Zhang H, Hu K, Wang F, Wang R, Zhang MR. Linear Peptide-Based PET Tracers for Imaging PD-L1 in Tumors. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:4256-4267. [PMID: 37368947 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 are particularly interesting immune checkpoint proteins for human cancer treatment. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging allows for the dynamic monitoring of PD-L1 status during tumor progression, thus informing patients' response index. Herein, we report the synthesis of two linear peptide-based radiotracers, [64Cu]/[68Ga]HKP2201 and [64Cu]/[68Ga]HKP2202, and validate their utility for PD-L1 visualization in preclinical models. The precursor peptide HKP2201 was derived from a linear peptide ligand, CLP002, which was previously identified by phage display and showed nanomolar affinity toward PD-L1. Appropriate modification of CLP002 via PEGylation and DOTA conjugation yielded HKP2201. The dimerization of HKP2201 generated HKP2202. The 64Cu and 68Ga radiolabeling of both precursors was studied and optimized. PD-L1 expression in mouse melanoma cell line B16F10, mouse colon cancer cell line MC38, and their allografts were assayed by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry staining. Cellular uptake and binding assays were conducted in both cell lines. PET imaging and ex vivo biodistribution studies were employed in tumor mouse models bearing B16F10 and MC38 allografts. [64Cu]/[68Ga]HKP2201 and [64Cu]/[68Ga]HKP2202 were obtained with satisfactory radiocharacteristics. They all showed lower liver accumulation compared to [64Cu]/[68Ga]WL12. B16F10 and MC38 cells and their tumor allografts sections were verified to express PD-L1. These tracers demonstrated a concentration-dependent cell affinity and a comparable half-maximal effect concentration (EC50) with radiolabeled WL12. Competitive binding and blocking studies demonstrated the specific target of these tracers to PD-L1. PET imaging and ex vivo biodistribution studies revealed notable tumor uptake in tumor-bearing mice and rapid clearance from blood and major organs. Importantly, [64Cu]/[68Ga]HKP2202 showed higher tumor uptake compared to [64Cu]/[68Ga]HKP2201. Of note, [64Cu] labeled tracers showed longer retention in tumors than [68Ga] labeled traces, indicating advantages in the long-term tracking of PD-L1 dynamics. In comparison, [68Ga]HKP2201 and [68Ga]HKP2202 showed lower liver accumulation, enabling its great potential in the fast detection of both primary and metastatic tumors, including hepatic carcinoma. [64Cu]/[68Ga]HKP2201 and [64Cu]/[68Ga]HKP2202 are promising PET tracers for visualizing PD-L1 status. Notably, their combination would cooperate in rapid diagnosis and subsequent treatment guidance. Future assessment of the radiotracers in patients is needed to fully evaluate their clinical value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute of Quantum Medical Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Siqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Jiang Wu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yanrong Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yuxuan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Xiaona Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Xingkai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Jieting Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Lin Xie
- Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute of Quantum Medical Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Yiding Zhang
- Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute of Quantum Medical Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Hailong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P. R. China
| | - Kuan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute of Quantum Medical Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Rui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P. R. China
| | - Ming-Rong Zhang
- Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute of Quantum Medical Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
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Jiang M, Hu Y, Lin G, Chen C, Li H. Radiotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors in locally advanced/metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: clinical trials, efficacy and future directions. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1177085. [PMID: 37325652 PMCID: PMC10261849 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1177085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common malignancy worldwide and often diagnosed at advanced stages with poor prognosis. Combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy seems to be a promising approach for treating ESCC. This comprehensive review article summarizes the current state of combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy in locally advanced/metastatic ESCC, delineates the clinical trials that merit attention, and outlines unresolved issues and future research directions in this field. The clinical trial findings suggest that radio-immunotherapy combination may improve tumor response and overall survival with manageable side effects, highlighting the importance of patient selection and the necessity for further research to optimize treatment strategies. Issues such as irradiation dosage, fractionation regimen, irradiation site and technique of radiotherapy, as well as the timing, sequence and duration of combination therapy will all affect treatment outcomes, justifying further in-depth investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjie Jiang
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, China
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Ren SQ, Ma Y, Fu LL, Hu KZ, Liang HR, Yu B, Tang GH. A comparative 18F-FDG and an anti-PD-L1 probe PET/CT imaging of implant-associated Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1182480. [PMID: 37293208 PMCID: PMC10244720 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1182480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Early and accurate diagnosis of infection-induced osteomyelitis, which often involves increased PD-L1 expression, is crucial for better treatment outcomes. Radiolabeled anti-PD-L1 nuclear imaging allows for sensitive and non-invasive whole-body assessments of PD-L1 expression. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of 18F-FDG and an 18F-labeled PD-L1-binding peptide probe (18F-PD-L1P) in PET imaging of implant-associated Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis (IAOM). Methods In this study, we synthesized an anti-PD-L1 probe and compared its efficacy with 18F-FDG and 18F-PD-L1P in PET imaging of implant-associated Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis (IAOM). The %ID/g ratios (i.e., radioactivity ratios between the infected and non-infected sides) of both probes were evaluated for sensitivity and accuracy in post-infected 7-day tibias and post-infected 21 days, and the intensity of 18F-PD-L1P uptake was compared with pathological changes measured by PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results Compared with 18F-FDG, 18F-PDL1P demonstrated higher %ID/g ratios for both post-infected 7-day tibias (P=0.001) and post-infected 21 days (P=0.028). The intensity of 18F-PD-L1P uptake reflected the pathological changes of osteomyelitic bones. In comparison to 18F-FDG, 18F-PDL1P provides earlier and more sensitive detection of osteomyelitis caused by S. aureus. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the 18F-PDL1P probe is a promising tool for the early and accurate detection of osteomyelitis caused by S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Qi Ren
- GuangDong Medical Products Administration (GDMPA) Key Laboratory for Quality Control and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Ma
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Cartilage Regenerative Medicine, Division of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Department of Orthopedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li-Lan Fu
- GuangDong Medical Products Administration (GDMPA) Key Laboratory for Quality Control and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kong-Zhen Hu
- GuangDong Medical Products Administration (GDMPA) Key Laboratory for Quality Control and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hao-Ran Liang
- GuangDong Medical Products Administration (GDMPA) Key Laboratory for Quality Control and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bin Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Cartilage Regenerative Medicine, Division of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Department of Orthopedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gang-Hua Tang
- GuangDong Medical Products Administration (GDMPA) Key Laboratory for Quality Control and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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