The salivary glands as a dose limiting organ of PSMA- targeted radionuclide therapy: A review of the lessons learnt so far

Searching for Protein Off-Targets of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen-Targeting Radioligands in the Salivary Glands

Background: Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radioligand therapies represent a highly effective treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. However, high and sustain uptake of PSMA-ligands in the salivary glands led to dose limiting dry mouth (xerostomia), especially with α-emitters. The expression of PSMA and histologic analysis couldn't directly explain the toxicity, suggesting a potential off-target mediator for uptake. In this study, we set out to search for possible off-target non-PSMA protein(s) in the salivary glands. Methods: A machine-learning based quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) model was built for seeking the possible off-target(s). The resulting target candidates from the model prediction were subjected to further analysis for salivary protein expression and structural homology at key regions required for PSMA-ligand binding. Furthermore, cellular binding assays were performed utilizing multiple cell lines with high expression of the candidate proteins and low expression of PSMA. Finally, PSMA knockout (PSMA-/-) mice were scanned by small animal PET/MR using [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 for in-vivo validation. Results: The screening of the trained QSAR model did not yield a solid off-target protein, which was corroborated in part by cellular binding assays. Imaging using PSMA-/- mice further demonstrated markedly reduced PSMA-radioligand uptake in the salivary glands. Conclusion: Uptake of the PSMA-targeted radioligands in the salivary glands remains primarily PSMA-mediated. Further investigations are needed to illustrate a seemingly different process of uptake and retention in the salivary glands than that in prostate cancer.

Future Treatment Strategies for Cancer Patients Combining Targeted Alpha Therapy with Pillars of Cancer Treatment: External Beam Radiation Therapy, Checkpoint Inhibition Immunotherapy, Cytostatic Chemotherapy, and Brachytherapy

Cancer is one of the most complex and challenging human diseases, with rising incidences and cancer-related deaths despite improved diagnosis and personalized treatment options. Targeted alpha therapy (TαT) offers an exciting strategy emerging for cancer treatment which has proven effective even in patients with advanced metastatic disease that has become resistant to other treatments. Yet, in many cases, more sophisticated strategies are needed to stall disease progression and overcome resistance to TαT. The combination of two or more therapies which have historically been used as stand-alone treatments is an approach that has been pursued in recent years. This review aims to provide an overview on TαT and the four main pillars of therapeutic strategies in cancer management, namely external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), cytostatic chemotherapy (CCT), and brachytherapy (BT), and to discuss their potential use in combination with TαT. A brief description of each therapy is followed by a review of known biological aspects and state-of-the-art treatment practices. The emphasis, however, is given to the motivation for combination with TαT as well as the pre-clinical and clinical studies conducted to date.

Tubarial salivary glands show a low relative contribution to functional salivary gland tissue mass

BACKGROUND

In 2021, the tubarial salivary glands (TSGs) were newly identified on prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) as macroscopic glands in the nasopharyngeal wall. However, the relative contribution of the TSGs to the total salivary gland function, and consequently on the development of xerostomia after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) or PSMA-targeted radionuclide therapy (RNT) is not known. Therefore, we aimed to determine the presence of the TSGs and to quantify uptake in the TSGs on PSMA PET.

METHODS

Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed on 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT scans of 100 patients with prostate cancer. The mean and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmean and SUVmax) in the TSGs were measured and compared to the parotid, submandibular and sublingual salivary glands (PSGs, SMSGs and SLSGs, respectively). Furthermore, proportional function of the TSGs was compared to the PSGs, SMSGs and SLSGs based on the total organ PSMA (TO-PSMA).

RESULTS

The TSGs were visible on 95% of the 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT scans. The normalized median SUVmean and SUVmax was significantly higher for the PSGs (p < 0.001) and SMSGs (p < 0.001) compared to the TSGs, but not for the SLSGs (p = 0.242 and p = 0.300, respectively). The normalized median TO-PSMA was significantly higher for the PSGs (p < 0.001) and SMSGs (p < 0.001), and significant lower for the SLSGs (p < 0.001) compared the TSGs.

CONCLUSIONS

The SUVmean, SUVmax and TO-PSMA of the TSGs were most comparable to the SLSGs. However, the measured PSMA uptake may be disproportional towards the saliva production. Therefore, future studies should focus on the relation between PSMA uptake and salivary function before and after PSMA therapy.

Targeted Radionuclide Therapy in Glioblastoma

Despite the development of various novel therapies, glioblastoma (GBM) remains a devastating disease, with a median survival of less than 15 months. Recently, targeted radionuclide therapy has shown significant progress in treating solid tumors, with the approval of Lutathera for neuroendocrine tumors and Pluvicto for prostate cancer by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This achievement has shed light on the potential of targeted radionuclide therapy for other solid tumors, including GBM. This review presents the current status of targeted radionuclide therapy in GBM, highlighting the commonly used therapeutic radionuclides emitting alpha, beta particles, and Auger electrons that could induce potent molecular and cellular damage to treat GBM. We then explore a range of targeting vectors, including small molecules, peptides, and antibodies, which selectively target antigen-expressing tumor cells with minimal or no binding to healthy tissues. Considering that radiopharmaceuticals for GBM are often administered locoregionally to bypass the blood-brain barrier (BBB), we review prominent delivery methods such as convection-enhanced delivery, local implantation, and stereotactic injections. Finally, we address the challenges of this therapeutic approach for GBM and propose potential solutions.

A review of 177Lu dosimetry workflows: how to reduce the imaging workloads?

177 Lu radiopharmaceutical therapy is a standardized systemic treatment, with a typical dose of 7.4 GBq per injection, but its response varies from patient to patient. Dosimetry provides the opportunity to personalize treatment, but it requires multiple post-injection images to monitor the radiopharmaceutical's biodistribution over time. This imposes an additional imaging burden on centers with limited resources. This review explores methods to lessen this burden by optimizing acquisition types and minimizing the number and duration of imaging sessions. After summarizing the different steps of dosimetry and providing examples of dosimetric workflows for177 Lu -DOTATATE and177 Lu -PSMA, we examine dosimetric workflows based on a reduced number of acquisitions, or even just one. We provide a non-exhaustive description of simplified methods and their assumptions, as well as their limitations. Next, we detail the specificities of each normal tissue and tumors, before reviewing dose-response relationships in the literature. In conclusion, we will discuss the current limitations of dosimetric workflows and propose avenues for improvement.

Biological determinants of PSMA expression, regulation and heterogeneity in prostate cancer

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is an important cell-surface imaging biomarker and therapeutic target in prostate cancer. The PSMA-targeted theranostic 177Lu-PSMA-617 was approved in 2022 for men with PSMA-PET-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. However, not all patients respond to PSMA-radioligand therapy, in part owing to the heterogeneity of PSMA expression in the tumour. The PSMA regulatory network is composed of a PSMA transcription complex, an upstream enhancer that loops to the FOLH1 (PSMA) gene promoter, intergenic enhancers and differentially methylated regions. Our understanding of the PSMA regulatory network and the mechanisms underlying PSMA suppression is evolving. Clinically, molecular imaging provides a unique window into PSMA dynamics that occur on therapy and with disease progression, although challenges arise owing to the limited resolution of PET. PSMA regulation and heterogeneity - including intertumoural and inter-patient heterogeneity, temporal changes, lineage dynamics and the tumour microenvironment - affect PSMA theranostics. PSMA response and resistance to radioligand therapy are mediated by a number of potential mechanisms, and complementary biomarkers beyond PSMA are under development. Understanding the biological determinants of cell surface target regulation and heterogeneity can inform precision medicine approaches to PSMA theranostics as well as other emerging therapies.

Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen: Alpha-labeled Radiopharmaceuticals

Novel prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligands labeled with α-emitting radionuclides are sparking a growing interest in prostate cancer treatment. These targeted alpha therapies (TATs) have attractive physical properties that deem them effective in progressive metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Among the PSMA TAT radiopharmaceuticals, [225Ac]Ac-PSMA has been used extensively on a compassionate basis and is currently undergoing phase I trials. Notably, TAT has the potential to improve quality of life and has favorable antitumor activity and outcomes in multiple scenarios other than in mCRPC. In addition, resistance mechanisms to TAT may be amenable to combination therapies.

Gastrin Releasing Peptide Receptors-targeted PET Diagnostics and Radionuclide Therapy for Prostate Cancer Management: Preclinical and Clinical Developments of the Past 5 Years

Each tumor has its own distinctive molecular identity. Treatment, therefore, should be tailored to this unique cancer phenotype. Theragnostics uses the same compound for targeted imaging and treatment, radiolabeled to an appropriate radionuclide, respectively. Gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPRs) are overexpressed in prostate cancer, and radiolabeled GRPR antagonists have shown high diagnostic performance at staging and biochemical recurrence. Several GRPR-targeting theragnostic compounds have been developed preclinically. Their translation into clinics is underway with 4 clinical trials recruiting participants with GRPR-expressing tumors.

Targeted interleukin-2 enhances the in vivo anti-cancer activity of Pluvicto™

PURPOSE

Pluvicto™ ([177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617), a radioligand therapeutic targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), has been recently approved for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPR). The drug suffers from salivary gland and kidney uptake that prevents its dose escalation to potentially curative doses. In this work, we sought to potentiate the in vivo anti-cancer activity of Pluvicto™ by combining it with L19-IL2, a clinical-stage investigational medicinal product based on tumor-targeted interleukin-2.

METHODS

We established a new PSMA-expressing model (HT-1080.hPSMA) and validated it using a fluoresceine analogue of PSMA-617 (compound 1). The HT-1080.hPSMA model was used to study the saturation and tumor retention of Pluvicto™ (compound 2) and to run combination therapy studies with L19-IL2. To complement our understanding of the mechanism of action of this novel combination, we conducted proteomics experiments on tumor samples after therapy with Pluvicto™ alone or in combination with the immunocytokine.

RESULTS

High, selective, and long-lived tumor uptake was observed for Pluvicto™ (2) in the novel HT-1080.hPSMA model. Therapy studies in HT-1080.hPSMA tumor-bearing mice revealed that the combination of Pluvicto™ (2) plus L19-IL2 mediated curative and durable responses in all animals. Potent in vivo anti-cancer activity was observed solely for the combination modality, at doses that were well tolerated by treated animals. Proteomics studies indicated that L19-IL2 boosts the activation of the immune system in animals pre-treated with Pluvicto™.

CONCLUSION

The therapeutic efficacy of Pluvicto™ at low radioactive doses can be effectively enhanced by the combination with L19-IL2. Our findings warrant further clinical exploration of this novel combination modality.

Improvements of 177Lu SPECT images from sparsely acquired projections by reconstruction with deep-learning-generated synthetic projections

BACKGROUND

For dosimetry, the demand for whole-body SPECT/CT imaging, which require long acquisition durations with dual-head Anger cameras, is increasing. Here we evaluated sparsely acquired projections and assessed whether the addition of deep-learning-generated synthetic intermediate projections (SIPs) could improve the image quality while preserving dosimetric accuracy.

METHODS

This study included 16 patients treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE with SPECT/CT imaging (120 projections, 120P) at four time points. Deep neural networks (CUSIPs) were designed and trained to compile 90 SIPs from 30 acquired projections (30P). The 120P, 30P, and three different CUSIP sets (30P + 90 SIPs) were reconstructed using Monte Carlo-based OSEM reconstruction (yielding 120P_rec, 30P_rec, and CUSIP_recs). The noise levels were visually compared. Quantitative measures of normalised root mean square error, normalised mean absolute error, peak signal-to-noise ratio, and structural similarity were evaluated, and kidney and bone marrow absorbed doses were estimated for each reconstruction set.

RESULTS

The use of SIPs visually improved noise levels. All quantitative measures demonstrated high similarity between CUSIP sets and 120P. Linear regression showed nearly perfect concordance of the kidney and bone marrow absorbed doses for all reconstruction sets, compared to the doses of 120P_rec (R2 ≥ 0.97). Compared to 120P_rec, the mean relative difference in kidney absorbed dose, for all reconstruction sets, was within 3%. For bone marrow absorbed doses, there was a higher dissipation in relative differences, and CUSIP_recs outperformed 30P_rec in mean relative difference (within 4% compared to 9%). Kidney and bone marrow absorbed doses for 30P_rec were statistically significantly different from those of 120_rec, as opposed to the absorbed doses of the best performing CUSIP_rec, where no statistically significant difference was found.

CONCLUSION

When performing SPECT/CT reconstruction, the use of SIPs can substantially reduce acquisition durations in SPECT/CT imaging, enabling acquisition of multiple fields of view of high image quality with satisfactory dosimetric accuracy.

Automated radiosynthesis and preclinical evaluation of two new PSMA-617 derivatives radiolabelled via [18F]AlF2+ method

BACKGROUND

In the last decade the development of new PSMA-ligand based radiopharmaceuticals for the imaging and therapy of prostate cancer has been a highly active and important area of research. The most promising derivative in terms of interaction with the antigen and clinical properties has been found to be "PSMA-617", and its lutetium-177 radiolabelled version has recently been approved by EU and USA regulatory agencies for therapeutic purposes. For the above reasons, the development of new derivatives of PSMA-617 radiolabelled with fluorine-18 may still be of great interest. This paper proposes the comparison of two different PSMA-617 derivatives functionalized with NODA and RESCA chelators, respectively, radiolabelled via [18F]AlF2+ complexation.

RESULTS

The organic synthesis of two PSMA-617 derivatives and their radiolabelling via [18F]AlF2+ complexation resulted to proceed efficiently and successfully. Moreover, stability in solution and in plasma has been evaluated. The whole radiosynthesis procedure has been fully automated, and the final products have been obtained with radiochemical yield and purity potentially suitable for clinical studies. The biodistribution of the two derivatives was performed both in prostate cancer and glioma tumour models. Compared with the reference [18F]F-PSMA-1007 and [18F]F-PSMA-617-RESCA, [18F]F-PSMA-617-NODA derivative showed a higher uptake in both tumors, faster clearance in non-target organs, and lower uptake in salivary glands.

CONCLUSION

PSMA-617 NODA and RESCA derivatives were radiolabelled successfully via [18F]AlF2+ chelation, the former being more stable in solution and human plasma. Moreover, preclinical biodistribution studies showed that [18F]F-PSMA-617-NODA might be of potential interest for clinical applications.

Combined whole-body dynamic and static PET/CT with low-dose [18F]PSMA-1007 in prostate cancer patients

AIM

In addition to significant improvements in sensitivity and image quality, the recent introduction of long axial field-of-view (LAFOV) PET/CT scanners has enabled dynamic whole-body imaging for the first time. We aim herein to determine an appropriate acquisition time range for static low-dose [18F]PSMA-1007 PET imaging and to investigate the whole-body pharmacokinetics of [18F]PSMA-1007 by dynamic PET with the LAFOV Biograph Vision Quadra PET/CT in a group of prostate cancer patients.

METHODOLOGY

In total, 38 prostate cancer patients were enrolled in the analysis for staging or re-staging purposes. Thirty-four patients underwent dynamic whole-body PET/CT (60 min) followed by static whole-body PET/CT and four patients underwent static whole-body PET/CT only. The activity applied was 2 MBq/kg [18F]PSMA-1007. The static PET images of 10-min duration (PET-10) were reconstructed and further split into 8-min (PET-8), 6-min (PET-6), 5-min (PET-5), 4-min (PET-4), and 2-min (PET-2) duration groups. Comparisons were made between the different reconstructed scan times in terms of lesion detection rate and image quality based on SUV calculations of tumor lesions and the spleen, which served as background. Analysis of the dynamic PET/CT data was based on a two-tissue compartment model using an image-derived input function obtained from the descending aorta.

RESULTS

Analysis of lesion detection rate showed no significant differences when reducing PET acquisitions from 10 up to 5 min. In particular, a total of 169 lesions were counted with PET-10, and the corresponding lesion detection rates (95% CI for the 90% quantile of the differences in tumor lesions) for shorter acquisitions were 100% (169/169) for PET-8 (95% CI: 0-0), 98.8% (167/169) for PET-6 (95% CI: 0-1), 95.9% (162/169) for PET-5 (95% CI: 0-3), 91.7% (155/169) for PET-4 (95% CI: 1-2), and 85.2% (144/169) for PET-2 (95% CI: 1-6). With the exception of PET-2, the differences observed between PET-10 and the other shorter acquisition protocols would have no impact on any patient in terms of clinical management. Objective evaluation of PET/CT image quality showed no significant decrease in tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) with shorter acquisition times, despite a gradual decrease in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the spleen. Whole-body quantitative [18F]PSMA-1007 pharmacokinetic analysis acquired with full dynamic PET scanning was feasible in all patients. Two-tissue compartment modeling revealed significantly higher values for the parameter k3 in tumor lesions and parotid gland compared to liver and spleen, reflecting a higher specific tracer binding to the PSMA molecule and internalization rate in these tissues, a finding also supported by the respective time-activity curves. Furthermore, correlation analysis demonstrated a significantly strong positive correlation (r = 0.72) between SUV and k3 in tumor lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

In prostate cancer, low-dose (2 MBq/kg) [18F]PSMA-1007 LAFOV PET/CT can reduce static scan time by 50% without significantly compromising lesion detection rate and objective image quality. In addition, dynamic PET can elucidate molecular pathways related to the physiology of [18F]PSMA-1007 in both tumor lesions and normal organs at the whole-body level. These findings unfold many of the potentials of the new LAFOV PET/CT technology in the field of PSMA-based diagnosis and theranostics of prostate cancer.

Long Axial Field-of-View (LAFOV) PET/CT in Prostate Cancer

PSMA-targeted PET/CT is currently considered the most effective non-invasive diagnostic technique for imaging PSMA-positive lesions in prostate cancer (PC), and its introduction has significantly enhanced the role of nuclear medicine in both the diagnosis and therapy (theranostics) of this oncological entity. In line with developments in radiopharmaceuticals, significant progress has been made in the development of PET/CT systems. In particular, the advent of long axial field-of-view (LAFOV) PET/CT scanners has represented a major leap forward in molecular imaging, with early results from clinical applications of these systems showing significant improvements over previous standard axial field-of-view systems in terms of sensitivity, image quality and lesion quantification, while enabling whole-body dynamic PET imaging. In this context, the introduction of the new LAFOV scanners may further enhance the use and potential of PSMA-ligand PET/CT in the diagnosis and management of PC. The initial but steadily growing literature on the application of the new technology in the field of PSMA-ligand PET/CT has already yielded encouraging results regarding the detection of PC lesions with high sensitivity while providing the possibility of ultra-fast or ultra-low dose examinations. Moreover, whole-body dynamic PET has rendered for the first time feasible to capture the pharmacokinetics PSMA-ligands in all major organs and most tumor lesions with high temporal resolution. The main results of these studies are presented in this review.

Discovery of Glutamate Carboxypeptidase III Ligands to Compete the Uptake of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 in Healthy Organs

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radio ligand therapeutics (RLTs), such as [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 (Pluvicto), have been shown to accumulate in salivary glands and kidneys, potentially leading to undesired side effects. As unwanted accumulation in normal organs may derive from the cross-reactivity of PSMA ligands to glutamate carboxypeptidase III (GCPIII), it may be convenient to block this interaction with GCPIII-selective ligands. Parallel screening of a DNA-encoded chemical library (DEL) against GCPIII and PSMA allowed the identification of GCPIII binders. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies resulted in the identification of nanomolar GCPIII ligands with up to 1000-fold selectivity over PSMA. We studied the ability of GCPIII ligands to counteract the binding of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 to human salivary glands by autoradiography and could demonstrate a partial radioprotection.

Lutetium-177 Labelled Anti-PSMA Monoclonal Antibody (Lu-TLX591) Therapy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Treatment Toxicity and Outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Whilst prostate cancer is the fourth most common cancer globally, effective therapies for patients with advanced disease are lacking. In recent years, interest in using theranostic agents to treat castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and metastatic prostate cancer has emerged. Lu-TLX591 monoclonal antibody is a potential agent of significance; however, to date, reports on its toxicity and efficacy have been limited to small clinical trials in heavily pretreated patients. This retrospective study describes the real-world toxicity and efficacy profile of Lu-TLX591.

METHODS

Eighteen patients received Lu-TLX591 at two private oncology centres in Australia. Patients were eligible if they had CRPC or metastatic prostate cancer and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-avid disease confirmed by PSMA-positron emission tomography (PET). Patients received two cycles of Lu-TLX591 monoclonal antibody (177 Lu-DOTA-rosopatamab) each dosed from 1.01-2.85 GBq, 14 days apart. Patient side effects, blood test results and radiology reports were recorded on the patient's electronic medical record (eMR).

RESULTS

Prominent side effects included fatigue (55.6%), anorexia (16.7%), nausea (11.1%), and transfusion reactions (11.1%). All-grade haematological toxicities included lymphopenia (61.1%), anaemia (22.2%), leukopenia (27.8%), neutropenia (27.8%), and thrombocytopenia (27.8%). Grade 4 toxicity included lymphopenia (6.7%) and thrombocytopenia (6.7%). Patients' prostate-specific antigen (PSA) responses were as follows; ≥ 30% PSA decline (27.8%), ≥ 50% PSA decline (11.4%) and any PSA decline (38.9%). Follow-up radiology revealed 54.5% stable disease, 45.4% disease progression and 9.1% disease regression.

CONCLUSION

Lu-TLX591 was safely administered at acceptable toxicity and its efficacy reflects previous clinical trials. Larger studies are required and are underway (NCT04786847; NCT05146973; NCT04876651) to determine Lu-TLX591 effectiveness amongst different prostate cancer populations and compare its efficacy against peptide-based radiopharmaceutical agents.

Human ABC and SLC Transporters: The Culprit Responsible for Unspecific PSMA-617 Uptake?

[177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 has recently been successfully approved by the FDA, the MHRA, Health Canada and the EMA as Pluvicto®. However, salivary gland (SG) and kidney toxicities account for its main dose-limiting side-effects, while its corresponding uptake and retention mechanisms still remain elusive. Recently, the presence of different ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, such as human breast cancer resistance proteins (BCRP), multidrug resistance proteins (MDR1), multidrug-resistance-related proteins (MRP1, MRP4) and solute cassette (SLC) transporters, such as multidrug and toxin extrusion proteins (MATE1, MATE2-K), organic anion transporters (OAT1, OAT2v1, OAT3, OAT4) and peptide transporters (PEPT2), has been verified at different abundances in human SGs and kidneys. Therefore, our aim was to assess whether [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 and [225Ac]Ac-PSMA-617 are substrates of these ABC and SLC transporters. For in vitro studies, the novel isotopologue ([α,β-3H]Nal)Lu-PSMA-617 was used in cell lines or vesicles expressing the aforementioned human ABC and SLC transporters for inhibition and uptake studies, respectively. The corresponding probe substrates and reference inhibitors were used as controls. Our results indicate that [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 and [225Ac]Ac-PSMA-617 are neither inhibitors nor substrates of the examined transporters. Therefore, our results show that human ABC and SLC transporters play no central role in the uptake and retention of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 and [225Ac]Ac-PSMA-617 in the SGs and kidneys nor in the observed toxicities.

Oral Toxicities of PSMA-Targeted Immunotherapies for The Management of Prostate Cancer

INTRODUCTION

Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-targeted radionucleotide therapy has been shown to cause dry mouth, but the oral manifestations of PSMA-targeted immunotherapy have not been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to describe and quantify the oral manifestations of PSMA-targeted immunotherapies (bispecific antibodies or Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell therapies) in the management of metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of the oral toxicities of PSMA-targeted immunotherapies of the patients seen at a single institution's cancer center between 2020 and 2023. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data.

RESULTS

In a total of 19 patients treated with PSMA-targeted immunotherapies between 2020 and 2023, 9 patients (47%) experienced the following oral toxicities: xerostomia (n = 6; 32%), mucositis (n = 2; 10%), dysgeusia, dry throat and teeth sensitivity in (n = 1 each; 5%), respectively. Oral infections, such as candidiasis and herpes simplex, were not observed in any patients. Mucositis was managed with salt rinses and resolved within few months from onset. Xerostomia persisted in all the patients (median: 306 days, range: 98-484 days) among those who reported dry mouth at the time of data collection, despite treatment with salivary stimulants (n = 5; 83%). Dysgeusia was also persistent, although it was not specifically treated.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients treated with PSMA-targeted immunotherapies for prostate cancer can present with various short-term and long-term off-tumor on-target oral toxicities including xerostomia and dysgeusia that may affect quality of life. This study serves as a foundation to future prospective studies with a larger sample size and also helps oncologists managing prostate cancer patients with targeted immunotherapies to familiarize common oral toxicities. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of oral medicine consultation for a comprehensive oral examination and management of oral complications.

177Lu-PSMA therapy in metastatic prostate cancer: An updated review of prognostic and predictive biomarkers

177Lu-PSMA has been approved for the treatment of PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant (mCRPC) patients who progressed to androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) and taxane-based chemotherapy. However, a higher proportion of patients do not respond to this type of radioligand therapy (RLT). To date, there is a lack of validated prognostic and predictive biomarkers for 177Lu-PSMA therapy in prostate cancer. Several studies have investigated the prognostic and predictive role of clinical and molecular factors and also the metabolic features of PET imaging. In this review, we aim to take stock of the current scenario, focusing on new emerging data from retrospective/prospective series and clinical trials. Given the high costs and the possibility of primary resistance, it seems essential to identify clinical and molecular characteristics that could allow clinicians to choose the right patient to treat with 177Lu-PSMA. Biomarker-based clinical trials are urgently needed in this field.

In vivo activation of FAP-cleavable small molecule-drug conjugates for the targeted delivery of camptothecins and tubulin poisons to the tumor microenvironment

Small molecule-drug conjugates (SMDCs) are increasingly considered as a therapeutic alternative to antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for cancer therapy. OncoFAP is an ultra-high affinity ligand of Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP), a stromal tumor-associated antigen overexpressed in a wide variety of solid human malignancies. We have recently reported the development of non-internalizing OncoFAP-based SMDCs, which are activated by FAP thanks to selective proteolytic cleavage of the -GlyPro- linker with consequent release of monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) in the tumor microenvironment. In this article, we describe the generation and the in vivo characterization of FAP-cleavable OncoFAP-drug conjugates based on potent topoisomerase I inhibitors (DXd, SN-38, and exatecan) and an anti-tubulin payload (MMAE), which are already exploited in clinical-stage and approved ADCs. The Glycine-Proline FAP-cleavable technology was directly benchmarked against linkers found in Adcetris™, Enhertu™, and Trodelvy™ structures by means of in vivo therapeutic experiments in mice bearing tumors with cellular or stromal FAP expression. OncoFAP-GlyPro-Exatecan and OncoFAP-GlyPro-MMAE emerged as the most efficacious anti-cancer therapeutics against FAP-positive cellular models. OncoFAP-GlyPro-MMAE exhibited a potent antitumor activity also against stromal models, and was therefore selected for clinical development.

Estimation of absorbed dose to salivary glands in mCRPC patients undergoing 177 Lu- PSMA-617 radioligand therapy using quantitative SPECT-CT at single time point: a single-center feasibility study

OBJECTIVE

177 Lu-PSMA-617-radioligand therapy (RLT) has shown promising therapeutic role in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. However, off-target action in salivary glands often presents with xerostomia. Personalized dosimetry can help in optimizing the treatment, however, has so far been tedious due to multiple time-point imaging. In this prospective study, we intended to estimate the absorbed dose delivered to the salivary glands in patients undergoing 177 Lu-PSMA-617-RLT using quantitative SPECT/CT at a single time point.

METHODS

Patients undergoing 177 Lu-PSMA-617 RLT were included in this prospective study. Post-therapy whole-body images and regional quantitative single time-point SPECT/CT were acquired at 24 h with high-energy collimator. The data was processed and analyzed using Q.Metrix software. A scaling factor, that is, the time-integrated activity conversion factor was applied for the image acquired at 24 h. Absorbed doses were computed using MIRD scheme and OLINDA software.

RESULTS

A total of 21 patients (mean age: 66 ± 9 years) were included. The value of mean absorbed dose for the parotid glands was 1.90 ± 1.31Gy (range: 0.26-6.23) and that for the submandibular glands was 1.37 ± 0.94Gy (range: 0.16-3.65). The mean absorbed doses per administered activity for the parotid and submandibular glands were 0.26 ± 0.18 Gy/GBq and 0.19 ± 0.12 Gy/GBq, respectively. The absorbed doses were estimated for one cycle of therapy and were well within acceptable limits. None of the patients experienced dryness of mouth.

CONCLUSION

Single time-point dosimetry with quantitative SPECT/CT is feasible and can be standardized to estimate the absorbed dose to salivary glands instead of multiple time-point acquisitions.

Renal and Multiorgan Safety of 177Lu-PSMA-617 in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer in the VISION Dosimetry Substudy

In the VISION trial, [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 (177Lu-PSMA-617) plus protocol-permitted standard of care significantly improved overall survival and radiographic progression-free survival compared with standard of care alone in patients with prostate-specific membrane antigen-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. This VISION dosimetry substudy quantified absorbed doses of 177Lu-PSMA-617 in the kidneys and other organs. Methods: Participants were a separate cohort of 30 nonrandomized patients receiving standard of care plus 177Lu-PSMA-617 at 7.4 GBq per cycle for up to 6 cycles. Blood samples, whole-body conjugate planar image scintigraphy, and abdominal SPECT/CT images were collected. SPECT/CT images were collected at 2, 24, 48, and 168 h after administration in cycle 1 and at a single time point 48 h after administration in cycles 2-6. Outcomes were absorbed dose per unit activity per cycle and cumulative absorbed dose over all cycles. Cumulative absorbed doses were predicted by extrapolation from cycle 1, and calculation of observed values was based on measurements of cycle 1 and cycles 2-6. Safety was also assessed. Results: Mean (±SD) absorbed doses per cycle in the kidneys were 0.43 ± 0.16 Gy/GBq in cycle 1 and 0.44 ± 0.21 Gy/GBq in cycles 2-6. The observed and predicted 6-cycle cumulative absorbed doses in the kidneys were 15 ± 6 and 19 ± 7 Gy, respectively. Observed and predicted cumulative absorbed doses were similar in other at-risk organs. Safety findings were consistent with those in the VISION study; no patients experienced renal treatment-emergent adverse events of a grade higher than 3. Conclusion: The renal cumulative absorbed 177Lu-PSMA-617 dose was below the established limit. 177Lu-PSMA-617 had a good overall safety profile, and low renal radiotoxicity was not a safety concern. Cumulative absorbed doses in at-risk organs over multiple cycles can be predicted by extrapolation from cycle 1 data in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer receiving 177Lu-PSMA-617.

Kinetic modeling and parametric imaging of 18 F-PSMA-11: An evaluation based on total-body dynamic positron emission tomography scans

BACKGROUND

The prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeted positron-emitting tomography (PET) tracers are increasingly used in clinical practice, with novel tracers constantly being developed. Recently, 18 F-PSMA-11 has been gaining growing interest for several merits; however, direct in vivo visualization of its kinetic features in humans remains lacking.

PURPOSE

To visualize the kinetic features of 18 F-PSMA-11 in healthy subjects and patients with prostate cancer derived from the total-body dynamic PET scans.

METHODS

A total of 8 healthy volunteers (7 males; 1 female) and 3 patients with prostate cancer underwent total-body PET/CT imaging at 1 and 2 h post injection (p.i.) of 18 F-PSMA-11, of which 7 healthy subjects and 3 patients underwent total-body dynamic PET scans lasting 30 min. Reversible two-tissue compartments (2TC) and Patlak models were fitted based on the voxel-based time activity curves (TACs), with the parametric images generated subsequently. Additionally, semi-automated segmentation of multiple organs was performed in the dynamic images to measure the SUVmean at different time points and in the parametric images to estimate the mean value of the kinetic parameters of these organs.

RESULTS

18 F-PSMA-11 showed quick accumulation within prostate cancer, as early as 45 s after tracer injection. It was rapidly cleared from blood circulation and predominantly excreted through the urinary system. High and rapid radiotracer accumulation was observed in the liver, spleen, lacrimal glands, and salivary glands, whereas gradual accumulation was observed in the skeleton. Prostate cancer tissue is visualized in all parametric images, and best seen in DV and Patlak Ki images. Patlak Ki showed a good correlation with 2TC Ki values (r = 0.858, p < 0.05) but less noise than 2TC images. A scanning time point of 30-35 min p.i. was then suggested for satisfactory tumor to background ratio.

CONCLUSION

Prostate cancer tissue is visible in most parametric images, and is better shown by Patlak Ki and 2TC DV images. Patlak Ki is consistent with, and thus is preferred over, 2TC Ki images for substantially quicker calculation. Based on the dynamic imaging analysis, a shorter uptake time (30-35 min) might be preferred for a better balance of tumor to background ratio.

Alpha Particle-Emitting Radiopharmaceuticals as Cancer Therapy: Biological Basis, Current Status, and Future Outlook for Therapeutics Discovery

Critical advances in radionuclide therapy have led to encouraging new options for cancer treatment through the pairing of clinically useful radiation-emitting radionuclides and innovative pharmaceutical discovery. Of the various subatomic particles used in therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, alpha (α) particles show great promise owing to their relatively large size, delivered energy, finite pathlength, and resulting ionization density. This review discusses the therapeutic benefits of α-emitting radiopharmaceuticals and their pairing with appropriate diagnostics, resulting in innovative "theranostic" platforms. Herein, the current landscape of α particle-emitting radionuclides is described with an emphasis on their use in theranostic development for cancer treatment. Commonly studied radionuclides are introduced and recent efforts towards their production for research and clinical use are described. The growing popularity of these radionuclides is explained through summarizing the biological effects of α radiation on cancer cells, which include DNA damage, activation of discrete cell death programs, and downstream immune responses. Examples of efficient α-theranostic design are described with an emphasis on strategies that lead to cellular internalization and the targeting of proteins involved in therapeutic resistance. Historical barriers to the clinical deployment of α-theranostic radiopharmaceuticals are also discussed. Recent progress towards addressing these challenges is presented along with examples of incorporating α-particle therapy in pharmaceutical platforms that can be easily converted into diagnostic counterparts.

Tandem Isotope Therapy with 225Ac- and 177Lu-PSMA-617 in a Murine Model of Prostate Cancer

Radionuclide therapy targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a promising option for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Clinical experience using 177Lu or 225Ac has demonstrated encouraging treatment responses; however, responses are not durable. Dual-isotope combinations, or "tandem" approaches, may improve tolerability while retaining a high tumor dose. In this study, we directly compared α- versus β-particle treatment, as well as a combination thereof, at different stages of disease in a murine model of disseminated prostate cancer. Methods: First, to determine comparable injected activities from 177Lu- and 225Ac-PSMA-617, ex vivo biodistribution studies were performed at 5 time points after treatment of C4-2 subcutaneous tumor-bearing NSG mice. To establish a more representative model of metastatic prostate cancer, NSG mice were inoculated with luciferase-expressing C4-2 cells in the left ventricle, leading to disseminated visceral and bone lesions. At either 3 or 5 wk after inoculation, the mice were treated with equivalent tumor dose-depositing activities of 177Lu- or 225Ac-PSMA-617 alone or in combination (35 MBq of 177Lu, 40 kBq of 225Ac, or 17 MBq of 177Lu + 20 kBq 225Ac; 10/group). Disease burden was assessed by weekly bioluminescence imaging. Treatment efficacy was evaluated using whole-body tumor burden and overall survival. Results: The ex vivo biodistribution studies revealed that 35 MBq of 177Lu and 40 kBq of 225Ac yield equivalent absorbed tumor doses in a subcutaneous C4-2 model. The disease burden of mice treated at 3 wk after inoculation (microscopic disease) with 177Lu was not significantly different from that of untreated mice. However, 225Ac-PSMA-617 both as a single agent and in combination with 177Lu (17 MBq of 177Lu + 20 kBq of 225Ac) were associated with significant whole-body tumor growth retardation and survival benefit (overall survival, 8.3 wk for nontreatment, 9.4 wk for 177Lu, 15.3 wk for 225Ac alone, and 14.1 wk for tandem therapy). When treated at 5 wk after inoculation (macroscopic disease), all treatment groups showed retarded tumor growth and improved survival, with no significant differences between 225Ac alone and administration of half the 225Ac activity in tandem with 177Lu (overall survival, 7.9 wk for nontreatment, 10.3 wk for 177Lu, 14.6 wk for 225Ac alone, and 13.2 wk for tandem therapy). Conclusion: Treatment of a disseminated model of prostate cancer with simultaneous 225Ac- and 177Lu-PSMA-617 results in significantly decreased tumor growth compared with 177Lu, which was ineffective as a single agent against microscopic lesions. Mice treated later in the disease progression and bearing macroscopic, millimeter-sized lesions experienced significant tumor growth retardation and survival benefit in both monoisotopic and tandem regimens of 177Lu and 225Ac. Although the greatest benefits were observed with the single agent 225Ac, the tandem arm experienced no significant difference in disease burden or survival benefit, suggesting that the reduced activity of 225Ac was adequately compensated in the tandem arm. The superior therapeutic efficacy of 225Ac in this model suggests a preference for α-emitters alone, or possibly in combination, in the microscopic disease setting.

A DNA-encoded chemical library based on chiral 4-amino-proline enables stereospecific isozyme-selective protein recognition

DNA-encoded chemical libraries (DELs) consist of large chemical compound collections individually linked to DNA barcodes, facilitating pooled construction and screening. However, screening campaigns often fail if the molecular arrangement of the building blocks is not conducive to an efficient interaction with a protein target. Here we postulated that the use of rigid, compact and stereo-defined central scaffolds for DEL synthesis may facilitate the discovery of very specific ligands capable of discriminating between closely related protein targets. We synthesized a DEL comprising 3,735,936 members, featuring the four stereoisomers of 4-aminopyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid as central scaffolds. The library was screened in comparative selections against pharmaceutically relevant targets and their closely related protein isoforms. Hit validation results revealed a strong impact of stereochemistry, with large affinity differences between stereoisomers. We identified potent isozyme-selective ligands against multiple protein targets. Some of these hits, specific to tumour-associated antigens, demonstrated tumour-selective targeting in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, constructing DELs with stereo-defined elements contributed to high library productivity and ligand selectivity.

Biomimetic Gland Models with Engineered Stratagems

As extensively distributed tissues throughout the human body, glands play a critical role in various physiological processes. Therefore, the construction of biomimetic gland models in vitro has aroused great interest in multiple disciplines. In the biological field, the researchers focus on optimizing the cell sources and culture techniques to reconstruct the specific structures and functions of glands, such as the emergence of organoid technology. From the perspective of biomedical engineering, the generation of biomimetic gland models depends on the combination of engineered scaffolds and microfluidics, to mimic the in vivo environment of glandular tissues. These engineered stratagems endowed gland models with more biomimetic features, as well as a wide range of application prospects. In this review, we first describe the biomimetic strategies for constructing different in vitro gland models, focusing on the role of microfluidics in promoting the structure and function development of biomimetic glands. After summarizing several common in vitro models of endocrine and exocrine glands, the applications of gland models in disease modelling, drug screening, regenerative medicine, and personalized medicine are enumerated. Finally, we conclude the current challenges and our perspective of these biomimetic gland models.

PSMA-targeted therapy for non-prostate cancers

Radioligand therapy (RLT) agents are demonstrating a crucial role in the clinical approach to aggressive malignancies such as metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (m-CRPC). With the recent FDA approval of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted RLT for m-CRPC, the field has broadened its gaze to explore other cancers that express PSMA in the tumor parenchyma or tumor neovasculature. In this review article, we discuss current progress in the clinical use of PSMA RLTs in non-prostate cancers such salivary gland cancers, renal cell carcinoma, high grade glioma, and soft tissue sarcoma. We highlight early reports in small case series and clinical trials indicating promise for PSMA-targeted RLT and highlighting the importance of identifying patient cohorts who may most benefit from these interventions. Further study is indicated in non-prostate cancers investigating PSMA RLT dosimetry, PSMA PET/CT imaging as a biomarker, and assessing PSMA RLT safety and efficacy in these cancers.

Population pharmacokinetic dosimetry model using imaging data to assess variability in pharmacokinetics of 177 Lu-PSMA-617 in prostate cancer patients

Studies to evaluate and optimize [177 Lu]Lu-PSMA treatment focus primarily on individual patient data. A population pharmacokinetic (PK) dosimetry model was developed to explore the potential of using imaging data as input for population PK models and to characterize variability in organ and tumor uptake of [177 Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 in patients with low volume metastatic prostate cancer. Simulations were performed to identify the effect of dose adjustments on absorbed doses in salivary glands and tumors. A six-compartment population PK model was developed, consisting of blood, salivary gland, kidneys, liver, tumor, and a lumped compartment representing other tissue (compartment 1-6, respectively), based on data from 10 patients who received [177 Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 (2 cycles, ~ 3 and ~ 6 GBq). Data consisted of radioactivity levels (decay corrected) in blood and tissues (9 blood samples and 5 single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography scans). Observations in all compartments were adequately captured by individual model predictions. Uptake into salivary glands was saturable with an estimated maximum binding capacity (Bmax ) of 40.4 MBq (relative standard error 12.3%) with interindividual variability (IIV) of 59.3% (percent coefficient of variation [CV%]). IIV on other PK parameters was relatively minor. Tumor volume was included as a structural effect on the tumor uptake rate constant (k15 ), where a two-fold increase in tumor volume resulted in a 1.63-fold increase in k15 . In addition, interoccasion variability on k15 improved the model fit (43.5% [CV%]). Simulations showed a reduced absorbed dose per unit administered activity for salivary glands after increasing radioactivity dosing from 3 to 6 GBq (0.685 Gy/GBq vs. 0.421 Gy/GBq, respectively). All in all, population PK modeling could help to improve future radioligand therapy research.

Impact of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 Radioligand Therapy on Reference Organ Uptake Assessed by [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11-PET/CT

This study aims to assess the change in uptake to reference organs, including the liver, parotid and salivary glands after radioligand therapy (RLT) with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 in relation to pretreatment imaging metrics. Eighty-five patients with mCRPC underwent [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging prior to (pre RLT PET) and after (post RLT PET) a median of 3 (IQR 2-6) RLT cycles with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617. PSMA-positive tumor burden was stratified into 4 groups based on modified PROMISE criteria (oligofocal, multifocal, disseminated, diffuse). Uptake (SUVmean, SUVmax) in liver tissue, parotid and submandibular glands was measured. A control group was established with 54 patients who had received two separate PET acquisitions following the same protocol (PET1, PET2) within 12 months for localized or oligofocal prostate cancer without RLT in the interim. Baseline uptake values (SUVmean, SUVmax) in parotid (10.8 ± 3.2, 16.8 ± 5.4) and submandibular glands (11.3 ± 2.8, 18.1 ± 4.7) are 2-fold compared to liver uptake (4.9 ± 1.4, 7.7 ± 2.0), with no significant change between PET 1 and PET 2 in the control group. In the RLT group, increasing tumor burden class is significantly associated with decreasing uptake in the liver (p = 0.013), parotid (p < 0.001) and submandibular glands (p < 0.001); this tumor sink effect by respective tumor burden is widely maintained after RLT (p = 0.011, p < 0.001, p < 0.001). RLT has a significant impact on salivary gland uptake with decreasing values per patient in all groups of disease burden change (up to -30.4% in submandibular glands, p < 0.001), while liver tissue shows rising values in patients with declining tumor burden throughout RLT (+18.6%, p = 0.020). Uptake in liver tissue and salivary glands on [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging is inversely related to tumor burden prior to and following RLT with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617. Per patient, salivary gland uptake is further reduced throughout RLT independently from tumor burden, while changes in liver uptake remain burden-dependent. Liver and salivary gland uptake-derived metrics and segmentation thresholds may thus be of limited value when used as reference for response assessment to RLT.

Predicting the effect of different folate doses on [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 organ and tumor uptake using physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling

BACKGROUND

Folate intake might reduce [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 uptake in tissues due to a competitive binding to the PSMA receptor. For diagnostic imaging, this could impact decision making, while during radioligand therapy this could affect treatment efficacy. The relationship between folate dose, timing of dosing and tumor and organ uptake is not well established. The aim of this study was to develop a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to predict the effect of folates on [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT uptake in salivary glands, kidneys and tumors.

METHODS

A PBPK model was developed for [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and folates (folic acid and its metabolite 5-MTHF), with compartments added that represent salivary glands and tumor. Reactions describing receptor binding, internalization and intracellular degradation were included. Model evaluation for [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 was performed by using patient scan data from two different studies (static and dynamic), while for folates data from the literature were used for evaluation. Simulations were performed to assess the effect of different folate doses (150 µg, 400 µg, 5 mg and 10 mg) on accumulation in salivary glands, kidney and tumor, also for patients with different tumor volumes (10, 100, 500 and 1000 mL).

RESULTS

Final model evaluation showed that predictions adequately described data for both [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and folates. Predictions of a 5-MTFH dose of 150 µg and folic acid dose of 400 µg (in case of administration at the same time as [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 (t = 0)) showed no clinically relevant effect on salivary glands and kidney uptake. However, the effect of a decrease in salivary glands and kidney uptake was determined to be clinically relevant for doses of 5 mg (34% decrease for salivary glands and 32% decrease for kidney) and 10 mg (36% decrease for salivary glands and 34% decrease for kidney). Predictions showed that tumor uptake was not relevantly affected by the co-administration of folate for all different folate doses (range 150 µg-10 mg). Lastly, different tumor volumes did not impact the folate effect on [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 biodistribution.

CONCLUSION

Using a PBPK model approach, high doses of folate (5 and 10 mg) were predicted to show a decrease of [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 salivary glands and kidney uptake, while intake by means of folate containing food or vitamin supplements showed no relevant effects. In addition, tumor uptake was not affected by folate administration in the simulated dose ranges (150 µg-10 mg). Differences in tumor volume are not expected to impact folate effects on [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 organ uptake.

Characterization of Non-Specific Uptake and Retention Mechanisms of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 in the Salivary Glands

The radionuclide therapy [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 was recently FDA-approved for treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Salivary gland toxicity is currently considered as the main dose-limiting side effect. However, its uptake and retention mechanisms in the salivary glands remain elusive. Therefore, our aim was to elucidate the uptake patterns of [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 in salivary gland tissue and cells by conducting cellular binding and autoradiography experiments. Briefly, A-253 and PC3-PIP cells, and mouse kidney and pig salivary gland tissue, were incubated with 5 nM [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 to characterize its binding. Additionally, [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 was co-incubated with monosodium glutamate, ionotropic or metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonists. Low, non-specific binding was observed in salivary gland cells and tissues. Monosodium glutamate was able to decrease [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 in PC3-PIP cells, mouse kidney and pig salivary gland tissue. Kynurenic acid (ionotropic antagonist) decreased the binding of [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 to 29.2 ± 20.6% and 63.4 ± 15.4%, respectively, with similar effects observed on tissues. (RS)-MCPG (metabotropic antagonist) was able to decrease the [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 binding on A-253 cells to 68.2 ± 16.8% and pig salivary gland tissue to 53.1 ± 36.8%. To conclude, we showed that the non-specific binding on [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 could be reduced by monosodium glutamate, kynurenic acid and (RS)-MCPG.

[177Lu]Lu-PSMA Therapy as an Individual Treatment Approach for Patients with High-Grade Glioma: Dosimetry Results and Critical Statement

The theranostic use of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) appears to be promising in patients with high-grade glioma. This study investigated [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA therapy as an individual treatment approach with a focus on intratherapeutic dosimetry. Methods: Three patients were treated with a median of 6.03 GBq (interquartile range [IQR], 5.74-6.10) of [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA. Intratherapeutic dosimetry was performed using a hybrid scenario with planar whole-body scintigraphy at 2, 24, and 48 h after treatment injection and SPECT/CT at 48 h after injection. Additive whole-body scintigraphy at 8 d after injection was performed on 1 patient. Results: The median doses were 0.56 Gy (IQR, 0.36-1.25 Gy) to tumor, 0.27 Gy (IQR, 0.16-0.57 Gy) to risk organs, 2.13 Gy (IQR, 1.55-2.89 Gy) to kidneys, and 0.76 Gy (IQR, 0.70-1.20 Gy) to salivary glands. Whole-body exposure was 0.11 Gy (IQR, 0.06-0.18 Gy). Conclusion: Because the intratherapeutic tumor dose is lower than that used in external radiation oncology, the effectiveness of treatment is questionable.

Molecular Design of 68Ga- and 89Zr-Labeled Anticalin Radioligands for PET-Imaging of PSMA-Positive Tumors

Anticalin proteins directed against the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), optionally having tailored plasma half-life using PASylation technology, show promise as radioligands for PET-imaging of xenograft tumors in mice. To investigate their suitability, the short-circulating unmodified Anticalin was labeled with ⁶⁸Ga (τ_1/2 = 68 min), using the NODAGA chelator, whereas the half-life extended PASylated Anticalin was labeled with ⁸⁹Zr (τ_1/2 = 78 h), using either the linear chelator deferoxamine (Dfo) or a cyclic derivative, fusarinine C (FsC). Different PSMA targeting Anticalin versions (optionally carrying the PASylation sequence) were produced carrying a single exposed N- or C-terminal Cys residue and site-specifically conjugated with the different radiochelators via maleimide chemistry. These protein conjugates were labeled with radioisotopes having distinct physical half-lives and, subsequently, applied for PET-imaging of subcutaneous LNCaP xenograft tumors in CB17 SCID mice. Uptake of the protein tracers into tumor versus healthy tissues was assessed by segmentation of PET data as well as biodistribution analyses. PET-imaging with both the ⁶⁸Ga-labeled plain Anticalin and the ⁸⁹Zr-labeled PASylated Anticalin allowed clear delineation of the xenograft tumor. The radioligand A3A5.1-PAS(200)-FsC·⁸⁹Zr, having an extended plasma half-life, led to a higher tumor uptake 24 h p.i. compared to the ⁶⁸Ga·NODAGA-Anticalin imaged 60 min p.i. (2.5% ID/g vs 1.2% ID/g). Pronounced demetallation was observed for the ⁸⁹Zr·Dfo-labeled PASylated Anticalin, which was ∼50% lower in the case of the cyclic radiochelator FsC (p < 0.0001). Adjusting the plasma half-life of Anticalin radioligands using PASylation technology is a viable approach to increase radioisotope accumulation within the tumor. Furthermore, ⁸⁹Zr-ImmunoPET-imaging using the FsC radiochelator is superior to that using Dfo. Our strategy for the half-life adjustment of a tumor-targeting Anticalin to match the physical half-life of the applied radioisotope illustrates the potential of small binding proteins as an alternative to antibodies for PET-imaging.

CD46 targeted 212Pb alpha particle radioimmunotherapy for prostate cancer treatment

We recently identified CD46 as a novel prostate cancer cell surface antigen that shows lineage independent expression in both adenocarcinoma and small cell neuroendocrine subtypes of metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), discovered an internalizing human monoclonal antibody YS5 that binds to a tumor selective CD46 epitope, and developed a microtubule inhibitor-based antibody drug conjugate that is in a multi-center phase I trial for mCRPC (NCT03575819). Here we report the development of a novel CD46-targeted alpha therapy based on YS5. We conjugated 212Pb, an in vivo generator of alpha-emitting 212Bi and 212Po, to YS5 through the chelator TCMC to create the radioimmunoconjugate, 212Pb-TCMC-YS5. We characterized 212Pb-TCMC-YS5 in vitro and established a safe dose in vivo. We next studied therapeutic efficacy of a single dose of 212Pb-TCMC-YS5 using three prostate cancer small animal models: a subcutaneous mCRPC cell line-derived xenograft (CDX) model (subcu-CDX), an orthotopically grafted mCRPC CDX model (ortho-CDX), and a prostate cancer patient-derived xenograft model (PDX). In all three models, a single dose of 0.74 MBq (20 µCi) 212Pb-TCMC-YS5 was well tolerated and caused potent and sustained inhibition of established tumors, with significant increases of survival in treated animals. A lower dose (0.37 MBq or 10 µCi 212Pb-TCMC-YS5) was also studied on the PDX model, which also showed a significant effect on tumor growth inhibition and prolongation of animal survival. These results demonstrate that 212Pb-TCMC-YS5 has an excellent therapeutic window in preclinical models including PDXs, opening a direct path for clinical translation of this novel CD46-targeted alpha radioimmunotherapy for mCRPC treatment.

A molecular guide to systemic therapy in salivary gland carcinoma

Salivary gland carcinomas (SGC) are a rare and variable group of head and neck cancers with historically poor response to cytotoxic chemotherapy and immunotherapy in the recurrent, advanced, and metastatic settings. In the last decade, a number of targetable molecular alterations have been identified in SGCs including HER2 upregulation, androgen receptor overexpression, Notch receptor activation, NTRK gene fusions, and RET alterations which have dramatically improved treatment outcomes in this disease. Here, we review the landscape of precision therapy in SGC including current options for systemic management, ongoing clinical trials, and promising future directions.

Cross-reactivity to glutamate carboxypeptidase III causes undesired salivary gland and kidney uptake of PSMA-targeted small-molecule radionuclide therapeutics

PURPOSE

Recently, Pluvicto™ ([177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617), a small-molecule prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radioligand therapeutic, has been approved by the FDA in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Pluvicto™ and other PSMA-targeting radioligand therapeutics (RLTs) have shown side effects due to accumulation in certain healthy tissues, such as salivary glands and kidney. Until now, the molecular mechanism underlying the undesired accumulation of PSMA-targeting RLTs had not been elucidated.

METHODS

We compared the sequence of PSMA with the entire human proteome to identify proteins closely related to the target. We have identified glutamate carboxypeptidase III (GCPIII), N-acetylated alpha-linked acidic dipeptidase like 1 (NAALADL-1), and transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) as extracellular targets with the highest similarity to PSMA. The affinity of compound 1 for PSMA, GCPIII, NAALADL-1, and TfR1 was measured by fluorescence polarization. The expression of the putative anti-target GCPIII was assessed by immunofluorescence on human salivary glands and kidney, using commercially available antibodies.

RESULTS

A fluorescent derivative of Pluvicto™ (compound 1) bound tightly to PSMA and to GCPIII in fluorescence polarization experiments, while no interaction was observed with NAALADL-1 and TfR1. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed abundant expression of GCPIII both in healthy human kidney and salivary glands.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the membranous expression of GCPIII in kidney and salivary gland may be the underlying cause for unwanted accumulation of Pluvicto™ and other Glu-ureido PSMA radio pharmaceuticals in patients.

Bispecific PSMA antibodies and CAR-T in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men in the United States. The treatment paradigm for prostate cancer has evolved with the emergence of a variety of novel therapies which have improved survival; however, treatment-related toxicities are abundant and durable responses remain rare. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown modest activity in a small subset of patients with prostate cancer and have not had an impact on most men with advanced disease. The discovery of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and the understanding of its specificity to prostate cancer has identified it as an ideal tumor-associated antigen and has revived the enthusiasm for immunotherapeutics in prostate cancer. T-cell immunotherapy in the form of bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy have shown exceptional success in treating various hematologic malignancies, and are now being tested in patients with prostate cancer with drug design centered on various target ligands including not just PSMA, but others as well including six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate 1 (STEAP1) and prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA). This summative review will focus on the data surrounding PSMA-targeting T-cell therapies. Early clinical studies with both classes of T-cell redirecting therapies have demonstrated antitumor activity; however, there are multiple challenges with this class of agents, including dose-limiting toxicity, 'on-target, off-tumor' immune-related toxicity, and difficulty in maintaining sustained immune responses within a complex and overtly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Reflecting on experiences from recent trials has been key toward understanding mechanisms of immune escape and limitations in developing these drugs in prostate cancer. Newer generation BiTE and CAR T-cell constructs, either alone or as part of combination therapy, are currently under investigation with modifications in drug design to overcome these barriers. Ongoing innovation in drug development will likely foster successful implementation of T-cell immunotherapy bringing transformational change to the treatment of prostate cancer.

Preclinical Evaluation of a Companion Diagnostic Radiopharmaceutical, [18F]PSMA-1007, in a Subcutaneous Prostate Cancer Xenograft Mouse Model

Several radiolabeled prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted agents have been developed for detecting prostate cancer, using positron emission tomography imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy. Among them, [¹⁸F]PSMA-1007 has several advantages, including a comparatively long half-life, delayed renal excretion, and compatible structure with α-/β-particle emitter-labeled therapeutics. This study aimed to characterize the preclinical pharmacokinetics and internal radiation dosimetry of [¹⁸F]PSMA-1007, as well as its repeatability and specificity for target binding using prostate tumor-bearing mice. In PSMA-positive tumor-bearing mice, the kidney showed the greatest accumulation of [¹⁸F]PSMA-1007. The distribution in the tumor attained its peak concentration of 2.8%ID/g at 112 min after intravenous injection. The absorbed doses in the tumor and salivary glands were 0.079 ± 0.010 Gy/MBq and 0.036 ± 0.006 Gy/MBq, respectively. The variance of the net influx (K_i) of [¹⁸F]PSMA-1007 to the tumor was minimal between scans performed in the same animals (within-subject coefficient of variation = 7.57%). [¹⁸F]PSMA-1007 uptake in the tumor was specifically decreased by 32% in K_i after treatment with a PSMA inhibitor 2-(phosphonomethyl)-pentanedioic acid (2-PMPA). In the present study, we investigated the in vivo preclinical characteristics of [¹⁸F]PSMA-1007. Our data from [¹⁸F]PSMA-1007 PET/computed tomography (CT) studies in a subcutaneous prostate cancer xenograft mouse model supports clinical therapeutic strategies that use paired therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals (such as [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617), especially strategies with a quantitative radiation dose estimate for target lesions while minimizing radiation-induced toxicity to off-target tissues.

A Single Dose of Novel PSMA-Targeting Radiopharmaceutical Agent [177Lu]Ludotadipep for Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Phase I Clinical Trial

[¹⁷⁷Lu]Ludotadipep, which enables targeted delivery of beta-particle radiation to prostate tumor cells, had been suggested as a promising therapeutic option for mCRPC. From November 2020 to March 2022, a total of 30 patients were enrolled for single dose of [¹⁷⁷Lu]Ludotadipep RPT, 6 subjects in each of the 5 different activity groups of 1.9 GBq, 2.8 GBq, 3.7 GBq, 4.6 GBq, and 5.6 GBq. [¹⁷⁷Lu]Ludotadipep was administered via venous injection, and patients were hospitalized for three days to monitor for any adverse effects. Serum PSA levels were followed up at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 12, and PSMA PET/CT with [¹⁸F]Florastamin was obtained at baseline and again at weeks 4 and 8. The subjects required positive PSMA PET/CT prior to [¹⁷⁷Lu]Ludotadipep administration. Among the 29 subjects who received [¹⁷⁷Lu]Ludotadipep, 36 treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurred in 17 subjects (58.6%) and 4 adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in 3 subjects (10.3%). Of the total 24 subjects who had full 12-week follow-up data, 16 (66.7%) showed decrease in PSA of any magnitude, and 9 (37.5%) showed a decrease in PSA by 50% or greater. A total of 5 of the 24 patients (20.8%) showed disease progression (PSA increase of 25% or higher from the baseline) at the 12th week following single dose of [¹⁷⁷Lu]Ludotadipep. These data thus far suggest that [¹⁷⁷Lu]Ludotadipep could be a promising RPT agent with low toxicity in mCRPC patients who have not been responsive to conventional treatments.

Synthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of Small-Molecule Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen-Targeted Abiraterone Conjugate

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among men. The main method of its treatment is androgen deprivation therapy, which has a wide range of side effects. One of the solutions to this challenge is the targeted delivery of drugs to prostate cancer cells. In this study, we performed the synthesis of a novel small-molecule PSMA-targeted conjugate based on abiraterone. Cytotoxicity, the induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species, and P450-cytochrome species inhibition were investigated for this conjugate PSMA-abiraterone. The conjugate demonstrated a preferential effect on prostate tumor cells, remaining inactive at up to 100 µM in human fibroblast cells. In addition, it revealed preferential efficacy, specifically on PSMA-expressing lines with a 65% tumor growth inhibition level on 22Rv1 (PSMA+) xenografts after 14-fold oral administration of PSMA-Abi at a single dose of 500 mg/kg (7.0 g/kg total dose) was observed. This compound showed significantly reduced acute toxicity with comparable efficacy compared to AbiAc.

[177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 (PluvictoTM): The First FDA-Approved Radiotherapeutical for Treatment of Prostate Cancer

In March 2022, [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 (Pluvicto^TM) was approved by the FDA for the treatment of prostate cancer patients. Until now, the approval has been limited to patients with PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have previously received other therapy options (such as inhibition of the androgen receptor pathway and taxane-based chemotherapy). [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617, which combines a PSMA-specific peptidomimetic with a therapeutical radionuclide, is used in a radioligand therapy that selectively delivers ionizing radiation to tumor cells, causing their death, while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue. In numerous clinical trials, the efficacy of [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 was demonstrated.

The Role of PSMA PET/CT in the Primary Diagnosis and Follow-Up of Prostate Cancer-A Practical Clinical Review

Simple Summary

The combination of positron emission tomography (PET)-diagnostics with ligands binding to the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has been a diagnostic milestone in the situation of biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer and is gaining importance in primary diagnostics, providing a highly specific and sensitive diagnostic method in various clinical situations. However, the clinical application of this method requires a comprehensive knowledge of its advantages and disadvantages, potential pitfalls and influencing factors. This review aims to provide a practical clinical review of the currently available background data on PSMA PET/CT, as well as the clinical implications. Although a large amount of data already exist, a thorough analysis is complicated by study heterogeneity, showing the need for future systematic and prospective research.

Abstract

The importance of PSMA PET/CT in both primary diagnostics and prostate cancer recurrence has grown steadily since its introduction more than a decade ago. Over the past years, a vast amount of data have been published on the diagnostic accuracy and the impact of PSMA PET/CT on patient management. Nevertheless, a large heterogeneity between studies has made reaching a consensus difficult; this review aims to provide a comprehensive clinical review of the available scientific literature, covering the currently known data on physiological and pathological PSMA expression, influencing factors, the differences and pitfalls of various tracers, as well as the clinical implications in initial TNM-staging and in the situation of biochemical recurrence. This review has the objective of providing a practical clinical overview of the advantages and disadvantages of the examination in various clinical situations and the body of knowledge available, as well as open questions still requiring further research.

Sublingual Atropine Administration as a Tool to Decrease Salivary Glands' PSMA-Ligand Uptake: A Preclinical Proof of Concept Study Using [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11

Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-directed radionuclide therapy has gained an important role in the management of advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer. Although extremely promising, the prolongation in survival and amelioration of disease-related symptoms must be balanced against the direct toxicities of the treatment. Xerostomia is amongst the most common and debilitating of these, particularly when using an alpha emitter. It is therefore of main importance to develop new preventive strategies. This preclinical study has evaluated the effect of α-adrenergic and anticholinergic drugs on [99mTc]TcO4− Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography (SPECT/CT) and [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 Positron Emission Tomography (PET/CT). Methods: The effects of phenylephrine, scopolamine, atropine, and ipratropium on salivary glands uptake were evaluated in non-tumor-bearing mice by [99mTc]TcO4− microSPECT/CT. The most efficient identified strategy was evaluated in non-tumor-bearing and xenografted mice by [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT. Results: Scopolamine and atropine showed a significant decrease in the parotid glands’ uptake on SPECT/CT whereas phenylephrine and ipratropium failed. Atropine premedication (sublingual route), which was the most effective strategy, also showed a drastic decrease of [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 salivary glands’ uptake in both non-tumor-bearing mice (−51.6% for the parotids, p < 0.0001) and human prostate adenocarcinoma xenografted mice (−26.8% for the parotids, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Premedication with a local administration of atropine could represent a simple, safe, and efficient approach for reducing salivary glands’ uptake.

PSMA theragnostics for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer

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PSMA targeted theragnostic agents have shown tremendous potential in detecting and treating metastatic prostate cancer.

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The PSMA small molecular inhibitor-based imaging agents achieve extraordinary tumor to background ratios and the PSMA small molecule therapeutic agents have shown impressive therapeutic index in mCRPC.

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The development and optimization of PSMA theragnostic agents provides invaluable information that may help guide development of future theragnostics for other solid tumors.

There has been tremendous growth in the development of theragnostics for personalized cancer diagnosis and treatment over the past two decades. In prostate cancer, the new generation of prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) small molecular inhibitor-based imaging agents achieve extraordinary tumor to background ratios and allow their therapeutic counterparts to deliver effective tumor doses while minimizing normal tissue toxicity. The PSMA targeted small molecule positron emission tomography (PET) agents ¹⁸F-DCFPyL (2-(3-{1-carboxy-5-((6-(18)F-fluoro-pyridine-3-carbonyl)-amino)-pentyl}-ureido)-pentanedioic acid) and Gallium-68 (⁶⁸Ga)-PSMA-11 have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for newly diagnosed high risk prostate cancer patients and for patients with biochemical recurrence. More recently, the Phase III VISION trial showed that Lutetium-177 (¹⁷⁷Lu)-PSMA-617 treatment increases progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with heavily pre-treated advanced PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Here, we review the PSMA targeted theragnostic pairs under clinical investigation for detection and treatment of metastatic prostate cancer.

The Chemical Scaffold of Theranostic Radiopharmaceuticals: Radionuclide, Bifunctional Chelator, and Pharmacokinetics Modifying Linker

Therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals have been researched extensively in the last decade as a result of the growing research interest in personalized medicine to improve diagnostic accuracy and intensify intensive therapy while limiting side effects. Radiometal-based drugs are of substantial interest because of their greater versatility for clinical translation compared to non-metal radionuclides. This paper comprehensively discusses various components commonly used as chemical scaffolds to build radiopharmaceutical agents, i.e., radionuclides, pharmacokinetic-modifying linkers, and chelators, whose characteristics are explained and can be used as a guide for the researcher.

Assessment of salivary gland function after 177Lu-PSMA radioligand therapy: Current concepts in imaging and management

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The United States food and drug administration has recently granted approval to the targeted ¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA-617 therapy in prostate cancer patients.

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Salivary glands show high PSMA-ligand uptake and are prone to radiation damage secondary to accumulation of ¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA-617.

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Salivary gland scintigraphy is a noninvasive highly reproducible technique, useful for objective and quantitative assessment of salivary flow and function of parotid and submandibular glands and can help detect early changes post ¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA-617 therapy.

Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a transmembrane protein that is highly expressed on prostate epithelial cells and is strongly upregulated in prostate cancer. Radioligand therapy using beta-emitting Lutetium-177 (¹⁷⁷Lu)-labeled-PSMA-617, a radiolabeled small molecule, has gained attention as a novel targeted therapy for metastatic prostate cancer, given its high affinity and long tumor retention, and rapid blood pool clearance. In March 2022, the United States Food and Drug administration has granted approval to the targeted ¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA-617 therapy for treatment of patients with PSMA-positive metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer, who have been previously treated with an androgen-receptor pathway inhibitor and taxane-based chemotherapy. Studies have demonstrated the adverse effects of this treatment, mainly encountered due to radiation exposure to non-target tissues. Salivary glands show high PSMA-ligand uptake and receive increased radiation dose secondary to accumulation of ¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA-617. This predisposes the glands to radiation-mediated toxicity. The exact mechanism, scope and severity of radiation-mediated salivary gland toxicity are not well understood, however, the strategies for its prevention and treatment are under evaluation. This review will focus on the current knowledge about salivary gland impairment post ¹⁷⁷Lu labeled PSMA-based radioligand therapies, diagnostic methodologies, and imaging with emphasis on salivary gland scintigraphy. The preventive strategies and known treatment options would also be briefly highlighted.

Radiolabeled PSMA Inhibitors

PSMA has shown to be a promising target for diagnosis and therapy (theranostics) of prostate cancer. We have reviewed developments in the field of radio- and fluorescence-guided surgery and targeted photodynamic therapy as well as multitargeting PSMA inhibitors also addressing albumin, GRPr and integrin αvβ3. An overview of the regulatory status of PSMA-targeting radiopharmaceuticals in the USA and Europe is also provided. Technical and quality aspects of PSMA-targeting radiopharmaceuticals are described and new emerging radiolabeling strategies are discussed. Furthermore, insights are given into the production, application and potential of alternatives beyond the commonly used radionuclides for radiolabeling PSMA inhibitors. An additional refinement of radiopharmaceuticals is required in order to further improve dose-limiting factors, such as nephrotoxicity and salivary gland uptake during endoradiotherapy. The improvement of patient treatment achieved by the advantageous combination of radionuclide therapy with alternative therapies is also a special focus of this review.

Combining External Beam Radiation and Radionuclide Therapies: Rationale, Radiobiology, Results and Roadblocks

The emergence of effective radionuclide therapeutics, such as radium-223 dichloride, [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE and [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA ligands, over the last 10 years is driving a rapid expansion in molecular radiotherapy (MRT) research. Clinical trials that are underway will help to define optimal dosing protocols and identify groups of patients who are likely to benefit from this form of treatment. Clinical investigations are also being conducted to combine new MRT agents with other anticancer drugs, with particular emphasis on DNA repair inhibitors and immunotherapeutics. In this review, the case is presented for combining MRT with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). The technical and dosimetric challenges of combining two radiotherapeutic modalities have impeded progress in the past. However, the need for research into the specific radiobiological effects of radionuclide therapy, which has lagged behind that for EBRT, has been recognised. This, together with innovations in imaging technology, MRT dosimetry tools and EBRT hardware, will facilitate the future use of this important combination of treatments.