Synthesis of an activated phosphonated bifunctional chelate with potential for PET imaging and radiotherapy

Tenascin-C Function in Glioma: Immunomodulation and Beyond

First identified in the 1980s, tenascin-C (TNC) is a multi-domain extracellular matrix glycoprotein abundantly expressed during the development of multicellular organisms. TNC level is undetectable in most adult tissues but rapidly and transiently induced by a handful of pro-inflammatory cytokines in a variety of pathological conditions including infection, inflammation, fibrosis, and wound healing. Persistent TNC expression is associated with chronic inflammation and many malignancies, including glioma. By interacting with its receptor integrin and a myriad of other binding partners, TNC elicits context- and cell type-dependent function to regulate cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and angiogenesis. TNC operates as an endogenous activator of toll-like receptor 4 and promotes inflammatory response by inducing the expression of multiple pro-inflammatory factors in innate immune cells such as microglia and macrophages. In addition, TNC drives macrophage differentiation and polarization predominantly towards an M1-like phenotype. In contrast, TNC shows immunosuppressive function in T cells. In glioma, TNC is expressed by tumor cells and stromal cells; high expression of TNC is correlated with tumor progression and poor prognosis. Besides promoting glioma invasion and angiogenesis, TNC has been found to affect the morphology and function of tumor-associated microglia/macrophages in glioma. Clinically, TNC can serve as a biomarker for tumor progression; and TNC antibodies have been utilized as an adjuvant agent to deliver anti-tumor drugs to target glioma. A better mechanistic understanding of how TNC impacts innate and adaptive immunity during tumorigenesis and tumor progression will open new therapeutic avenues to treat brain tumors and other malignancies.

Tenascin-C: Exploitation and collateral damage in cancer management

Despite an increasing knowledge about the causes of cancer, this disease is difficult to cure and still causes far too high a death rate. Based on advances in our understanding of disease pathogenesis, novel treatment concepts, including targeting the tumor microenvironment, have been developed and are being combined with established treatment regimens such as surgical removal and radiotherapy. Yet it is obvious that we need additional strategies to prevent tumor relapse and metastasis. Given its exceptional high expression in most cancers with low abundance in normal tissues, tenascin-C appears an ideal candidate for tumor treatment. Here, we will summarize the current applications of targeting tenascin-C as a treatment for different tumors, and highlight the potential of this therapeutic approach.

Radiometals: towards a new success story in nuclear imaging?

The use of radiometal isotopes in positron emission tomography: a new success story in nuclear imaging?

Phosphonated chelates for nuclear imaging

A series of bis-, tris- and tetra-phosphonated pyridine ligands is presented. In view of their potential use as chelates for radiopharmaceutical applications, the physico-chemical properties of the ligands and of their Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes were studied by means of potentiometry and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The pKa values of the ligands and of the complexes, as well as the stability constants for the formation of the complexes, are presented. The kinetic aspects of the formation of Cu(II) complexes and of their dissociation in acidic media were studied by means of stopped flow experiments, and the stability of the Cu(II) complex toward reduction to Cu(I) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and by titration with different reducing agents. The different thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the polyphosphonated ligands were compared with regard to the impact of the number of phosphonic acid functions. Considering the very promising properties for complexation, preliminary SPECT/CT imaging experiments were carried out on mice with (99m)Tc using the bis- and tetra-phosphonated ligands L(2) and L(1). Finally, a bifunctional version of chelate L(1), L*, was used to label MTn12, a rat monoclonal antibody with both specificity and relatively high affinity for murine tenascin-C. The labeling was monitored by MALDI/MS spectrometry and the affinity of the labeled antibody was checked by immunostaining experiments. After chelation with (99m)Tc, the (99m)Tc-L*-MTn12 antibody was injected into a transgenic mouse with breast cancer and the biodistribution of the labeled antibody was followed by SPECT/CT imaging.

New radiotracers for imaging of vascular targets in angiogenesis-related diseases

Tremendous advances over the last several decades in positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) allow for targeted imaging of molecular and cellular events in the living systems. Angiogenesis, a multistep process regulated by the network of different angiogenic factors, has attracted world-wide interests, due to its pivotal role in the formation and progression of different diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and inflammation. In this review article, we will summarize the recent progress in PET or SPECT imaging of a wide variety of vascular targets in three major angiogenesis-related diseases: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and inflammation. Faster drug development and patient stratification for a specific therapy will become possible with the facilitation of PET or SPECT imaging and it will be critical for the maximum benefit of patients.

Tetraphosphonated thiophene ligand: mixing the soft and the hard

A tetraphosphonated thiophene based ligand was synthesized, which showed decreased stability but increased selectivity relative to similar (hetero)aromatic analogues.

Monopicolinate-dipicolyl derivative of triazacyclononane for stable complexation of Cu2+ and 64Cu2+

The synthesis and characterization of Hno1pa2py, a new tacn-based ligand, is reported. The complexation process with Cu(2+) was proved to be very fast even in acidic medium. Potentiometric titrations allowed us to establish that Hno1pa2py exhibits an overall low basicity as well as a high selectivity for Cu(2+) over Zn(2+) cations. The copper(II) complex was synthesized and characterized using UV-vis and EPR spectroscopies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The studies clearly showed that the [Cu(no1pa2py)](+) complex is present in solution as a mixture of two isomers in which the ligand is coordinated to the metal center using a N5O donor set with the metal center in a distorted octahedral geometry. The very high kinetic inertness of the [Cu(no1pa2py)](+) complex was demonstrated by using acid-assisted dissociation assays as well as cyclic voltammetry. Preliminary investigations of (64)Cu complexation were performed to validate the potential use of such chelating agent for further application in nuclear medicine. The X-ray crystal structures of copper(II) complexes of L1, the ester derivative of Hno1pa2py, have been determined.