Peripheral ganglia in healthy rats as target structures for the evaluation of PSMA imaging agents

7-[18F]Fluoro-8-azaisatoic Anhydrides: Versatile Prosthetic Groups for the Preparation of PET Tracers

18F-Fluorination of sensitive molecules is often challenging, but can be accomplished under suitably mild conditions using radiofluorinated prosthetic groups (PGs). Herein, 1-alkylamino-7-[18F]fluoro-8-azaisatoic anhydrides ([18F]AFAs) are introduced as versatile 18F-labeled building blocks that can be used as amine-reactive or "click chemistry" PGs. [18F]AFAs were efficiently prepared within 15 min by "on cartridge" radiolabeling of readily accessible trimethylammonium precursors. Conjugation with a range of amines afforded the corresponding 2-alkylamino-6-[18F]fluoronicotinamides in radiochemical conversions (RCCs) of 15-98%. In addition, radiolabeling of alkyne- or azide-functionalized precursors with azidopropyl- or propargyl-substituted [18F]AFAs using Cu-catalyzed click cycloaddition afforded the corresponding conjugates in RCCs of 44-88%. The practical utility of the PGs was confirmed by the preparation of three 18F-labeled PSMA ligands in radiochemical yields of 28-42%. Biological evaluation in rats demonstrated excellent in vivo stability of all three conjugates. In addition, one conjugate ([18F]JK-PSMA-15) showed favorable imaging properties for high-contrast visualization of small PSMA-positive lesions.

Rapid 18F-labeling via Pd-catalyzed S-arylation in aqueous medium

We report radiolabeling of thiol-containing substrates via Pd-catalyzed S-arylation with 2-[¹⁸F]fluoro-5-iodopyridine, which is readily accessible using the "minimalist" radiofluorination method. The practicality of the procedure was confirmed by preparation of a novel PSMA-specific PET-tracer as well as labeling of glutathione, Aβ oligomer-binding RD2 peptide, bovine serum albumin and PSMA I&S.

High uptake of 68Ga-PSMA and 18F-DCFPyL in the peritumoral area of rat gliomas due to activated astrocytes

Background

Recent studies reported on high uptake of the PSMA ligands [⁶⁸Ga]HBED-CC (⁶⁸Ga-PSMA) and ¹⁸F-DCFPyL in cerebral gliomas. This study explores the regional uptake and cellular targets of ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA and ¹⁸F-DCFPyL in three different rat glioma models.

Methods

F98, 9 L, or U87 rat gliomas were implanted into the brains of 38 rats. After 13 days of tumor growth, ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA (n = 21) or ¹⁸F-DCFPyL (n = 17) was injected intravenously, and animals were sacrificed 40 min later. Five animals for each tracer and tumor model were additionally investigated by micro-PET at 20–40 min post injection. Cryosections of the tumor bearing brains were analyzed by ex vivo autoradiography and immunofluorescence staining for blood vessels, microglia, astrocytes, and presence of PSMA. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability was tested by coinjection of Evans blue dye (EBD). ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA uptake after restoration of BBB integrity by treatment with dexamethasone (Dex) was evaluated in four animals with U87 gliomas. Competition experiments using the PSMA-receptor inhibitor 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentane-1,5-dioic acid (PMPA) were performed for both tracers in two animals each.

Results

Autoradiography demonstrated a strong ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA and ¹⁸F-DCFPyL binding in the peritumoral area and moderate binding in the center of the tumors. PMPA administration led to complete inhibition of ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA and ¹⁸F-DCFPyL binding in the peritumoral region. Restoration of BBB by Dex treatment reduced EBD extravasation but ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA binding remained unchanged. Expression of activated microglia (CD11b) was low in the intra- and peritumoral area but GFAP staining revealed strong activation of astrocytes in congruency to the tracer binding in the peritumoral area. All tumors were visualized in micro PET, showing a lower tumor/brain contrast with ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA than with ¹⁸F-DCFPyL.

Conclusions

High uptake of ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA and ¹⁸F-DCFPyL in the peritumoral area of all glioma models is presumably caused by activated astrocytes. This may represent a limitation for the clinical application of PSMA ligands in gliomas.

Targeting of prostate-specific membrane antigen for radio-ligand therapy of triple-negative breast cancer

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer has extremely high risk of relapse due to the lack of targeted therapies, intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity, and the inherent and acquired resistance to therapies. In this study, we evaluate the potential of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) as target for radio-ligand therapy (RLT).

Methods

Tube formation was investigated after incubation of endothelial HUVEC cells in tumor-conditioned media and monitored after staining using microscopy. A binding study with ⁶⁸Ga-labeled PSMA-addressing ligand was used to indicate targeting potential of PSMA on tumor-conditioned HUVEC cells. For mimicking of the therapeutic application, tube formation potential and vitality of tumor-conditioned HUVEC cells were assessed following an incubation with radiolabeled PSMA-addressing ligand [¹⁷⁷Lu]-PSMA-617. For in vivo experiments, NUDE mice were xenografted with triple-negative breast cancer cells MDA-MB231 or estrogen receptor expressing breast cancer cells MCF-7. Biodistribution and binding behavior of [⁶⁸Ga]-PSMA-11 was investigated in both tumor models at 30 min post injection using μPET. PSMA- and CD31-specific staining was conducted to visualize PSMA expression and neovascularization in tumor tissue ex vivo.

Results

The triple-negative breast cancer cells MDA-MB231 showed a high pro-angiogenetic potential on tube formation of endothelial HUVEC cells. The induced endothelial expression of PSMA was efficiently addressed by radiolabeled PSMA-specific ligands. ¹⁷⁷Lu-labeled PSMA-617 strongly impaired the vitality and angiogenic potential of HUVEC cells. In vivo, as visualized by μPET, radiolabeled PSMA-ligand accumulated specifically in the triple-negative breast cancer xenograft MDA-MB231 (T/B ratio of 43.3 ± 0.9), while no [⁶⁸Ga]-PSMA-11 was detected in the estrogen-sensitive MCF-7 xenograft (T/B ratio of 1.1 ± 0.1). An ex vivo immunofluorescence analysis confirmed the localization of PSMA on MDA-MB231 xenograft-associated endothelial cells and also on TNBC cells.

Conclusions

Here we demonstrate PSMA as promising target for two-compartment endogenous radio-ligand therapy of triple-negative breast cancer.