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Sun Y, Li G, Hong H, Zhu L, Kung HF, Zhang Y, Zhu J. Serotonin transporter imaging agent as a probe for β-cells of pancreas. Nucl Med Biol 2024; 130-131:108894. [PMID: 38422917 DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2024.108894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the major diseases in the world. Nuclear medicine imaging may be able to detect functional status of pancreatic β cells in vivo, which might elucidate the pathological mechanisms of diabetes and develop individualized treatment plans. In this study, we evaluated the ability of [125I]ADAM, a serotonin transporter (SERT) imaging agent, as a probe for detecting pancreatic β-cell mass (BCM). METHODS In vitro cell studies were evaluated in INS-1 cells (rat islet β cell line). Biodistribution studies were performed in male normal Sprague-Dawley rats and alloxan-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) rats. Distribution and expression of SERT protein in pancreas of rats were also measured by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot. RESULTS In vitro cell studies showed that the concentration of [125I]ADAM associated with the INS-1 cells was increased gradually with incubation time, and the SERT specific inhibitor, escitalopram, exhibited the inhibitory effect on this interaction. Biodistribution studies also showed that the uptake of [125I]ADAM in the pancreas of normal rats was decreased in the presence of escitalopram. However, in the T1DM rat model with a significant β cells reduction, the uptake of pancreas was increased when compared with the control. Through immunofluorescence staining and Western blot, it was found that both the endocrine and exocrine cells of the normal pancreas expressed SERT protein, and the level of SERT protein in the exocrine cells was higher than islets. In the diabetic state, the expression of SERT in the exocrine cells was further increased. CONCLUSIONS The SERT imaging agent, [125I]ADAM, at the present form will not be suitable for imaging β cells, specifically because there were extraordinarily high non-specific signals contributing from the exocrine cells of pancreas. In addition, we noticed that the level of SERT expression was abnormally elevated in the diabetic state, which might provide an unexpected target for studying the pathological mechanisms of diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuli Sun
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Guangwen Li
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Haiyan Hong
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Hank F Kung
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
| | - Jinxia Zhu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
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Bartoli F, Elsinga P, Nazario LR, Zana A, Galbiati A, Millul J, Migliorini F, Cazzamalli S, Neri D, Slart RHJA, Erba PA. Automated Radiosynthesis, Preliminary In Vitro/In Vivo Characterization of OncoFAP-Based Radiopharmaceuticals for Cancer Imaging and Therapy. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15080958. [PMID: 36015106 PMCID: PMC9416253 DOI: 10.3390/ph15080958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
FAP-targeted radiopharmaceuticals represent a breakthrough in cancer imaging and a viable option for therapeutic applications. OncoFAP is an ultra-high-affinity ligand of FAP with a dissociation constant of 680 pM. OncoFAP has been recently discovered and clinically validated for PET imaging procedures in patients with solid malignancies. While more and more clinical validation is becoming available, the need for scalable and robust procedures for the preparation of this new class of radiopharmaceuticals continues to increase. In this article, we present the development of automated radiolabeling procedures for the preparation of OncoFAP-based radiopharmaceuticals for cancer imaging and therapy. A new series of [68Ga]Ga-OncoFAP, [177Lu]Lu-OncoFAP and [18F]AlF-OncoFAP was produced with high radiochemical yields. Chemical and biochemical characterization after radiolabeling confirmed its excellent stability, retention of high affinity for FAP and absence of radiolysis by-products. The in vivo biodistribution of [18F]AlF-NOTA-OncoFAP, a candidate for PET imaging procedures in patients, was assessed in mice bearing FAP-positive solid tumors. The product showed rapid accumulation in solid tumors, with an average of 6.6% ID/g one hour after systemic administration and excellent tumor-to-healthy organs ratio. We have developed simple, quick, safe and robust synthetic procedures for the preparation of theranostic OncoFAP-compounds based on Gallium-68, Lutetium-177 and Fluorine-18 using the commercially available FASTlab synthesis module.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Bartoli
- Nuclear Medicine, Department of Translational Research and Advanced Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa and Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Philip Elsinga
- Medical Imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9712 CP Groningen, The Netherlands; (P.E.); (L.R.N.); (R.H.J.A.S.)
| | - Luiza Reali Nazario
- Medical Imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9712 CP Groningen, The Netherlands; (P.E.); (L.R.N.); (R.H.J.A.S.)
| | - Aureliano Zana
- Philochem AG, R&D Department, Libernstrasse 3, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (A.Z.); (A.G.); (J.M.); (F.M.); (S.C.)
| | - Andrea Galbiati
- Philochem AG, R&D Department, Libernstrasse 3, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (A.Z.); (A.G.); (J.M.); (F.M.); (S.C.)
| | - Jacopo Millul
- Philochem AG, R&D Department, Libernstrasse 3, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (A.Z.); (A.G.); (J.M.); (F.M.); (S.C.)
| | - Francesca Migliorini
- Philochem AG, R&D Department, Libernstrasse 3, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (A.Z.); (A.G.); (J.M.); (F.M.); (S.C.)
| | - Samuele Cazzamalli
- Philochem AG, R&D Department, Libernstrasse 3, CH-8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (A.Z.); (A.G.); (J.M.); (F.M.); (S.C.)
| | - Dario Neri
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Philogen S.p.A., 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Riemer H. J. A. Slart
- Medical Imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9712 CP Groningen, The Netherlands; (P.E.); (L.R.N.); (R.H.J.A.S.)
- Biomedical Photonic Imaging Group, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Paola Anna Erba
- Nuclear Medicine, Department of Translational Research and Advanced Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa and Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- Medical Imaging Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9712 CP Groningen, The Netherlands; (P.E.); (L.R.N.); (R.H.J.A.S.)
- Correspondence:
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Migliari S, Scarlattei M, Baldari G, Silva C, Ruffini L. A Specific HPLC Method to Determine Residual HEPES in [ 68Ga]Ga-Radiopharmaceuticals: Development and Validation. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27144477. [PMID: 35889351 PMCID: PMC9323806 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27144477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Nowadays, in Nuclear Medicine, clinically applied radiopharmaceuticals must meet quality release criteria such as high radiochemical purity and radiochemical yield. Many radiopharmaceuticals do not have marketing authorization and have no dedicated monograph within European Pharmacopeia (Ph. Eur.); therefore, general monographs on quality controls (QCs) have to be applied for clinical application. These criteria require standardization and validation in labeling and preparation, including quality controls measurements, according to well defined standard operation procedures. However, QC measurements are often based on detection techniques that are specific to a certain chromatographic system. Several radiosyntheses of [68Ga]Ga-radiopharmaceuticals are more efficient and robust when they are performed with 2-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazin-1-yl] ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) buffer, which is considered as an impurity to be assessed in the QC procedure, prior to clinical use. Thus, Ph. Eur. has introduced a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) method to quantify the HEPES amount that is present in [68Ga]Ga-radiopharmaceuticals. However, this is only qualitative and has proven to be unreliable. Here we develop and validate a new high-performance liquid chromatography (UV-Radio-HPLC) method to quantify the residual amount of HEPES in 68Ga-based radiopharmaceuticals. Method: To validate the proposed UV-Radio-HPLC method, a stepwise approach was used, as defined in the guidance document that was adopted by the European Medicines Agency (CMP/ICH/381/95 2014). The assessed parameters are specificity, linearity, precision (repeatability), accuracy, and limit of quantification. A range of concentrations of HEPES (100, 80, 60, 40, 20, 10, 5, 3 μg/mL) were analyzed. Moreover, to test the validity and pertinence of our new HPLC method, we analyzed samples of [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC; [68Ga]Ga-PSMA; [68Ga]Ga-DOTATATE; [68Ga]Ga-Pentixafor; and [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-Exendin-4 from different batches that were prepared for clinical use. Results: In the assessed samples, HEPES could not be detected by the TLC method that was described in Ph. Eur. within 4 min incubation in an iodine-saturated chamber. Our developed HPLC method showed excellent linearity between 3 and 100 μg/mL for HEPES, with a correlation coefficient (R2) for calibration curves that was equal to 0.999, coefficients of variation (CV%) < 2%, and percent deviation value of bias from 100% to 5%, in accordance with acceptance criteria. The intra-day and inter-day precision of our method was statistically confirmed and the limit-of-quantification (LOQ) was 3 μg/mL, confirming the high sensitivity of the method. The amount of HEPES that was detected with our developed HPLC method in the tested [68Ga]Ga-radiopharmaceuticals resulted well below the Ph. Eur. limit, especially for [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-Exendin-4. Conclusions: The TLC method that is described in Ph. Eur. to assess residual HEPES in [68Ga]-based radiopharmaceuticals may not be sufficiently sensitive and thus unsuitable for QC release. Our new HPLC method was sensitive, quantitative, reproducible, and rapid for QCs, allowing us to exactly determine the residual HEPES amount in [68Ga]Ga-radiopharmaceuticals for safe patient administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Migliari
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.S.); (G.B.); (L.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-3335939138
| | - Maura Scarlattei
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.S.); (G.B.); (L.R.)
| | - Giorgio Baldari
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.S.); (G.B.); (L.R.)
| | - Claudia Silva
- Food and Drug Sciences Department, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy;
| | - Livia Ruffini
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.S.); (G.B.); (L.R.)
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Lepareur N. Cold Kit Labeling: The Future of 68Ga Radiopharmaceuticals? Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:812050. [PMID: 35223907 PMCID: PMC8869247 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.812050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last couple of decades, gallium-68 (68Ga) has gained a formidable interest for PET molecular imaging of various conditions, from cancer to infection, through cardiac pathologies or neuropathies. It has gained routine use, with successful radiopharmaceuticals such as somatostatin analogs ([68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC and [68Ga]GaDOTATATE) for neuroendocrine tumors, and PSMA ligands for prostate cancer. It represents a major clinical impact, particularly in the context of theranostics, coupled with their 177Lu-labeled counterparts. Beside those, a bunch of new 68Ga-labeled molecules are in the preclinical and clinical pipelines, with some of them showing great promise for patient care. Increasing clinical demand and regulatory issues have led to the development of automated procedures for the production of 68Ga radiopharmaceuticals. However, the widespread use of these radiopharmaceuticals may rely on simple and efficient radiolabeling methods, undemanding in terms of equipment and infrastructure. To make them technically and economically accessible to the medical community and its patients, it appears mandatory to develop a procedure similar to the well-established kit-based 99mTc chemistry. Already available commercial kits for the production of 68Ga radiopharmaceuticals have demonstrated the feasibility of using such an approach, thus paving the way for more kit-based 68Ga radiopharmaceuticals to be developed. This article discusses the development of 68Ga cold kit radiopharmacy, including technical issues, and regulatory aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Lepareur
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France
- Univ Rennes, Inrae, Inserm, Institut NUMECAN (Nutrition, Métabolismes et Cancer), UMR_A 1341, UMR_S 1241, Rennes, France
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Migliari S, Sammartano A, Boss M, Gotthardt M, Scarlattei M, Baldari G, Silva C, Bonadonna RC, Ruffini L. Development and Validation of an Analytical HPLC Method to Assess Chemical and Radiochemical Purity of [ 68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-Exendin-4 Produced by a Fully Automated Method. Molecules 2022; 27:543. [PMID: 35056858 PMCID: PMC8778103 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27020543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) is preferentially expressed in pancreatic islets, especially in β-cells, and highly expressed in human insulinomas and gastrinomas. In recent years several GLP-1R-avid radioligands have been developed to image insulin-secreting tumors or to provide a tentative quantitative in vivo biomarker of pancreatic β-cell mass. Exendin-4, a 39-amino acid peptide with high binding affinity to GLP-1R, has been labeled with Ga-68 for imaging with positron emission tomography (PET). Preparation conditions may influence the quality and in vivo behavior of tracers. Starting from a published synthesis and quality controls (QCs) procedure, we have developed and validated a new rapid and simple UV-Radio-HPLC method to test the chemical and radiochemical purity of [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4, to be used in the clinical routine. Methods: Ga-68 was obtained from a 68Ge/68Ga Generator (GalliaPharma®) and purified using a cationic-exchange cartridge on an automated synthesis module (Scintomics GRP®). NODAGA-exendin-4 contained in the reactor (10 µg) was reconstituted with HEPES and ascorbic acid. The reaction mixture was incubated at 100 °C. The product was purified through HLB cartridge, diluted, and sterilized. To validate the proposed UV-Radio-HPLC method, a stepwise approach was used, as defined in the guidance document released by the International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), adopted by the European Medicines Agency (CMP/ICH/381/95 2014). The assessed parameters are specificity, linearity, precision (repeatability), accuracy, and limit of quantification. Therefore, a range of concentrations of Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4, NODAGA-exendin-4 (5, 4, 3.125, 1.25, 1, and 0.75 μg/mL) and [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 were analyzed. To validate the entire production process, three consecutive batches of [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 were tested. Results: Excellent linearity was found between 5-0.75 μg/mL for both the analytes (NODAGA-exendin-4 and 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4), with a correlation coefficient (R2) for calibration curves equal to 0.999, average coefficients of variation (CV%) < 2% (0.45% and 0.39%) and average per cent deviation value of bias from 100%, of 0.06% and 0.04%, respectively. The calibration curve for the determination of [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 was linear with a R2 of 0.993 and CV% < 2% (1.97%), in accordance to acceptance criteria. The intra-day and inter-day precision of our method was statistically confirmed using 10 μg of peptide. The mean radiochemical yield was 45 ± 2.4% in all the three validation batches of [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4. The radiochemical purity of [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 was >95% (97.05%, 95.75% and 96.15%) in all the three batches. Conclusions: The developed UV-Radio-HPLC method to assess the radiochemical and chemical purity of [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 is rapid, accurate and reproducible like its fully automated production. It allows the routine use of this PET tracer as a diagnostic tool for PET imaging of GLP-1R expression in vivo, ensuring patient safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Migliari
- Nuclear Medicine Division, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.S.); (M.S.); (G.B.); (L.R.)
| | - Antonino Sammartano
- Nuclear Medicine Division, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.S.); (M.S.); (G.B.); (L.R.)
| | - Marti Boss
- Department of Medical Imaging, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.B.); (M.G.)
| | - Martin Gotthardt
- Department of Medical Imaging, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.B.); (M.G.)
| | - Maura Scarlattei
- Nuclear Medicine Division, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.S.); (M.S.); (G.B.); (L.R.)
| | - Giorgio Baldari
- Nuclear Medicine Division, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.S.); (M.S.); (G.B.); (L.R.)
| | - Claudia Silva
- Food and Drug Sciences Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43126 Parma, Italy;
| | - Riccardo C. Bonadonna
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy;
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Livia Ruffini
- Nuclear Medicine Division, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.S.); (M.S.); (G.B.); (L.R.)
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