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Zou Y, Huang M, Hu M, Wang H, Chen W, Tian R. Radiopharmaceuticals Targeting Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor for Diagnosis and Therapy of Prostate Cancer. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:4199-4216. [PMID: 39219355 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.4c00066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The high incidence and heavy disease burden of prostate cancer (PC) require accurate and comprehensive assessment for appropriate disease management. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) cannot detect PSMA-negative lesions, despite its key role in PC disease management. The overexpression of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) in PC lesions reportedly performs as a complementary target for the diagnosis and therapy of PC. Radiopharmaceuticals derived from the natural ligands of GRPR have been developed. These radiopharmaceuticals enable the visualization and quantification of GRPR within the body, which can be used for disease assessment and therapeutic guidance. Recently developed radiopharmaceuticals exhibit improved pharmacokinetic parameters without deterioration in affinity. Several heterodimers targeting GRPR have been constructed as alternatives because of their potential to detect tumor lesions with a low diagnostic efficiency of single target detection. Moreover, some GRPR-targeted radiopharmaceuticals have entered clinical trials for the initial staging or biochemical recurrence detection of PC to guide disease stratification and therapy, indicating considerable potential in PC disease management. Herein, we comprehensively summarize the progress of radiopharmaceuticals targeting GRPR. In particular, we discuss the impact of ligands, chelators, and linkers on the distribution of radiopharmaceuticals. Furthermore, we summarize a potential design scheme to facilitate the advancement of radiopharmaceuticals and, thus, prompt clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuheng Zou
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Mingxing Huang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Mingxing Hu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Nuclear Medicine Research Lab, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Nuclear Medicine Research Lab, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Rong Tian
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
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2
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Nagy Á, Abouzayed A, Kanellopoulos P, Landmark F, Bezverkhniaia E, Tolmachev V, Orlova A, Eriksson Karlström A. Evaluation of ABD-Linked RM26 Conjugates for GRPR-Targeted Drug Delivery. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:36122-36133. [PMID: 39220525 PMCID: PMC11359615 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c00489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Targeting the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) with the bombesin analogue RM26, a 9 aa peptide, has been a promising strategy for cancer theranostics, with recent success in radionuclide imaging of prostate cancer. However, therapeutic application of the short peptide RM26 would require a longer half-life to prevent fast clearance from the circulation. Conjugation to an albumin-binding domain (ABD) is a viable strategy to extend the in vivo half-life of peptides and proteins. We previously reported an ABD-fused RM26 peptide targeting GRPR (ABD-RM26 Gen 1) that showed prolonged and stable tumor uptake over 144 h; however, the observed high kidney uptake indicated that the conjugate's binding to albumin was reduced and that this could be an obstacle for its use as a delivery system for targeted therapy, especially for radiotherapy. Here, we have designed, produced, and preclinically evaluated a series of novel ABD-RM26 conjugates with the aim of improving the conjugate's binding to albumin and decreasing the kidney uptake. We developed three second-generation constructs with varying formats, differing in the relative positions of the targeting moieties and the radionuclide chelator. The produced conjugates were radiolabeled with indium-111 and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. All constructs displayed improved biophysical characteristics, biodistribution, and lower kidney uptake compared to previously reported first-generation molecules. The ABD-RM26 Gen 2A conjugate showed the best biodistribution profile with a nearly 6-fold reduction in kidney uptake. However, the ABD-RM26 Gen 2A conjugate's binding to GRPR was compromised. This conjugate's assembly of albumin- and GRPR-binding moieties might be used for further development of drug conjugates for targeted therapy/radiotherapy of GRPR-expressing cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ábel Nagy
- Department
of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology
and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ayman Abouzayed
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Fredrika Landmark
- Department
of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology
and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ekaterina Bezverkhniaia
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
- Research
Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied
Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, 634009 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department
of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala
University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Orlova
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
- Science for
Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Amelie Eriksson Karlström
- Department
of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology
and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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3
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Buckle T, Rietbergen DDD, de Wit-van der Veen L, Schottelius M. Lessons learned in application driven imaging agent design for image-guided surgery. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2024; 51:3040-3054. [PMID: 38900308 PMCID: PMC11300579 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-024-06791-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
To meet the growing demand for intraoperative molecular imaging, the development of compatible imaging agents plays a crucial role. Given the unique requirements of surgical applications compared to diagnostics and therapy, maximizing translational potential necessitates distinctive imaging agent designs. For effective surgical guidance, exogenous signatures are essential and are achievable through a diverse range of imaging labels such as (radio)isotopes, fluorescent dyes, or combinations thereof. To achieve optimal in vivo utility a balanced molecular design of the tracer as a whole is required, which ensures a harmonious effect of the imaging label with the affinity and specificity (e.g., pharmacokinetics) of a pharmacophore/targeting moiety. This review outlines common design strategies and the effects of refinements in the molecular imaging agent design on the agent's pharmacological profile. This includes the optimization of affinity, pharmacokinetics (including serum binding and target mediated background), biological clearance route, the achievable signal intensity, and the effect of dosing hereon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Buckle
- Interventional Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Daphne D D Rietbergen
- Interventional Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Section Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Linda de Wit-van der Veen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Margret Schottelius
- Translational Radiopharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Department of Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 25A, Agora, Lausanne, CH-1011, Switzerland.
- Agora, pôle de recherche sur le cancer, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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4
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Dalm S, Duan H, Iagaru A. Gastrin Releasing Peptide Receptors-targeted PET Diagnostics and Radionuclide Therapy for Prostate Cancer Management: Preclinical and Clinical Developments of the Past 5 Years. PET Clin 2024; 19:401-415. [PMID: 38644111 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpet.2024.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Dalm
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, Rotterdam 3015 GD, The Netherlands
| | - Heying Duan
- Department of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Drive, H2200, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Andrei Iagaru
- Department of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Drive, H2200, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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Chen P, Peng Y, Lv G, Xu L, Hua D, Xie M, Lin J. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Nonsteroidal 18F-Labeled PET Probes Specifically Targeting Estrogen Receptor α. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:3513-3524. [PMID: 38867453 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.4c00214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The estrogen receptor α positive (ERα+) subtype represents nearly 70% of all breast cancers (BCs), which seriously threaten women's health. Positron emission computed tomography (PET) characterizes its superiority in detecting the recurrence and metastasis of BC. In this article, an array of novel PET probes ([18F]R-1, [18F]R-2, [18F]R-3, and [18F]R-4) targeting ERα based on the tetrahydropyridinyl indole scaffold were developed. Among them, [18F]R-3 and [18F]R-4 showed good target specificity toward ERα and could distinguish MCF-7 (ERα+) and MDA-MB-231 (ERα-) tumors efficiently. Especially, [18F]R-3 could differentiate the ERα positive/negative tumors successfully with a higher tumor-to-muscle uptake ratio (T/M) than that of [18F]R-4. The radioactivity of [18F]R-3 in the MCF-7 tumor was 5.24 ± 0.84%ID/mL and its T/M ratio was 2.49 ± 0.62 at 25 min postinjection, which might be the optimal imaging time point in PET scanning. On the contrary, [18F]R-3 did not accumulate in the MDA-MB-231 tumor at all. The autoradiography analysis of [18F]R-3 on the MCF-7 tumor-bearing mice model was consistent with the PET imaging results. [18F]R-3 exhibited the pharmacokinetic property of rapid distribution and slow clearance, making it suitable for use as a diagnostic PET probe. Overall, [18F]R-3 was capable of serving as a PET radiotracer to delineate the ERα+ tumor and was worthy of further exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panpan Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi 214063, China
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Ying Peng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi 214063, China
| | - Gaochao Lv
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi 214063, China
| | - Liang Xu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi 214063, China
| | - Di Hua
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi 214063, China
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Minhao Xie
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi 214063, China
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Jianguo Lin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi 214063, China
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
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Lee D, Li M, Liu D, Baumhover NJ, Sagastume EA, Marks BM, Rastogi P, Pigge FC, Menda Y, Johnson FL, Schultz MK. Structural modifications toward improved lead-203/lead-212 peptide-based image-guided alpha-particle radiopharmaceutical therapies for neuroendocrine tumors. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2024; 51:1147-1162. [PMID: 37955792 PMCID: PMC10881741 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-023-06494-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The lead-203 (203Pb)/lead-212 (212Pb) elementally identical radionuclide pair has gained significant interest in the field of image-guided targeted alpha-particle therapy for cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that 212Pb-labeled peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals targeting somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2) may provide improved effectiveness compared to beta-particle-based therapies for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). This study aims to improve the performance of SSTR2-targeted radionuclide imaging and therapy through structural modifications to Tyr3-octreotide (TOC)-based radiopharmaceuticals. METHODS New SSTR2-targeted peptides were designed and synthesized with the goal of optimizing the incorporation of Pb isotopes through the use of a modified cyclization technique; the introduction of a Pb-specific chelator (PSC); and the insertion of polyethylene glycol (PEG) linkers. The binding affinity of the peptides and the cellular uptake of 203Pb-labeled peptides were evaluated using pancreatic AR42J (SSTR2+) tumor cells and the biodistribution and imaging of the 203Pb-labeled peptides were assessed in an AR42J tumor xenograft mouse model. A lead peptide was identified (i.e., PSC-PEG2-TOC), which was then further evaluated for efficacy in 212Pb therapy studies. RESULTS The lead radiopeptide drug conjugate (RPDC) - [203Pb]Pb-PSC-PEG2-TOC - significantly improved the tumor-targeting properties, including receptor binding and tumor accumulation and retention as compared to [203Pb]Pb-DOTA0-Tyr3-octreotide (DOTATOC). Additionally, the modified RPDC exhibited faster renal clearance than the DOTATOC counterpart. These advantageous characteristics of [212Pb]Pb-PSC-PEG2-TOC resulted in a dose-dependent therapeutic effect with minimal signs of toxicity in the AR42J xenograft model. Fractionated administrations of 3.7 MBq [212Pb]Pb-PSC-PEG2-TOC over three doses further improved anti-tumor effectiveness, resulting in 80% survival (70% complete response) over 120 days in the mouse model. CONCLUSION Structural modifications to chelator and linker compositions improved tumor targeting and pharmacokinetics (PK) of 203/212Pb peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals for NET theranostics. These findings suggest that PSC-PEG2-TOC is a promising candidate for Pb-based targeted radionuclide therapy for NETs and other types of cancers that express SSTR2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyoul Lee
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, Korea Military Academy, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mengshi Li
- Perspective Therapeutics, Inc., Coralville, IA, USA
| | - Dijie Liu
- Perspective Therapeutics, Inc., Coralville, IA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Prerna Rastogi
- Department of Pathology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - F Christopher Pigge
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Iowa, ML B180 FRRBP, 500 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52240, USA
| | - Yusuf Menda
- Department of Radiology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | - Michael K Schultz
- Perspective Therapeutics, Inc., Coralville, IA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Iowa, ML B180 FRRBP, 500 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52240, USA.
- Department of Radiology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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7
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Baun C, Naghavi-Behzad M, Hildebrandt MG, Gerke O, Thisgaard H. Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor as a theranostic target in breast cancer: a systematic scoping review. Semin Nucl Med 2024; 54:256-269. [PMID: 38342656 DOI: 10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2024.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
The gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is known to be overexpressed in breast cancer, making it a promising target for both imaging and therapy within a theranostic framework. Various radioligands targeting GRPR have undergone investigation in preclinical and clinical studies related to breast cancer. This systematic scoping review aimed to assess the current evidence on GRPR-targeted radioligands for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in breast cancer. The methodology followed the PRISMA-ScR protocol. The literature search was conducted in September 2023 and encompassed MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus databases. We included original peer-reviewed studies focused on breast cancer patients or in vivo breast cancer models. Two reviewers performed the study selection process independently. Data were extracted, synthesized, and categorized into preclinical and clinical studies, further subdivided based on radioligand properties. A total of 35 original studies were included in the review, with three of them evaluating therapeutic outcomes. The results indicated that GRPR-radioantagonists are superior to GRPR-agonists, exhibiting preferable in vivo stability, rapid, specific tumor targeting, and enhanced retention. Both preclinical and clinical evaluations demonstrated renal excretion and high uptake in normal GRPR-expressing tissue, primarily the pancreas. A significant positive correlation was observed between GRPR and estrogen-receptor expression. In the clinical setting, GRPR-radioligands effectively detected primary tumors and, to a lesser extent, lymph node metastases. Moreover, GRPR-targeted radioantagonists successfully identified distant metastases originating from various sites in advanced metastatic disease, strongly correlated with positive estrogen receptor expression. Preclinical therapeutic evaluation of GRPR-radioligands labeled with lutetium-177 showed promising tumor responses, and none of the studies reported any observed or measured side effects, indicating a safe profile. In conclusion, the evidence presented in this review indicates a preference for GRPR-targeted antagonists over agonists, owing to their superior kinetics and promising diagnostic potential. Clinical assessments suggested diagnostic value for GRPR-targeted theranostics in breast cancer patients, particularly those with high estrogen receptor expression. Nevertheless, in the therapeutic clinical context, paying attention to the radiation dose administered to the pancreas and kidneys is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Baun
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
| | - Mohammad Naghavi-Behzad
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Malene Grubbe Hildebrandt
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Center for Personalized Response Monitoring in Oncology (PREMIO), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Centre for Innovative Medical Technology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Oke Gerke
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Helge Thisgaard
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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de Roode KE, Joosten L, Behe M. Towards the Magic Radioactive Bullet: Improving Targeted Radionuclide Therapy by Reducing the Renal Retention of Radioligands. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:256. [PMID: 38399470 PMCID: PMC10892921 DOI: 10.3390/ph17020256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) is an emerging field and has the potential to become a major pillar in effective cancer treatment. Several pharmaceuticals are already in routine use for treating cancer, and there is still a high potential for new compounds for this application. But, a major issue for many radiolabeled low-to-moderate-molecular-weight molecules is their clearance via the kidneys and their subsequent reuptake. High renal accumulation of radioactive compounds may lead to nephrotoxicity, and therefore, the kidneys are often the dose-limiting organs in TRT with these radioligands. Over the years, different strategies have been developed aiming for reduced kidney retention and enhanced therapeutic efficacy of radioligands. In this review, we will give an overview of the efforts and achievements of the used strategies, with focus on the therapeutic potential of low-to-moderate-molecular-weight molecules. Among the strategies discussed here is coadministration of compounds that compete for binding to the endocytic receptors in the proximal tubuli. In addition, the influence of altering the molecular design of radiolabeled ligands on pharmacokinetics is discussed, which includes changes in their physicochemical properties and implementation of cleavable linkers or albumin-binding moieties. Furthermore, we discuss the influence of chelator and radionuclide choice on reabsorption of radioligands by the kidneys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim E. de Roode
- Department of Medical Imaging, Nuclear Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
- Tagworks Pharmaceuticals, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lieke Joosten
- Department of Medical Imaging, Nuclear Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Martin Behe
- Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences ETH-PSI-USZ, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
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Mardanshahi A, Vaseghi S, Hosseinimehr SJ, Abedi SM, Molavipordanjani S. 99mTc(CO) 3-labeled 1-(2-Pyridyl)piperazine derivatives as radioligands for 5-HT 7 receptors. Ann Nucl Med 2024; 38:139-153. [PMID: 38032496 DOI: 10.1007/s12149-023-01885-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor (5-HTR) family includes seven classes of receptors. The 5-HT7R is the newest member of this family and contributes to different physiological and pathological processes. As a pathology, glioblastoma multiform (GBM) overexpresses 5-HT7R; hence, this study aims to develop radiolabeled aryl piperazine derivatives as 5-HT7R imaging agents. METHODS: Compounds 6 and 7 as 1-(3-nitropyridin-2-yl)piperazine derivatives were radiolabeled with fac-[99mTc(CO)3(H2O)3]+ and 99mTc(CO)3-[6] and 99mTc(CO)3-[7] were obtained with high radiochemical purity (RCP > 94%). The stability of the radiotracers was evaluated in both saline and mouse serum. Specific binding on different cell lines including U-87 MG, MCF-7, SKBR3, and HT-29 was performed. The biodistribution of these radiotracers was evaluated in normal and U-87 MG Xenografted models. Finally, 99mTc(CO)3-[6] and 99mTc(CO)3-[7] were applied for in vivo imaging in U-87 MG Xenografted models. RESULTS Specific binding study indicates that 99mTc(CO)3-[6] and 99mTc(CO)3-[7] can recognize 5-HT7R of U87-MG cell line. The biodistribution study in normal mice indicates that the brain uptake of 99mTc(CO)3-[6] and 99mTc(CO)3-[7] is the highest at 30 min post-injection (0.8 ± 0.25 and 0.64 ± 0.18%ID/g, respectively). The data of the biodistribution study in the U87-MG xenograft model revealed that these radiotracers could accumulate in the tumor site, and the highest tumor uptake was observed at 60 min post-injection (3.38 ± 0.65 and 3.27 ± 0.5%ID/g, respectively). The injection of pimozide can block the tumor's radiotracer uptake, indicating the binding of these radiotracers to the 5-HT7R. The imaging study in the xenograft model also confirms the biodistribution data. The acquired images clearly show the tumor site, and the tumor-to-muscle ratio for 99mTc(CO)3-[6] and 99mTc(CO)3-[7] at 60 min was 3.33 and 3.88, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 99mTc(CO)3-[6] and 99mTc(CO)3-[7] can visualize tumor in the U87-MG xenograft model due to their affinity toward 5-HT7R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Mardanshahi
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Samaneh Vaseghi
- Department of Chemistry, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Jalal Hosseinimehr
- Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammad Abedi
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Sajjad Molavipordanjani
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Hemoglobinopathy Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
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10
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Zhang H, Rao M, Zhao H, Ren J, Hao L, Zhong M, Chen Y, Yang X, Feng Y, Yuan G. Imageological/Structural Study regarding the Improved Pharmacokinetics by 68Ga-Labeled PEGylated PSMA Multimer in Prostate Cancer. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16040589. [PMID: 37111347 PMCID: PMC10144514 DOI: 10.3390/ph16040589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
PMSA (prostate-specific membrane antigen) is currently the most significant target for diagnosing and treating PCa (prostate cancer). Herein, we reported a series 68Ga/177Lu-labeled multimer PSMA tracer conjugating with PEG chain, including [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-(1P-PEG4), [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-(2P-PEG0), [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-(2P-PEG4), and [68Ga]Ga/[177Lu]Lu-DOTA-(2P-PEG4)2, which showed an advantage of a multivalent effect and PEGylation to achieve higher tumor accumulation and faster kidney clearance. To figure out how structural optimizations based on a PSMA multimer and PEGylation influence the probe's tumor-targeting ability, biodistribution, and metabolism, we examined PSMA molecular probes' affinities to PC-3 PIP (PSMA-highly-expressed PC-3 cell line), and conducted pharmacokinetics analysis, biodistribution detection, small animal PET/CT, and SPECT/CT imaging. The results showed that PEG4 and PSMA dimer optimizations enhanced the probes' tumor-targeting ability in PC-3 PIP tumor-bearing mice models. Compared with the PSMA monomer, the PEGylated PSMA dimer reduced the elimination half-life in the blood and increased uptake in the tumor, and the biodistribution results were consistent with PET/CT imaging results. [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-(2P-PEG4)2 exhibited higher tumor-to-organ ratios. When labeled by lutetium-177, relatively high accumulation of DOTA-(2P-PEG4)2 was still detected in PC-3 PIP tumor-bearing mice models after 48 h, indicating its prolonged tumor retention time. Given the superiority in imaging, simple synthetic processes, and structural stability, DOTA-(2P-PEG4)2 is expected to be a promising tumor-targeting diagnostic molecular probe in future clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Maohua Rao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Huayi Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Jianli Ren
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Molecular Imaging, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Lan Hao
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Molecular Imaging, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Meng Zhong
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646600, China
| | - Yue Chen
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou 646600, China
| | - Xia Yang
- Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900, China
| | - Yue Feng
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou 646600, China
| | - Gengbiao Yuan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
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11
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Karimi M, Mardanshahi A, Irannejad H, Mohammad Abedi S, Molavipordanjani S. Synthesis and evaluation of 99mTc-labeled 1-(2-Pyridyl)piperazine derivatives as radioligands for 5HT 7 receptors. Bioorg Chem 2023; 135:106486. [PMID: 36965286 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) is one of the most aggressive tumors of the central nervous system in humans. GBM overexpresses serotonin-7 receptors (5-HT7Rs); hence, this study aims to develop 5-HT7R targeted radiotracers. Aryl piperazine derivatives can act as ligands for 5-HT7R. Therefore, compounds 6 and 7 as 1-(3-nitropyridin-2-yl)piperazine derivatives were synthesized and radiolabeled with 99mTcN2+ core. Radiolabeled 6 and 7 (99mTcN-[6] and 99mTcN-[7]) were prepared with high radiochemical purity (RCP > 96%). They displayed high affinity toward U-87 MG cell line 5-HT7R. The calculated Ki for 99mTcN-[7] was lower than that of 99mTcN-[6] (14.85 ± 0.32 vs 22.57 ± 0.73 nM) which indicates the higher affinity of 99mTcN-[7] toward 5-HT7R. A molecular docking study also confirmed the binding of these radiotracers to 5-HT7R. The biodistribution study in normal mice revealed that 99mTcN-[7] has the highest brain accumulation at 30 min post-injection (0.54 ± 0.12 %ID/g) while the uptake of 99mTcN-[6] is much lower (0.14 ± 0.02 %ID/g). The biodistribution study in the xenograft model confirms that the radiotracers recognize the tumor site. 99mTcN-[6], and 99mTcN-[7] showed the highest tumor uptake at 1-hour post-injection (5.44 ± 0.58 vs 4.94 ± 1.65 %ID/g) and tumor-to-muscle ratios were (4.61 vs. 5.61). The injection of pimozide blocks the receptors and significantly reduces the tumor-to-muscle ratios at 1-hour post-injection to 0.81 and 0.31, respectively. In correlation with in vitro study, 99mTcN-[6] and 99mTcN-[7] visualize the tumor site in U-87 MG glioma xenografted nude mice and display the tumor-to-muscle ratios of 7.05 and 6.03.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Karimi
- Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Alireza Mardanshahi
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Hamid Irannejad
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammad Abedi
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Sajjad Molavipordanjani
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Hemoglobinopathy Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
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12
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Phase I Trial of [99mTc]Tc-maSSS-PEG2-RM26, a Bombesin Analogue Antagonistic to Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptors (GRPRs), for SPECT Imaging of GRPR Expression in Malignant Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15061631. [PMID: 36980517 PMCID: PMC10046460 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is overexpressed in prostate cancer (PCa) and in hormone-driven breast cancer (BCa). The aim of this phase I clinical trial was to evaluate safety, biodistribution, and dosimetry after the administration of the recently developed GRPR-targeting antagonistic bombesin analogue [99mTc]Tc-maSSS-PEG2-RM26 in PCa and BCa patients. Planar and whole-body SPECT/CT imaging was performed in six PCa patients and seven BCa patients 2, 4, 6, and 24 h post the intravenous administration of 40 µg of [99mTc]Tc-maSSS-PEG2-RM26 (600–700 MBq). No adverse events or pathological changes were observed. The rapid blood clearance of [99mTc]Tc-maSSS-PEG2-RM26 was observed with predominantly hepatobiliary excretion. The effective doses were 0.0053 ± 0.0007 for male patients and 0.008 ± 0.003 mSv/MBq for female patients. The accumulation of [99mTc]Tc-maSSS-PEG2-RM26 in tumors was observed in four out of six PCa and in seven out of seven BCa patients. In four BCa patients, a high uptake of the agent into the axillary lymph nodes was detected. Immunohistochemistry revealed positive GRPR expression in 60% of primary PCa, 71.4% of BCa tumors, and 50% of examined BCa lymph nodes. In conclusion, a single administration of [99mTc]Tc-maSSS-PEG2-RM26 was safe and well tolerated. [99mTc]Tc-maSSS-PEG2-RM26 SPECT may be useful for tumor detection in PCa and BCa patients, pending further studies.
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13
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Chen Y, Han J, Zhao Y, Zhao X, Zhao M, Zhang J, Wang J. 18F-labeled FGFR1 peptide: a new PET probe for subtype FGFR1 receptor imaging. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1047080. [PMID: 37182162 PMCID: PMC10174317 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1047080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) family is highly expressed in a variety of tumor types and represents a new target for cancer therapy. Different FGFR subtype aberrations have been found to exhibit highly variable sensitivity and efficacy to FGFR inhibitors. Methods The present study is the first to suggest an imaging method for assessing FGFR1 expression. The FGFR1-targeting peptide NOTA-PEG2-KAEWKSLGEEAWHSK was synthesized by manual solid-phase peptide synthesis and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification and then labeled with fluorine-18 using NOTA as a chelator. In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to evaluate the stability, affinity and specificity of the probe. Tumor targeting efficacy and biodistribution were evaluated by micro-PET/CT imaging in RT-112, A549, SNU-16 and Calu-3 xenografts. Results The radiochemical purity of [18F]F-FGFR1 was 98.66% ± 0.30% (n = 3) with excellent stability. The cellular uptake rate of [18F]F-FGFR1 in the RT-112 cell line (FGFR1 overexpression) was higher than that in the other cell lines and could be blocked by the presence of excess unlabeled FGFR1 peptide. Micro-PET/CT imaging revealed a significant concentration of [18F]F-FGFR1 in RT-112 xenografts with no or very low uptake in nontargeted organs and tissues, which demonstrated that [18F]F-FGFR1 was selectively taken up by FGFR1-positive tumors. Conclusion [18F]F-FGFR1 showed high stability, affinity, specificity and good imaging capacity for FGFR1-overexpressing tumors in vivo, which provides new application potential in the visualization of FGFR1 expression in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Department of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Jingya Han
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xinming Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Drug Resistance, Shijiazhuang, China
- *Correspondence: Xinming Zhao,
| | - Mengmeng Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jingmian Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jianfang Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
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14
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Kurth J, Potratz M, Heuschkel M, Krause BJ, Schwarzenböck SM. GRPr Theranostics: Current Status of Imaging and Therapy using GRPr Targeting Radiopharmaceuticals. Nuklearmedizin 2022; 61:247-261. [PMID: 35668669 DOI: 10.1055/a-1759-4189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Addressing molecular targets, that are overexpressed by various tumor entities, using radiolabeled molecules for a combined diagnostic and therapeutic (theranostic) approach is of increasing interest in oncology. The gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPr), which is part of the bombesin family, has shown to be overexpressed in a variety of tumors, therefore, serving as a promising target for those theranostic applications. A large amount of differently radiolabeled bombesin derivatives addressing the GRPr have been evaluated in the preclinical as well as clinical setting showing fast blood clearance and urinary excretion with selective GRPr-binding. Most of the available studies on GRPr-targeted imaging and therapy have evaluated the theranostic approach in prostate and breast cancer applying bombesin derivatives tagged with the predominantly used theranostic pair of 68Ga/177Lu which is the focus of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Kurth
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Madlin Potratz
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Martin Heuschkel
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Bernd J Krause
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
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15
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Damerow H, Hübner R, Judmann B, Schirrmacher R, Wängler B, Fricker G, Wängler C. Side-by-Side Comparison of Five Chelators for 89Zr-Labeling of Biomolecules: Investigation of Chemical/Radiochemical Properties and Complex Stability. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13246349. [PMID: 34944969 PMCID: PMC8699488 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, five different chelating agents, namely DFO, CTH-36, DFO*, 3,4,3-(LI-1,2-HOPO) and DOTA-GA, were compared with regard to the relative kinetic inertness of their corresponding 89Zr complexes to evaluate their potential for in vivo application and stable 89Zr complexation. The chelators were identically functionalized with tetrazines, enabling a fully comparable, efficient, chemoselective and biorthogonal conjugation chemistry for the modification of any complementarily derivatized biomolecules of interest. A small model peptide of clinical relevance (TCO-c(RGDfK)) was derivatized via iEDDA click reaction with the developed chelating agents (TCO = trans-cyclooctene and iEDDA = inverse electron demand Diels-Alder). The bioconjugates were labeled with 89Zr4+, and their radiochemical properties (labeling conditions and efficiency), logD(7.4), as well as the relative kinetic inertness of the formed complexes, were compared. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were conducted to identify potential influences of chelator modification on complex formation and geometry. The results of the DFT studies showed-apart from the DOTA-GA derivative-no significant influence of chelator backbone functionalization or the conjugation of the chelator tetrazines by iEDDA. All tetrazines could be efficiently introduced into c(RGDfK), demonstrating the high suitability of the agents for efficient and chemoselective bioconjugation. The DFO-, CTH-36- and DFO*-modified c(RGDfK) peptides showed a high radiolabeling efficiency under mild reaction conditions and complete 89Zr incorporation within 1 h, yielding the 89Zr-labeled analogs as homogenous products. In contrast, 3,4,3-(LI-1,2-HOPO)-c(RGDfK) required considerably prolonged reaction times of 5 h for complete radiometal incorporation and yielded several different 89Zr-labeled species. The labeling of the DOTA-GA-modified peptide was not successful at all. Compared to [89Zr]Zr-DFO-, [89Zr]Zr-CTH-36- and [89Zr]Zr-DFO*-c(RGDfK), the corresponding [89Zr]Zr-3,4,3-(LI-1,2-HOPO) peptide showed a strongly increased lipophilicity. Finally, the relative stability of the 89Zr complexes against the EDTA challenge was investigated. The [89Zr]Zr-DFO complex showed-as expected-a low kinetic inertness. Unexpectedly, also, the [89Zr]Zr-CTH-36 complex demonstrated a high susceptibility against the challenge, limiting the usefulness of CTH-36 for stable 89Zr complexation. Only the [89Zr]Zr-DFO* and the [89Zr]Zr-3,4,3-(LI-1,2-HOPO) complexes demonstrated a high inertness, qualifying them for further comparative in vivo investigation to determine the most appropriate alternative to DFO for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Damerow
- Biomedical Chemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (H.D.); (R.H.); (B.J.)
| | - Ralph Hübner
- Biomedical Chemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (H.D.); (R.H.); (B.J.)
| | - Benedikt Judmann
- Biomedical Chemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (H.D.); (R.H.); (B.J.)
- Molecular Imaging and Radiochemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany;
| | - Ralf Schirrmacher
- Department of Oncology, Division of Oncological Imaging, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada;
| | - Björn Wängler
- Molecular Imaging and Radiochemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany;
| | - Gert Fricker
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 329, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Carmen Wängler
- Biomedical Chemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (H.D.); (R.H.); (B.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-621-383-3761
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16
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Mansi R, Nock BA, Dalm SU, Busstra MB, van Weerden WM, Maina T. Radiolabeled Bombesin Analogs. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13225766. [PMID: 34830920 PMCID: PMC8616220 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Recent medical advancements have strived for a personalized medicine approach to patients, aimed at optimizing therapy outcomes with minimum toxicity. In this respect, nuclear medicine methodologies have been playing increasingly important roles. For example, the overexpression of peptide receptors, such as the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), on tumor cells as opposed to their lack of expression in healthy surrounding tissues can be elegantly exploited with the aid of “smart” peptide carriers, such as the analogs of the amphibian 14-peptide bombesin (BBN). These molecules can bring clinically attractive radionuclides to malignant lesions in prostate, breast, and other human cancers, sparing healthy tissues. Depending upon the radionuclide in question, diagnostic imaging with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET) has been pursued, identifying patients who are eligible for peptide radionuclide receptor therapy (PRRT) in an integrated “theranostic” approach. In the present review, we (i) discuss the major steps taken in the development of anti-GRPR theranostic radioligands, with a focus on those selected for clinical testing; (ii) comment on the present status in this field of research; and (iii) reflect on the current limitations as well as on new opportunities for their broader and more successful clinical applications. Abstract The gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is expressed in high numbers in a variety of human tumors, including the frequently occurring prostate and breast cancers, and therefore provides the rationale for directing diagnostic or therapeutic radionuclides on cancer lesions after administration of anti-GRPR peptide analogs. This concept has been initially explored with analogs of the frog 14-peptide bombesin, suitably modified at the N-terminus with a number of radiometal chelates. Radiotracers that were selected for clinical testing revealed inherent problems associated with these GRPR agonists, related to low metabolic stability, unfavorable abdominal accumulation, and adverse effects. A shift toward GRPR antagonists soon followed, with safer analogs becoming available, whereby, metabolic stability and background clearance issues were gradually improved. Clinical testing of three main major antagonist types led to promising outcomes, but at the same time brought to light several limitations of this concept, partly related to the variation of GRPR expression levels across cancer types, stages, previous treatments, and other factors. Currently, these parameters are being rigorously addressed by cell biologists, chemists, nuclear medicine physicians, and other discipline practitioners in a common effort to make available more effective and safe state-of-the-art molecular tools to combat GRPR-positive tumors. In the present review, we present the background, current status, and future perspectives of this endeavor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalba Mansi
- Division of Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland;
| | - Berthold A. Nock
- Molecular Radiopharmacy, INRaSTES, NCSR “Demokritos”, 15310 Athens, Greece;
| | - Simone U. Dalm
- Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (S.U.D.); (M.B.B.); (W.M.v.W.)
| | - Martijn B. Busstra
- Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (S.U.D.); (M.B.B.); (W.M.v.W.)
| | - Wytske M. van Weerden
- Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (S.U.D.); (M.B.B.); (W.M.v.W.)
| | - Theodosia Maina
- Molecular Radiopharmacy, INRaSTES, NCSR “Demokritos”, 15310 Athens, Greece;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-650-3908/3891
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17
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Cheng X, Hübner R, von Kiedrowski V, Fricker G, Schirrmacher R, Wängler C, Wängler B. Design, Synthesis, In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Heterobivalent SiFA lin-Modified Peptidic Radioligands Targeting Both Integrin α vβ 3 and the MC1 Receptor-Suitable for the Specific Visualization of Melanomas? Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14060547. [PMID: 34200477 PMCID: PMC8228600 DOI: 10.3390/ph14060547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Combining two peptides addressing two different receptors to a heterobivalent peptidic ligand (HBPL) is thought to enable an improved tumor-targeting sensitivity and thus tumor visualization, compared to monovalent peptide ligands. In the case of melanoma, the Melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R), which is stably overexpressed in the majority of primary malignant melanomas, and integrin αvβ3, which is involved in lymph node metastasis and therefore has an important role in the transition from local to metastatic disease, are important target receptors. Thus, if a radiolabeled HBPL could be developed that was able to bind to both receptor types, the early diagnosis and correct staging of the disease would be significantly increased. Here, we report on the design, synthesis, radiolabeling and in vitro and in vivo testing of different SiFAlin-modified HBPLs (SiFA = silicon fluoride acceptor), consisting of an MC1R-targeting (GG-Nle-c(DHfRWK)) and an integrin αvβ3-affine peptide (c(RGDfK)), being connected by a symmetrically branching framework including linkers of differing length and composition. Kit-like 18F-radiolabeling of the HBPLs 1–6 provided the labeled products [18F]1–[18F]6 in radiochemical yields of 27–50%, radiochemical purities of ≥95% and non-optimized molar activities of 17–51 GBq/μmol within short preparation times of 25 min. Besides the evaluation of radiotracers regarding logD(7.4) and stability in human serum, the receptor affinities of the HBPLs were investigated in vitro on cell lines overexpressing integrin αvβ3 (U87MG cells) or the MC1R (B16F10). Based on these results, the most promising compounds [18F]2, showing the highest affinity to both target receptors (IC50 (B16F10) = 0.99 ± 0.11 nM, IC50 (U87MG) = 1300 ± 288 nM), and [18F]4, exhibiting the highest hydrophilicity (logD(7.4) = −1.39 ± 0.03), were further investigated in vivo and ex vivo in a xenograft mouse model bearing both tumors. For both HBPLs, clear visualization of B16F10, as well as U87MG tumors, was feasible. Blocking studies using the respective monospecific peptides demonstrated both peptide binders of the HBPLs contributing to tumor uptake. Despite the somewhat lower target receptor affinities (IC50 (B16F10) = 6.00 ± 0.47 nM and IC50 (U87MG) = 2034 ± 323 nM) of [18F]4, the tracer showed higher absolute tumor uptakes ([18F]4: 2.58 ± 0.86% ID/g in B16F10 tumors and 3.92 ± 1.31% ID/g in U87MG tumors; [18F]2: 2.32 ± 0.49% ID/g in B16F10 tumors and 2.33 ± 0.46% ID/g in U87MG tumors) as well as higher tumor-to-background ratios than [18F]2. Thus, [18F]4 demonstrates to be a highly potent radiotracer for the sensitive and bispecific imaging of malignant melanoma by PET/CT imaging and impressively illustrates the suitability of the underlying concept to develop heterobivalent integrin αvβ3- and MC1R-bispecific radioligands for the sensitive and specific imaging of malignant melanoma by PET/CT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Cheng
- Molecular Imaging and Radiochemistry, Department of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (X.C.); (V.v.K.)
| | - Ralph Hübner
- Biomedical Chemistry, Department of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany;
| | - Valeska von Kiedrowski
- Molecular Imaging and Radiochemistry, Department of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (X.C.); (V.v.K.)
| | - Gert Fricker
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 329, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Ralf Schirrmacher
- Department of Oncology, Division of Oncological Imaging, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada;
| | - Carmen Wängler
- Biomedical Chemistry, Department of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany;
- Correspondence: (C.W.); (B.W.)
| | - Björn Wängler
- Molecular Imaging and Radiochemistry, Department of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; (X.C.); (V.v.K.)
- Correspondence: (C.W.); (B.W.)
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18
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Guillou A, Earley DF, Klingler S, Nisli E, Nüesch LJ, Fay R, Holland JP. The Influence of a Polyethylene Glycol Linker on the Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics of a 89Zr-Radiolabeled Antibody. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 32:1263-1275. [PMID: 34056896 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Most experimental work in the space of bioconjugation chemistry focuses on using new methods to construct covalent bonds between a cargo molecule and a protein of interest such as a monoclonal antibody (mAb). Bond formation is important for generating new diagnostic tools, yet when these compounds advance to preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies, and later for translation to the clinic, understanding the fate of potential metabolites that arise from chemical or enzymatic degradation of the construct is important to obtain a full picture of the pharmacokinetic performance of a new compound. In the context of designing new bioconjugate methods for labeling antibodies with the positron-emitting radionuclide 89Zr, we previously developed a photochemical process for making 89Zr-mAbs. Experimental studies on [89Zr]ZrDFO-PEG3-azepin-mAb constructs revealed that incorporation of the tris-polyethylene glycol (PEG3) linker improved the aqueous phase solubility and radiochemical conversion. However, the use of a PEG3 linker also has an impact on the whole-body residence time of the construct, leading to a more rapid excretion of the 89Zr activity when compared with radiotracers that lack the PEG3 chain. In this work, we investigated the metabolic fate of eight possible metabolites that arise from the logical disconnection of [89Zr]ZrDFO-PEG3-azepin-mAb at bonds which are susceptible to chemical or enzymatic cleavage. Synthesis combined with 89Zr-radiolabeling, small-animal positron emission tomography imaging at multiple time points from 0 to 20 h, and measurements of the effective half-life for whole-body excretion are reported. The conclusions are that the use of a PEG3 linker is non-innocent in terms of its impact on enhancing the metabolism of [89Zr]ZrDFO-PEG3-azepin-mAbs. In most cases, degradation can produce metabolites that are rapidly eliminated from the body, thereby enhancing image contrast by reducing nonspecific accumulation and retention of 89Zr in background organs such as the liver, spleen, kidney, and bone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaury Guillou
- Department of Chemistry University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel F Earley
- Department of Chemistry University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Simon Klingler
- Department of Chemistry University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eda Nisli
- Department of Chemistry University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Laura J Nüesch
- Department of Chemistry University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rachael Fay
- Department of Chemistry University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jason P Holland
- Department of Chemistry University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
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Branched Multipeptide-combined Adjuvants Potentially Improve the Antitumor Effects on Glioblastoma. J Immunother 2021; 44:151-161. [PMID: 33512855 DOI: 10.1097/cji.0000000000000359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The promising immunotherapy effects of a multiple antigenic peptide on glioblastoma (GBM) in a previous study encourage the use of adjuvants to enhance its therapeutic efficacy. Among adjuvants, pan HLA-DR-binding epitope (PADRE) and anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD1) have potentially been tested for cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, here we evaluated the ability of PADRE and anti-PD1 to enhance the function of the branched multipeptide against GBM. The potential utility of tumor-associated antigens (ErbB-2 and WT-1) targeting GBM with HLA-A24 was confirmed and a branched multipeptide was constructed from these antigens. The effects of the branched multipeptide and PADRE on immunophenotyping and polarized Th cytokine production in dendritic cells were clarified. The expression of PD1 on T cells and PDL1 on GBM cells was also investigated. The interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot and lactate dehydrogenase release assays were performed to determine the function of GBM peptide antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells against GBM cells. Overall, this study showed that both ErbB-2 and WT-1 are potential candidates for branched multipeptide construction. The branched multipeptide and PADRE enhanced the expression of major histocompatibility complex and co-stimulatory molecules and the production of polarized Th1 cytokines in dendritic cells. The increase in the number of interferon-γ+ effector T cells was consistent with the increase in the percentage specific lysis of GBM target cells by GBM peptide antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells in the presence of the branched multipeptide, PADRE, and anti-PD1. Our study suggests the combination of branched multipeptide and adjuvants such as PADRE and anti-PD1 can potentially enhance the effects of immunotherapy for GBM treatment.
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Fang H, Cavaliere A, Li Z, Huang Y, Marquez-Nostra B. Preclinical Advances in Theranostics for the Different Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:627693. [PMID: 33986665 PMCID: PMC8111013 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.627693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. The heterogeneity of breast cancer and drug resistance to therapies make the diagnosis and treatment difficult. Molecular imaging methods with positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) provide useful tools to diagnose, predict, and monitor the response of therapy, contributing to precision medicine for breast cancer patients. Recently, many efforts have been made to find new targets for breast cancer therapy to overcome resistance to standard of care treatments, giving rise to new therapeutic agents to offer more options for patients with breast cancer. The combination of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies forms the foundation of theranostics. Some of these theranostic agents exhibit high potential to be translated to clinic. In this review, we highlight the most recent advances in theranostics of the different molecular subtypes of breast cancer in preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanyi Fang
- PET Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Alessandra Cavaliere
- PET Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Ziqi Li
- PET Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiyun Huang
- PET Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Bernadette Marquez-Nostra
- PET Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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SPAAC-NAD-seq, a sensitive and accurate method to profile NAD +-capped transcripts. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2025595118. [PMID: 33753511 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2025595118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Nicotinamide adenine diphosphate (NAD+) is a novel messenger RNA 5' cap in Escherichia coli, yeast, mammals, and Arabidopsis Transcriptome-wide identification of NAD+-capped RNAs (NAD-RNAs) was accomplished through NAD captureSeq, which combines chemoenzymatic RNA enrichment with high-throughput sequencing. NAD-RNAs are enzymatically converted to alkyne-RNAs that are then biotinylated using a copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. Originally applied to E. coli RNA, which lacks the m7G cap, NAD captureSeq was then applied to eukaryotes without extensive verification of its specificity for NAD-RNAs vs. m7G-capped RNAs (m7G-RNAs). In addition, the Cu2+ ion in the CuAAC reaction causes RNA fragmentation, leading to greatly reduced yield and loss of full-length sequence information. We developed an NAD-RNA capture scheme utilizing the copper-free, strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction (SPAAC). We examined the specificity of CuAAC and SPAAC reactions toward NAD-RNAs and m7G-RNAs and found that both prefer the former, but also act on the latter. We demonstrated that SPAAC-NAD sequencing (SPAAC-NAD-seq), when combined with immunodepletion of m7G-RNAs, enables NAD-RNA identification with accuracy and sensitivity, leading to the discovery of new NAD-RNA profiles in Arabidopsis Furthermore, SPAAC-NAD-seq retained full-length sequence information. Therefore, SPAAC-NAD-seq would enable specific and efficient discovery of NAD-RNAs in prokaryotes and, when combined with m7G-RNA depletion, in eukaryotes.
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Rinne SS, Abouzayed A, Gagnon K, Tolmachev V, Orlova A. 66Ga-PET-imaging of GRPR-expression in prostate cancer: production and characterization of [ 66Ga]Ga-NOTA-PEG 2-RM26. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3631. [PMID: 33574368 PMCID: PMC7878787 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82995-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular imaging of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) could improve patient management in prostate cancer. This study aimed to produce gallium-66 (T½ = 9.5 h) suitable for radiolabeling, and investigate the imaging properties of gallium-66 labeled GRPR-antagonist NOTA-PEG2-RM26 for later-time point PET-imaging of GRPR expression. Gallium-66 was cyclotron-produced using a liquid target, and enriched [66Zn]Zn(NO3)2. In vitro, [66Ga]Ga-NOTA-PEG2-RM26 was characterized in GRPR-expressing PC-3 prostate cancer cells. In vivo, specificity test and biodistribution studies were performed 3 h and 22 h pi in PC-3 xenografted mice. microPET/MR was performed 3 h and 22 h pi. Biodistribution of [66Ga]Ga-NOTA-PEG2-RM26 was compared with [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-PEG2-RM26 3 h pi. [66Ga]Ga-NOTA-PEG2-RM26 was successfully prepared with preserved binding specificity and high affinity towards GRPR. [66Ga]Ga-NOTA-PEG2-RM26 cleared rapidly from blood via kidneys. Tumor uptake was GRPR-specific and exceeded normal organ uptake. Normal tissue clearance was limited, resulting in no improvement of tumor-to-organ ratios with time. Tumors could be clearly visualized using microPET/MR. Gallium-66 was successfully produced and [66Ga]Ga-NOTA-PEG2-RM26 was able to clearly visualize GRPR-expression both shortly after injection and on the next day using PET. However, delayed imaging did not improve contrast for Ga-labeled NOTA-PEG2-RM26.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara S Rinne
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ayman Abouzayed
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Centrum for Oncotheranostics, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Anna Orlova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Centrum for Oncotheranostics, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia.
- Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Mitran B, Tolmachev V, Orlova A. Radiolabeled GRPR Antagonists for Imaging of Disseminated Prostate Cancer - Influence of Labeling Chemistry on Targeting Properties. Curr Med Chem 2021; 27:7090-7111. [PMID: 32164503 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666200312114902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Radionuclide molecular imaging of Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor (GRPR) expression promises unparalleled opportunities for visualizing subtle prostate tumors, which due to small size, adjacent benign tissue, or a challenging location would otherwise remain undetected by conventional imaging. Achieving high imaging contrast is essential for this purpose and the molecular design of any probe for molecular imaging of prostate cancer should be aimed at obtaining as high tumor-to-organ ratios as possible. OBJECTIVE This short review summarizes the key imaging modalities currently used in prostate cancer, with a special focus on radionuclide molecular imaging. Emphasis is laid mainly on the issue of radiometals labeling chemistry and its influence on the targeting properties and biodistribution of radiolabeled GRPR antagonists for imaging of disseminated prostate cancer. METHODS A comprehensive literature search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, and Scopus library databases was conducted to find relevant articles. RESULTS The combination of radionuclide, chelator and required labeling chemistry was shown to have a significant influence on the stability, binding affinity and internalization rate, off-target interaction with normal tissues and blood proteins, interaction with enzymes, activity uptake and retention in excretory organs and activity uptake in tumors of radiolabeled bombesin antagonistic analogues. CONCLUSION Labeling chemistry has a very strong impact on the biodistribution profile of GRPRtargeting peptide based imaging probes and needs to be considered when designing a targeting probe for high contrast molecular imaging. Taking into account the complexity of in vivo interactions, it is not currently possible to accurately predict the optimal labeling approach. Therefore, a detailed in vivo characterization and optimization is essential for the rational design of imaging agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogdan Mitran
- Department of Medicianl Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Orlova
- Department of Medicianl Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Preclinical Evaluation of 99mTc-Labeled GRPR Antagonists maSSS/SES-PEG 2-RM26 for Imaging of Prostate Cancer. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13020182. [PMID: 33573232 PMCID: PMC7912279 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13020182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is an important target for imaging of prostate cancer. The wide availability of single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) and the generator-produced 99mTc can be utilized to facilitate the use of GRPR-targeting radiotracers for diagnostics of prostate cancers. METHODS Synthetically produced mercaptoacetyl-Ser-Ser-Ser (maSSS)-PEG2-RM26 and mercaptoacetyl-Ser-Glu-Ser (maSES)-PEG2-RM26 (RM26 = d-Phe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Sta-Leu-NH2) were radiolabeled with 99mTc and characterized in vitro using PC-3 cells and in vivo, using NMRI or PC-3 tumor bearing mice. SPECT/CT imaging and dosimetry calculations were performed for [99mTc]Tc-maSSS-PEG2-RM26. RESULTS Peptides were radiolabeled with high yields (>98%), demonstrating GRPR specific binding and slow internalization in PC-3 cells. [99mTc]Tc-maSSS-PEG2-RM26 outperformed [99mTc]Tc-maSES-PEG2-RM26 in terms of GRPR affinity, with a lower dissociation constant (61 pM vs 849 pM) and demonstrating higher tumor uptake. [99mTc]Tc-maSSS-PEG2-RM26 had tumor-to-blood, tumor-to-muscle, and tumor-to-bone ratios of 97 ± 56, 188 ± 32, and 177 ± 79, respectively. SPECT/CT images of [99mTc]Tc-maSSS-PEG2-RM26 clearly visualized the GRPR-overexpressing tumors. The dosimetry estimated for [99mTc]Tc-maSSS-PEG2-RM26 showed the highest absorbed dose in the small intestine (1.65 × 10-3 mGy/MBq), and the effective dose is 3.49 × 10-3 mSv/MBq. CONCLUSION The GRPR antagonist maSSS-PEG2-RM26 is a promising GRPR-targeting agent that can be radiolabeled through a single-step with the generator-produced 99mTc and used for imaging of GRPR-expressing prostate cancer.
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Li X, Cai H, Wu X, Li L, Wu H, Tian R. New Frontiers in Molecular Imaging Using Peptide-Based Radiopharmaceuticals for Prostate Cancer. Front Chem 2020; 8:583309. [PMID: 33335885 PMCID: PMC7736158 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.583309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The high incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) increases the need for progress in its diagnosis, staging, and precise treatment. The overexpression of tumor-specific receptors for peptides in human cancer cells, such as gastrin-releasing peptide receptor, natriuretic peptide receptor, and somatostatin receptor, has indicated the ideal molecular basis for targeted imaging and therapy. Targeting these receptors using radiolabeled peptides and analogs have been an essential topic on the current forefront of PCa studies. Radiolabeled peptides have been used to target receptors for molecular imaging in human PCa with high affinity and specificity. The radiolabeled peptides enable optimal quick elimination from blood and normal tissues, producing high contrast for positron emission computed tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography imaging with high tumor-to-normal tissue uptake ratios. Owing to their successful application in visualization, peptide derivatives with therapeutic radionuclides for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy in PCa have been explored in recent years. These developments offer the promise of personalized, molecular medicine for individual patients. Hence, we review the preclinical and clinical literature in the past 20 years and focus on the newer developments of peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals for the imaging and therapy of PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huawei Cai
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoai Wu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Haoxing Wu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital and West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Rong Tian
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Preclinical Evaluation of the Copper-64 Labeled GRPR-Antagonist RM26 in Comparison with the Cobalt-55 Labeled Counterpart for PET-Imaging of Prostate Cancer. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25245993. [PMID: 33352838 PMCID: PMC7766840 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25245993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is overexpressed in the majority of prostate cancers. This study aimed to investigate the potential of 64Cu (radionuclide for late time-point PET-imaging) for imaging of GRPR expression using NOTA-PEG2-RM26 and NODAGA-PEG2-RM26. Methods: NOTA/NODAGA-PEG2-RM26 were labeled with 64Cu and evaluated in GRPR-expressing PC-3 cells. Biodistribution of [64Cu]Cu-NOTA/NODAGA-PEG2-RM26 was studied in PC-3 xenografted mice and compared to the biodistribution of [57Co]Co-NOTA/NODAGA-PEG2-RM26 at 3 and 24 h p.i. Preclinical PET/CT imaging was performed in tumor-bearing mice. NOTA/NODAGA-PEG2-RM26 were stably labeled with 64Cu with quantitative yields. In vitro, binding of [64Cu]Cu-NOTA/NODAGA-PEG2-RM26 was rapid and GRPR-specific with slow internalization. In vivo, [64Cu]Cu-NOTA/NODAGA-PEG2-RM26 bound specifically to GRPR-expressing tumors with fast clearance from blood and normal organs and displayed generally comparable biodistribution profiles to [57Co]Co-NOTA/NODAGA-PEG2-RM26; tumor uptake exceeded normal tissue uptake 3 h p.i.. Tumor-to-organ ratios did not increase significantly with time. [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-PEG2-RM26 had a significantly higher liver and pancreas uptake compared to other agents. 57Co-labeled radioconjugates showed overall higher tumor-to-non-tumor ratios, compared to the 64Cu-labeled counterparts. [64Cu]Cu-NOTA/NODAGA-PEG2-RM26 was able to visualize GRPR-expression in a murine PC model using PET. However, [55/57Co]Co-NOTA/NODAGA-PEG2-RM26 provided better in vivo stability and overall higher tumor-to-non-tumor ratios compared with the 64Cu-labeled conjugates.
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Abouzayed A, Tano H, Nagy Á, Rinne SS, Wadeea F, Kumar S, Westerlund K, Tolmachev V, Eriksson Karlström A, Orlova A. Preclinical Evaluation of the GRPR-Targeting Antagonist RM26 Conjugated to the Albumin-Binding Domain for GRPR-Targeting Therapy of Cancer. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:E977. [PMID: 33081166 PMCID: PMC7594083 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12100977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The targeting of gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPR) was recently proposed for targeted therapy, e.g., radiotherapy. Multiple and frequent injections of peptide-based therapeutic agents would be required due to rapid blood clearance. By conjugation of the GRPR antagonist RM26 (D-Phe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Sta-Leu-NH2) to an ABD (albumin-binding domain), we aimed to extend the blood circulation of peptides. The synthesized conjugate DOTA-ABD-RM26 was labelled with indium-111 and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The labelled conjugate was stable in PBS and retained specificity and its antagonistic function against GRPR. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of natIn-DOTA-ABD-RM26 in the presence of human serum albumin was 49 ± 5 nM. [111In]In-DOTA-ABD-RM26 had a significantly longer residence time in blood and in tumors (without a significant decrease of up to 144 h pi) than the parental RM26 peptide. We conclude that the ABD-RM26 conjugate can be used for GRPR-targeted therapy and delivery of cytotoxic drugs. However, the undesirable elevated activity uptake in kidneys abolishes its use for radionuclide therapy. This proof-of-principle study justified further optimization of the molecular design of the ABD-RM26 conjugate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman Abouzayed
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 83 Uppsala, Sweden; (A.A.); (S.S.R.); (F.W.)
| | - Hanna Tano
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (H.T.); (Á.N.); (S.K.); (K.W.); (A.E.K.)
| | - Ábel Nagy
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (H.T.); (Á.N.); (S.K.); (K.W.); (A.E.K.)
| | - Sara S. Rinne
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 83 Uppsala, Sweden; (A.A.); (S.S.R.); (F.W.)
| | - Fadya Wadeea
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 83 Uppsala, Sweden; (A.A.); (S.S.R.); (F.W.)
| | - Sharmishtaa Kumar
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (H.T.); (Á.N.); (S.K.); (K.W.); (A.E.K.)
| | - Kristina Westerlund
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (H.T.); (Á.N.); (S.K.); (K.W.); (A.E.K.)
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden;
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
| | - Amelie Eriksson Karlström
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (H.T.); (Á.N.); (S.K.); (K.W.); (A.E.K.)
| | - Anna Orlova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 83 Uppsala, Sweden; (A.A.); (S.S.R.); (F.W.)
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
- Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden
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[ 99mTc]Tc-DB1 Mimics with Different-Length PEG Spacers: Preclinical Comparison in GRPR-Positive Models. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25153418. [PMID: 32731473 PMCID: PMC7435657 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25153418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The frequent overexpression of gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPRs) in human cancers provides the rationale for delivering clinically useful radionuclides to tumor sites using peptide carriers. Radiolabeled GRPR antagonists, besides being safer for human use, have often shown higher tumor uptake and faster background clearance than agonists. We herein compared the biological profiles of the GRPR-antagonist-based radiotracers [99mTc]Tc-[N4-PEGx-DPhe6,Leu-NHEt13]BBN(6-13) (N4: 6-(carboxy)-1,4,8,11-tetraazaundecane; PEG: polyethyleneglycol): (i) [99mTc]Tc-DB7 (x = 2), (ii) [99mTc]Tc-DB13 (x = 3), and (iii) [99mTc]Tc-DB14 (x = 4), in GRPR-positive cells and animal models. The impact of in situ neprilysin (NEP)-inhibition on in vivo stability and tumor uptake was also assessed by treatment of mice with phosphoramidon (PA). Methods: The GRPR affinity of DB7/DB13/DB14 was determined in PC-3 cell membranes, and cell binding of the respective [99mTc]Tc-radioligands was assessed in PC-3 cells. Each of [99mTc]Tc-DB7, [99mTc]Tc-DB13, and [99mTc]Tc-DB14 was injected into mice without or with PA coinjection and 5 min blood samples were analyzed by HPLC. Biodistribution was conducted at 4 h postinjection (pi) in severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) mice bearing PC-3 xenografts without or with PA coinjection. Results: DB7, -13, and -14 displayed single-digit nanomolar affinities for GRPR. The uptake rates of [99mTc]Tc-DB7, [99mTc]Tc-DB13, and [99mTc]Tc-DB14 in PC-3 cells was comparable and consistent with a radioantagonist profile. The radiotracers were found to be ≈70% intact in mouse blood and >94% intact after coinjection of PA. Treatment of mice with PA enhanced tumor uptake. Conclusions: The present study showed that increase of PEG-spacer length in the [99mTc]Tc-DB7-[99mTc]Tc-DB13-[99mTc]Tc-DB14 series had little effect on GRPR affinity, specific uptake in PC-3 cells, in vivo stability, or tumor uptake. A significant change in in vivo stability and tumor uptake was observed only after treatment of mice with PA, without compromising the favorably low background radioactivity levels.
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Heterodimeric Radiotracer Targeting PSMA and GRPR for Imaging of Prostate Cancer-Optimization of the Affinity towards PSMA by Linker Modification in Murine Model. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:pharmaceutics12070614. [PMID: 32630176 PMCID: PMC7408065 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12070614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) are promising targets for molecular imaging of prostate cancer (PCa) lesions. Due to the heterogenic overexpression of PSMA and GRPR in PCa, a heterodimeric radiotracer with the ability to bind to both targets could be beneficial. Recently, our group reported the novel heterodimer BQ7800 consisting of a urea-based PSMA inhibitor, the peptide-based GRPR antagonist RM26 and NOTA chelator. The study reported herein, aimed to improve the affinity of BQ7800 towards PSMA by changing the composition of the two linkers connecting the PSMA- and GRPR-targeting motifs. Three novel heterodimeric analogues were synthesized by incorporation of phenylalanine in the functional linker of the PSMA-binding motif and/or shortening the PEG-linker coupled to RM26. The heterodimers were labeled with indium-111 and evaluated in vitro. In the competitive binding assay, BQ7812, featuring phenylalanine and shorter PEG-linker, demonstrated a nine-fold improved affinity towards PSMA. In the in vivo biodistribution study of [111In]In-BQ7812 in PC3-pip tumor-bearing mice (PSMA and GRPR positive), the activity uptake was two-fold higher in the tumor and three-fold higher in kidneys than for [111In]In-BQ7800. Herein, we showed that the affinity of a bispecific PSMA/GRPR heterodimer towards PSMA could be improved by linker modification.
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Evans BJ, King AT, Katsifis A, Matesic L, Jamie JF. Methods to Enhance the Metabolic Stability of Peptide-Based PET Radiopharmaceuticals. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25102314. [PMID: 32423178 PMCID: PMC7287708 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25102314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The high affinity and specificity of peptides towards biological targets, in addition to their favorable pharmacological properties, has encouraged the development of many peptide-based pharmaceuticals, including peptide-based positron emission tomography (PET) radiopharmaceuticals. However, the poor in vivo stability of unmodified peptides against proteolysis is a major challenge that must be overcome, as it can result in an impractically short in vivo biological half-life and a subsequently poor bioavailability when used in imaging and therapeutic applications. Consequently, many biologically and pharmacologically interesting peptide-based drugs may never see application. A potential way to overcome this is using peptide analogues designed to mimic the pharmacophore of a native peptide while also containing unnatural modifications that act to maintain or improve the pharmacological properties. This review explores strategies that have been developed to increase the metabolic stability of peptide-based pharmaceuticals. It includes modifications of the C- and/or N-termini, introduction of d- or other unnatural amino acids, backbone modification, PEGylation and alkyl chain incorporation, cyclization and peptide bond substitution, and where those strategies have been, or could be, applied to PET peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan J. Evans
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; (B.J.E.); (A.T.K.)
| | - Andrew T. King
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; (B.J.E.); (A.T.K.)
| | - Andrew Katsifis
- Department of Molecular Imaging, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia;
| | - Lidia Matesic
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia;
| | - Joanne F. Jamie
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; (B.J.E.); (A.T.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-2-9850-8283
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Farahani AM, Maleki F, Sadeghzadeh N. The Influence of Different Spacers on Biological Profile of Peptide Radiopharmaceuticals for Diagnosis and Therapy of Human Cancers. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2020; 20:402-416. [PMID: 31889492 DOI: 10.2174/1871520620666191231161227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. Early detection can reduce the disadvantageous effects of diseases and the mortality in cancer. Nuclear medicine is a powerful tool that has the ability to diagnose malignancy without harming normal tissues. In recent years, radiolabeled peptides have been investigated as potent agents for cancer detection. Therefore, it is necessary to modify radiopeptides in order to achieve more effective agents. OBJECTIVE This review describes modifications in the structure of radioconjugates with spacers who have improved the specificity and sensitivity of the peptides that are used in oncologic diagnosis and therapy. METHODS To improve the biological activity, researchers have conjugated these peptide analogs to different spacers and bifunctional chelators. Many spacers of different kinds, such as hydrocarbon chain, amino acid sequence, and poly (ethyleneglycol) were introduced in order to modify the pharmacokinetic properties of these biomolecules. RESULTS Different spacers have been applied to develop radiolabeled peptides as potential tracers in nuclear medicine. Spacers with different charge and hydrophilicity affect the characteristics of peptide conjugate. For example, the complex with uncharged and hydrophobic spacers leads to increased liver uptake, while the composition with positively charged spacers results in high kidney retention. Therefore, the pharmacokinetics of radio complexes correlates to the structure and total charge of the conjugates. CONCLUSION Radio imaging technology has been successfully applied to detect a tumor in the earliest stage. For this purpose, the assessment of useful agents to diagnose the lesion is necessary. Developing peptide radiopharmaceuticals using spacers can improve in vitro and in vivo behavior of radiotracers leading to better noninvasive detection and monitoring of tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arezou M Farahani
- Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran, Sari, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Fariba Maleki
- Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran, Sari, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Nourollah Sadeghzadeh
- Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran, Sari, Iran
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Zhang W, Fan W, Ottemann BM, Alshehri S, Garrison JC. Development of Improved Tumor-Residualizing, GRPR-Targeted Agents: Preclinical Comparison of an Endolysosomal Trapping Approach in Agonistic and Antagonistic Constructs. J Nucl Med 2019; 61:443-450. [PMID: 31601697 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.119.231282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Receptor-targeted radiopharmaceuticals based on low-molecular-weight carriers offer many clinically advantageous attributes relative to macromolecules but have generally been hampered by their rapid clearance from tumors, thus diminishing tumor-to-nontarget tissue ratios. Herein, we present a strategy using irreversible inhibitors (E-64 derivative) of cysteine cathepsins (CCs) as trapping agents to increase the tumor retention of receptor-targeted agents. Methods: We incorporated these CC-trapping agents into agonistic and antagonistic pharmacophores targeting the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR). The synthesized radioconjugates with either an incorporated CC inhibitor or a matching control were examined using in vitro and in vivo models of the GRPR-positive, PC-3 human prostate cancer cell line. Results: From the in vitro studies, multiple techniques confirmed that the CC-trapping, GRPR-targeted constructs were able to increase cellular retention by forming intracellular macromolecule adducts. In PC-3 tumor-bearing xenograft mice, the CC-trapping, GRPR-targeted agonistic and antagonistic constructs led to an approximately 2-fold increase in tumor retention with a corresponding improvement in most tumor-to-nontarget tissue ratios over 72 h. Conclusion: CC endolysosomal trapping provides a pathway to increase the efficacy and clinical potential of low-molecular-weight, receptor-targeted agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.,Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Wei Fan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.,Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Brendan M Ottemann
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Sameer Alshehri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.,Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Jered C Garrison
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska .,Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.,Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; and.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
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Bispecific GRPR-Antagonistic Anti-PSMA/GRPR Heterodimer for PET and SPECT Diagnostic Imaging of Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11091371. [PMID: 31540122 PMCID: PMC6771040 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11091371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Simultaneous targeting of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) could improve the diagnostic accuracy in prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of this study was to develop a PSMA/GRPR-targeting bispecific heterodimer for SPECT and positron emission tomography (PET) diagnostic imaging of PCa. The heterodimer NOTA-DUPA-RM26 was produced by manual solid-phase peptide synthesis. NOTA-DUPA-RM26 was labeled with 111In and 68Ga, with yields >98%, and demonstrated a high stability and binding specificity to PSMA and GRPR. IC50 values for natIn-NOTA-DUPA-RM26 were 4 ± 1 nM towards GRPR and 824 ± 230 nM towards PSMA. An in vivo binding specificity 1 h pi of 111In-NOTA-DUPA-RM26 in PC3-PIP-xenografted mice demonstrated partially blockable tumor uptake when co-injected with an excess of PSMA- or GRPR-targeting agents. Simultaneous co-injection of both agents induced pronounced blocking. The biodistribution of 111In-NOTA-DUPA-RM26 and 68Ga-NOTA-DUPA-RM26 revealed fast activity clearance from the blood and normal organs via the kidneys. Tumor uptake exceeded normal organ uptake for both analogs 1 h pi. 68Ga-NOTA-DUPA-RM26 had a significantly lower tumor uptake (8 ± 2%ID/g) compared to 111In-NOTA-DUPA-RM26 (12 ± 2%ID/g) 1 h pi. Tumor-to-organ ratios increased 3 h pi, but decreased 24 h pi, for 111In-NOTA-DUPA-RM26. MicroPET/CT and microSPECT/CT scans confirmed biodistribution data, suggesting that 68Ga-NOTA-DUPA-RM26 and 111In-NOTA-DUPA-RM26 are suitable candidates for the imaging of GRPR and PSMA expression in PCa shortly after administration.
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Oroujeni M, Abouzayed A, Lundmark F, Mitran B, Orlova A, Tolmachev V, Rosenström U. Evaluation of Tumor-Targeting Properties of an Antagonistic Bombesin Analogue RM26 Conjugated with a Non-Residualizing Radioiodine Label Comparison with a Radiometal-Labelled Counterpart. Pharmaceutics 2019; 11:pharmaceutics11080380. [PMID: 31382362 PMCID: PMC6724035 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11080380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiolabelled antagonistic bombesin analogues are successfully used for targeting of gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPR) that are overexpressed in prostate cancer. Internalization of antagonistic bombesin analogues is slow. We hypothesized that the use of a non-residualizing radioiodine label might not affect the tumour uptake but would reduce the retention in normal organs, where radiopharmaceutical would be internalized. To test this hypothesis, tyrosine was conjugated via diethylene glycol linker to N-terminus of an antagonistic bombesin analogue RM26 to form Tyr-PEG2-RM26. [111In]In-DOTA-PEG2-RM26 was used as a control with a residualizing label. Tyr-PEG2-RM26 was labelled with 125I with 95% radiochemical purity and retained binding specificity to GRPR. The IC50 values for Tyr-PEG2-RM26 and DOTA-PEG2-RM26 were 1.7 ± 0.3 nM and 3.3 ± 0.5 nM, respectively. The cellular processing of [125I]I-Tyr-PEG2-RM26 by PC-3 cells showed unusually fast internalization. Biodistribution showed that uptake in pancreas and tumour was GRPR-specific for both radioconjugates. Blood clearance of [125I]I-Tyr-PEG2-RM26 was appreciably slower and activity accumulation in all organs was significantly higher than for [111In]In-DOTA-PEG2-RM26. Tumor uptake of [111In]In-DOTA-PEG2-RM26 was significantly higher than for [125I]I-Tyr-PEG2-RM26, resulting in higher tumour-to-organ ratio for [111In]In-DOTA-PEG2-RM26 at studied time points. Incorporation of amino acids with hydrophilic side-chains next to tyrosine might overcome the problems associated with the use of tyrosine as a prosthetic group for radioiodination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Oroujeni
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ayman Abouzayed
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fanny Lundmark
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bogdan Mitran
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Orlova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-750 03 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Ulrika Rosenström
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
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Mitran B, Rinne SS, Konijnenberg MW, Maina T, Nock BA, Altai M, Vorobyeva A, Larhed M, Tolmachev V, de Jong M, Rosenström U, Orlova A. Trastuzumab cotreatment improves survival of mice with PC-3 prostate cancer xenografts treated with the GRPR antagonist 177 Lu-DOTAGA-PEG 2 -RM26. Int J Cancer 2019; 145:3347-3358. [PMID: 31077356 PMCID: PMC6852655 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Gastrin‐releasing peptide receptors (GRPRs) are overexpressed in prostate cancer and are suitable for targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT). We optimized the bombesin‐derived GRPR‐antagonist PEG2‐RM26 for labeling with 177Lu and further determined the effect of treatment with 177Lu‐labeled peptide alone or in combination with the anti‐HER2 antibody trastuzumab in a murine model. The PEG2‐RM26 analog was coupled to NOTA, NODAGA, DOTA and DOTAGA chelators. The peptide‐chelator conjugates were labeled with 177Lu and characterized in vitro and in vivo. A preclinical therapeutic study was performed in PC‐3 xenografted mice. Mice were treated with intravenous injections (6 cycles) of (A) PBS, (B) DOTAGA‐PEG2‐RM26, (C) 177Lu‐DOTAGA‐PEG2‐RM26, (D) trastuzumab or (E) 177Lu‐DOTAGA‐PEG2‐RM26 in combination with trastuzumab. 177Lu‐DOTAGA‐PEG2‐RM26 demonstrated quantitative labeling yield at high molar activity (450 GBq/μmol), high in vivo stability (5 min pi >98% of radioligand remained when coinjected with phosphoramidon), high affinity to GRPR (KD = 0.4 ± 0.2 nM), and favorable biodistribution (1 hr pi tumor uptake was higher than in healthy tissues, including the kidneys). Therapy with 177Lu‐DOTAGA‐PEG2‐RM26 induced a significant inhibition of tumor growth. The median survival for control groups was significantly shorter than for treated groups (Group C 66 days, Group E 74 days). Trastuzumab together with radionuclide therapy significantly improved survival. No treatment‐related toxicity was observed. In conclusion, based on in vitro and in vivo characterization of the four 177Lu‐labeled PEG2‐RM26 analogs, we concluded that 177Lu‐DOTAGA‐PEG2‐RM26 was the most promising analog for TRT. Radiotherapy using 177Lu‐DOTAGA‐PEG2‐RM26 effectively inhibited tumor growth in vivo in a murine prostate cancer model. Anti‐HER2 therapy additionally improved survival. What's new? Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) using radiolabeled peptides seeking gastrin‐releasing peptide receptors (GRPRs) in tumors is a promising approach to treat disseminated prostate cancer. The possibility to improve the therapeutic index via combination therapies also warrants further investigation. Here, the authors developed and characterized a promising GRPR‐targeting radioligand and demonstrated its therapeutic efficacy in prostate cancer xenografts. Moreover, this study using the anti‐HER2 antibody trastuzumab presents the first in vivo proof‐of‐principle that the effects of anti‐GRPR radiotherapy can be amplified by co‐administration of anti‐HER2 treatment leading to prolonged survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogdan Mitran
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sara S Rinne
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mark W Konijnenberg
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Theodosia Maina
- Molecular Radiopharmacy, INRASTES, NCSR "Demokritos", Athens, Greece
| | - Berthold A Nock
- Molecular Radiopharmacy, INRASTES, NCSR "Demokritos", Athens, Greece
| | - Mohamed Altai
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anzhelika Vorobyeva
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mats Larhed
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marion de Jong
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ulrika Rosenström
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Orlova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Zhuo L, Yang X, Liao W, Wang J, Wang H, Lv M, Wang G, Song H, Feng Y, Chen Y, Wei H, Yang Y, Zhao P. Comparative cell uptake study of FITC-/177Lu-labeled RM26 monomer, dimer and trimer on PC-3: improving binding affinity of gastrin releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) antagonist via bivalency/trivalency. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-018-6396-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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37
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Lv M, Zhao P, Zhuo L, Liao W, Wang H, Yang X, Wang J, Wang G, Song H, Feng Y, Chen Y, Yang Y, Wei H. Binding and cytotoxicity of 131I-labeled gastrin-releasing peptide receptor antagonists modified by cell penetrating peptides. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-018-6307-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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38
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Huang Y, Liu Y, Liu S, Wu R, Wu Z. An Efficient Synthesis of N
,N
,N
-Substituted 1,4,7-Triazacyclononane. European J Org Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.201800048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Huang
- Brain Institute for Brain Disorders; Capital Medical University; 100069 Beijing China
| | - Yajing Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science; Capital Medical University; 100069 Beijing China
| | - Song Liu
- Brain Institute for Brain Disorders; Capital Medical University; 100069 Beijing China
| | - Renbo Wu
- Brain Institute for Brain Disorders; Capital Medical University; 100069 Beijing China
| | - Zehui Wu
- Brain Institute for Brain Disorders; Capital Medical University; 100069 Beijing China
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Trifunctional PSMA-targeting constructs for prostate cancer with unprecedented localization to LNCaP tumors. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2018; 45:1841-1851. [PMID: 29623376 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-018-4004-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Treatment of late-stage prostate cancer by targeted radiotherapeutics such as 131I-MIP-1095 and 177Lu-PSMA-617 has shown encouraging early results. Lu-177 is preferred to I-131 in clinical settings, but targeted radioligand therapy (RLT) with 177Lu-PSMA-617 has not reached its full potential due to insufficient dose delivery to the tumor. We recently developed a dual-targeting radioiodinated ligand, RPS-027, that targets PSMA and uses albumin binding to enable good tumor uptake and significantly reduced kidney uptake in a preclinical model. Further development of this ligand is limited by the inability to independently modify PSMA and albumin binding and the requirement of I-131 for therapeutic application. We therefore sought to devise a new class of trifunctional ligands for RLT with (1) a high-affinity PSMA-binding domain, (2) an albumin-binding group (ABG), and (3) a chelator for radiometals such as 68Ga3+, 177Lu3+ and 225Ac3+. METHODS Ligands incorporating a triazolylphenylurea-containing PSMA-targeting group, an Nε-(2-(4-iodophenyl)acetyl)lysine ABG and the bifunctional chelator p-SCN-Bn-DOTA linked by a PEG-containing polymer containing 0,3,4,6,8 or 12 repeats were prepared. PSMA affinity was determined in LNCaP cells and uptake and tissue distribution was studied in mice bearing LNCaP tumor xenografts and compared to 177Lu-PSMA-617. Imaging studies were performed up to 24 h post-injection (p.i.) using 66Ga3+ and biodistribution studies at 4 h, 24 h and 96 h p.i. with 177Lu3+. RESULTS PSMA affinity was high (IC50 = 1-10 nM) and inversely proportional to the linker length. Tumor uptake correlated with binding affinity and was significantly greater than for 177Lu-PSMA-617 over 96 h. The highest uptake was achieved with 177Lu-RPS-063 (30.0 ± 6.9 %ID/g; 4 h p.i.). Kidney uptake was generally high, with the exception of the lowest affinity ligand 177Lu-RPS-067. Each of the compounds showed slower blood clearance than 177Lu-PSMA-617, with clearance proportional to linker length. CONCLUSIONS The high tumor uptake achieved with these trifunctional ligands predicts larger (up to 4×) doses delivered to the tumor than can be achieved with 177Lu-PSMA-617. Although PSMA-mediated kidney uptake was also observed, the exceptional area under the curve (AUC) in the tumor warrants further investigation of these novel ligands as candidates for RLT.
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Branched multipeptide immunotherapy for glioblastoma using human leukocyte antigen-A*0201-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes from ERBB2, BIRC5 and CD99. Oncotarget 2018; 7:50535-50547. [PMID: 27409668 PMCID: PMC5226601 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the use of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes in peptide immunotherapy for glioblastoma. Three peptides (ERBB2, BIRC5 and CD99) were selected based on their peptide-T2 cell binding affinities and combined in a multipeptide cocktail or a branched multipeptide synthesized with mini-polyethylene glycol spacers. Dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with the multipeptide cocktail or branched multipeptide were compared based on their immunophenotype and cytokine secretion. FACS analysis of alpha-type 1 polarized dendritic cells (αDC1s) revealed that both groups highly expressed CD80, CD83 and CD86, indicating that both treatments efficiently generated mature αDC1s with the expected phenotype. Production of IL-12p70, IL-12p40 and IL-10 also increased upon αDC1 maturation in both groups. CTLs stimulated by either αDC1 group (“DC-CTLs”) included numerous IFN-γ-secreting cells against T2 cells loaded with the corresponding multipeptides. Large numbers of IFN-γ-secreting cells were observed when human glioblastoma cell lines and primary cells were treated with multipeptide-pulsed DC-CTLs. Both multipeptide-pulsed DC-CTL groups exhibited cytotoxic activity of 40-60% against the U251 cell line and 60-80% against primary cells. Branched multipeptide from ERBB2, BIRC5 and CD99 stably bound with T2 cells, and its cytotoxicity toward target cells was similar to that of the multipeptide cocktail. Thus, branched multipeptides could be promising candidates for immunotherapeutic glioblastoma treatment.
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Palmieri L, Elvas F, Vangestel C, Pak K, Gray B, Stroobants S, Staelens S, wyffels L. [ 99m Tc]duramycin for cell death imaging: Impact of kit formulation, purification and species difference. Nucl Med Biol 2018; 56:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2017.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Maina T, Nock BA, Kulkarni H, Singh A, Baum RP. Theranostic Prospects of Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor–Radioantagonists in Oncology. PET Clin 2017; 12:297-309. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cpet.2017.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Improved positron emission tomography imaging of glioblastoma cancer using novel 68Ga-labeled peptides targeting the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR). Amino Acids 2017; 49:1089-1100. [PMID: 28316028 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-017-2407-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is overexpressed in several cancers including glioblastoma (GBM) and is an established biomarker for metastatic potential. The uPAR-targeting peptide AE105-NH2 (Ac-Asp-Cha-Phe-(D)Ser-(D)Arg-Tyr-Leu-Trp-Ser-CONH2) is a promising candidate for non-invasive positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of uPAR. Despite the optimal physical properties of 68Ga for peptide-based PET imaging, low tumor uptakes have previously been reported using 68Ga-labeled AE105-NH2-based tracers. In an attempt to optimize the tumor uptake, we developed three novel tracers with alkane (AOC) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) spacers inserted between AE105-NH2 and the radio metal chelator 2-(4,7-bis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7-triazonan-1-yl)pentanedioic acid (NODAGA). The resulting tracers NODAGA-AOC-AE105-NH2, NODAGA-PEG3-AE105-NH2 and NODAGA-PEG8-AE105-NH2 were compared to the non-spacer version, NODAGA-AE105-NH2. Following radiolabeling with 68Ga, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo performance in mice bearing subcutaneous tumors derived from the uPAR-expressing human GBM cell line U87MG. In vivo PET/CT imaging showed that introduction of PEG spacers more than doubled the in vivo tumor uptake after 1 h compared with the non-spacer version: 68Ga-NODAGA-PEG3-AE105-NH2 (2.08 ± 0.37%ID/g) and 68Ga-NODAGA-PEG8-AE105-NH2 (2.01 ± 0.22%ID/g) vs. 68Ga-NODAGA-AE105-NH2 (0.70 ± 0.40%ID/g), p < 0.05. In addition, 68Ga-NODAGA-PEG8-AE105-NH2 showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) tumor-to-background contrast (3.68 ± 0.23) than the other tracers. The specific tumor-targeting property of 68Ga-NODAGA-PEG8-AE105-NH2 was established by effectively blocking the tumor uptake with co-injection of unlabeled AE105-NH2 (1 h: unblocked 2.01 ± 0.22%ID/g vs. blocked 1.24 ± 0.09%ID/g, p < 0.05). Ex vivo biodistribution confirmed the improved tumor uptakes of the PEG-modified tracers. 68Ga-NODAGA-PEG8-AE105-NH2 is thus a promising candidate for human translation for PET imaging of GBM.
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Mansour N, Dumulon-Perreault V, Ait-Mohand S, Paquette M, Lecomte R, Guérin B. Impact of dianionic and dicationic linkers on tumor uptake and biodistribution of [64Cu]Cu/NOTA peptide-based gastrin-releasing peptide receptors antagonists. J Labelled Comp Radiopharm 2017; 60:200-212. [DOI: 10.1002/jlcr.3491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Revised: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nematallah Mansour
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Université de Sherbrooke and Sherbrooke Molecular Imaging Centre, Centre de recherche du CHUS (CRCHUS); Sherbrooke Canada
| | - Véronique Dumulon-Perreault
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Université de Sherbrooke and Sherbrooke Molecular Imaging Centre, Centre de recherche du CHUS (CRCHUS); Sherbrooke Canada
| | - Samia Ait-Mohand
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Université de Sherbrooke and Sherbrooke Molecular Imaging Centre, Centre de recherche du CHUS (CRCHUS); Sherbrooke Canada
| | - Michel Paquette
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Université de Sherbrooke and Sherbrooke Molecular Imaging Centre, Centre de recherche du CHUS (CRCHUS); Sherbrooke Canada
| | - Roger Lecomte
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Université de Sherbrooke and Sherbrooke Molecular Imaging Centre, Centre de recherche du CHUS (CRCHUS); Sherbrooke Canada
| | - Brigitte Guérin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Université de Sherbrooke and Sherbrooke Molecular Imaging Centre, Centre de recherche du CHUS (CRCHUS); Sherbrooke Canada
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Maina T, Nock BA. From Bench to Bed: New Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor-Directed Radioligands and Their Use in Prostate Cancer. PET Clin 2017; 12:205-217. [PMID: 28267454 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpet.2016.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPRs) are overexpressed in prostate and breast cancer, and are therefore attractive molecular targets for diagnosis and therapy with radiolabeled GRPR-directed peptide probes. The amphibian tetradecapeptide bombesin or the mammalian gastrin-releasing peptide and neuromedin C have been modified with a variety of chelators. As a result, labeling with radiometals attractive for SPECT or PET imaging and for radionuclide therapy has led to the development of peptide radioligands suitable for in vivo targeting of prostate cancer. A shift of paradigm from internalizing GRPR-agonists to antagonists has occurred owing to the higher biosafety and superior pharmacokinetics of radioantagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodosia Maina
- Molecular Radiopharmacy, INRASTES, NCSR "Demokritos", Agia Paraskevi, Attikis, Athens 15310, Greece.
| | - Berthold A Nock
- Molecular Radiopharmacy, INRASTES, NCSR "Demokritos", Agia Paraskevi, Attikis, Athens 15310, Greece
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Ferreira CDA, Fuscaldi LL, Townsend DM, Rubello D, Barros ALBD. Radiolabeled bombesin derivatives for preclinical oncological imaging. Biomed Pharmacother 2016; 87:58-72. [PMID: 28040598 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.12.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite efforts, cancer is still one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization. Among the strategies to reduce cancer progression and improving its management, implementing early detection technologies is crucial. Based on the fact that several types of cancer cells overexpress surface receptors, small molecule ligands, such as peptides, have been developed to allow tumor identification at earlier stages. Allied with imaging techniques such as PET and SPECT, radiolabeled peptides play a pivotal role in nuclear medicine. Bombesin, a peptide of 14 amino acids, is an amphibian homolog to the mammalian gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), that has been extensively studied as a targeting ligand for diagnosis and therapy of GRP positive tumors, such as breast, pancreas, lungs and prostate cancers. In this context, herein we provide a review of reported bombesin derivatives radiolabeled with a multitude of radioactive isotopes for diagnostic purposes in the preclinical setting. Moreover, since animal models are highly relevant for assessing the potential of clinical translation of this radiopeptides, a brief report of the currently used GRP-positive tumor-bearing animal models is described.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leonardo Lima Fuscaldi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Danyelle M Townsend
- Department of Drug Discovery and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, USA
| | - Domenico Rubello
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Radiology, NeuroRadiology, Medical Physics, Clinical Laboratory, Microbiology, Pathology, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Rovigo, Italy.
| | - André Luís Branco de Barros
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Spang P, Herrmann C, Roesch F. Bifunctional Gallium-68 Chelators: Past, Present, and Future. Semin Nucl Med 2016; 46:373-94. [DOI: 10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2016.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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48
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Sun Y, Ma X, Zhang Z, Sun Z, Loft M, Ding B, Liu C, Xu L, Yang M, Jiang Y, Liu J, Xiao Y, Cheng Z, Hong X. Preclinical Study on GRPR-Targeted (68)Ga-Probes for PET Imaging of Prostate Cancer. Bioconjug Chem 2016; 27:1857-64. [PMID: 27399868 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.6b00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) targeted positron emission tomography (PET) is a highly promising approach for imaging of prostate cancer (PCa) in small animal models and patients. Developing a GRPR-targeted PET probe with excellent in vivo performance such as high tumor uptake, high contrast, and optimal pharmacokinetics is still very challenging. Herein, a novel bombesin (BBN) analogue (named SCH1) based on JMV594 peptide modified with an 8-amino octanoic acid spacer (AOC) was thus designed and conjugated with the metal chelator 1,4,7-triazacyclononane,1-glutaric acid-4,7-acetic acid (NODAGA). The resulting NODAGA-SCH1 was then radiolabeled with (68)Ga and evaluated for PET imaging of PCa. Compared with (68)Ga-NODAGA-JMV594 probe, (68)Ga-NODAGA-SCH1 exhibited excellent PET/CT imaging properties on PC-3 tumor-bearing nude mice, such as high tumor uptake (5.80 ± 0.42 vs 3.78 ± 0.28%ID/g, 2 h) and high tumor/muscle contrast (16.6 ± 1.50 vs 8.42 ± 0.61%ID/g, 2 h). Importantly, biodistribution data indicated a relatively similar accumulation of (68)Ga-NODAGA-SCH1 was observed in the liver (4.21 ± 0.42%ID/g) and kidney (3.41 ± 0.46%ID/g) suggesting that the clearance is through both the kidney and the liver. Overall, (68)Ga-NODAGA-SCH1 showed promising in vivo properties and is a promising candidate for translation into clinical PET-imaging of PCa patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Wuhan 430071, China.,Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University , Stanford, California94305, United States
| | - Xiaowei Ma
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University , Stanford, California94305, United States
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University , Stanford, California94305, United States
| | - Ziyan Sun
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University , Stanford, California94305, United States
| | - Mathias Loft
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University , Stanford, California94305, United States
| | - Bingbing Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Changhao Liu
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University , Stanford, California94305, United States
| | - Liying Xu
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University , Stanford, California94305, United States
| | - Meng Yang
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College Hospital , Department of Ultrasound, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yuxin Jiang
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College Hospital , Department of Ultrasound, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science , Institute of Radiation Medicine, Department of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Yuling Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zhen Cheng
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Department of Radiology and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University , Stanford, California94305, United States
| | - Xuechuan Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Wuhan 430071, China
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Ding H, Kothandaraman S, Gong L, Williams MM, Dirksen WP, Rosol TJ, Tweedle MF. A human GRPr-transfected Ace-1 canine prostate cancer model in mice. Prostate 2016; 76:783-95. [PMID: 26940014 PMCID: PMC5867903 DOI: 10.1002/pros.23172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A versatile drug screening system was developed to simplify early targeted drug discovery in mice and then translate readily from mice to a dog prostate cancer model that more fully replicates the features of human prostate cancer. METHODS We stably transfected human cDNA of the GRPr bombesin (BBN) receptor subtype to canine Ace-1 prostate cancer cells (Ace-1(huGRPr) ). Expression was examined by (125) I-Tyr(4) -BBN competition, calcium stimulation assay, and fluorescent microscopy. A dual tumor nude mouse xenograft model was developed from Ace-1(CMV) (vector transfected Ace-1) and Ace-1(huGRPr) cells. The model was used to explore the in vivo behavior of two new IRDye800-labeled GRPr binding optical imaging agents: 800-G-Abz4-t-BBN, from a GRPr agonist peptide, and 800-G-Abz4-STAT, from a GRPr antagonist peptide, by imaging the tumor mice and dissected organs. RESULTS Both agents bound Ace-1(huGRPr) and PC-3, a known GRPr-expressing human prostate cancer cell line, with 4-13 nM IC50 against (125) I-Tyr(4) -BBN, but did not bind Ace-1(CMV) cells (vector transfected). Binding was blocked by bombesin. Ca(2+) activation assays demonstrated that Ace-1(huGPRr) expressed biologically active GRPr. Both Ace-1 cell lines grew in the flanks of 100% of the nude mice and formed tumors of ∼0.5 cm diameter in 1 week. In vivo imaging of the mice at 800 nm emission showed GRPr+: GRPr- tumor signal brighter by a factor of two at 24 h post IV administration of 10 nmol of the imaging agents. Blood retention (4-8% ID at 1 h) was greater by a factor >10 and cumulative urine accumulation (28-30% at 4 h) was less by a factor 2 compared to a radioactive analog of the t-BBN containing agent, (177) LuAMBA, probably due to binding to blood albumin, which we confirmed in a mouse serum assay. CONCLUSIONS The dual tumor Ace-1(CMV) /Ace-1(huGRPr) model system provides a rapid test of specific to nonspecific binding of new GRPr avid agents in a model that will extend logically to the known Ace-1 orthotopic canine prostate cancer model. Prostate 76:783-795, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiming Ding
- Department of Radiology, The Wright Center for Innovation in Biomolecular Imaging, The Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Shankaran Kothandaraman
- Department of Radiology, The Wright Center for Innovation in Biomolecular Imaging, The Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Li Gong
- Department of Radiology, The Wright Center for Innovation in Biomolecular Imaging, The Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Michelle M. Williams
- Department of Radiology, The Wright Center for Innovation in Biomolecular Imaging, The Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Wessel P. Dirksen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Thomas J. Rosol
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Michael F. Tweedle
- Department of Radiology, The Wright Center for Innovation in Biomolecular Imaging, The Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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Richter S, Wuest M, Bergman CN, Krieger S, Rogers BE, Wuest F. Metabolically Stabilized (68)Ga-NOTA-Bombesin for PET Imaging of Prostate Cancer and Influence of Protease Inhibitor Phosphoramidon. Mol Pharm 2016; 13:1347-57. [PMID: 26973098 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.5b00970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Peptide receptor-based targeted molecular imaging and therapy of cancer is on the current forefront of nuclear medicine preclinical research and clinical practice. The frequent overexpression of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) receptors in prostate cancer stimulated the development of radiolabeled bombesin derivatives as high affinity peptide ligands for selective targeting of the GRP receptor. In this study, we have evaluated a novel (68)Ga-labeled bombesin derivative for PET imaging of prostate cancer in vivo. In addition, we were interested in testing the recently proposed "serve-and-protect" strategy to improve metabolic stability of radiolabeled peptides in vivo and to enhance tumor uptake. GRP receptor targeting peptides NOTA-BBN2 and (nat)Ga-NOTA-BBN2 demonstrated a characteristic antagonistic profile and high binding affinity toward the GRP receptor in PC3 cells (IC50 4.6-8.2 nM). Radiolabeled peptide (68)Ga-NOTA-BBN2 was obtained from NOTA-BBN2 in radiochemical yields greater than 62% (decay-corrected). Total synthesis time was 35 min, including purification using solid-phase extraction. (68)Ga-NOTA-BBN2 exhibited favorable resistance against metabolic degradation by peptidases in vivo within the investigated time frame of 60 min. Interestingly, metabolic stability was not further enhanced in the presence of protease inhibitor phosphoramidon. Dynamic PET studies showed high tumor uptake in both PC3- and LNCaP-bearing BALB/c nude mice (SUV5min > 0.6; SUV60min > 0.5). Radiotracer (68)Ga-NOTA-BBN2 represents a novel radiometal-based bombesin derivative suitable for GRP receptor targeting in PC3 and LNCaP mouse xenografts. Further increase of metabolic stability in vivo and enhanced tumor uptake were not observed upon administration of protease inhibitor phosphoramidon. This led to the conclusion that the recently proposed "serve-and-protect" strategy may not be valid for peptides exhibiting favorable intrinsic metabolic stability in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Richter
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Cross Cancer Institute , Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2X4, Canada
| | - Melinda Wuest
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Cross Cancer Institute , Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2X4, Canada
| | - Cody N Bergman
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Cross Cancer Institute , Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2X4, Canada
| | - Stephanie Krieger
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine , St. Louis, Missouri 63108, United States
| | - Buck E Rogers
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine , St. Louis, Missouri 63108, United States
| | - Frank Wuest
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Cross Cancer Institute , Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2X4, Canada
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