Development of a Neurotensin-Derived 68Ga-Labeled PET Ligand with High In Vivo Stability for Imaging of NTS1 Receptor-Expressing Tumors

Overexpression of the neurotensin receptor type 1 (NTS1R), a peptide receptor located at the plasma membrane, has been reported for a variety of malignant tumors. Thus, targeting the NTS1R with 18F- or 68Ga-labeled ligands is considered a straightforward approach towards in vivo imaging of NTS1R-expressing tumors via positron emission tomography (PET). The development of suitable peptidic NTS1R PET ligands derived from neurotensin is challenging due to proteolytic degradation. In this study, we prepared a series of NTS1R PET ligands based on the C-terminal fragment of neurotensin (NT(8–13), Arg8-Arg9-Pro10-Tyr11-Ile12-Leu13) by attachment of the chelator 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) via an Nω-carbamoylated arginine side chain. Insertion of Ga3+ in the DOTA chelator gave potential PET ligands that were evaluated concerning NTS1R affinity (range of Ki values: 1.2–21 nM) and plasma stability. Four candidates were labeled with 68Ga3+ and used for biodistribution studies in HT-29 tumor-bearing mice. [68Ga]UR-LS130 ([68Ga]56), containing an N-terminal methyl group and a β,β-dimethylated tyrosine instead of Tyr11, showed the highest in vivo stability and afforded a tumor-to-muscle ratio of 16 at 45 min p.i. Likewise, dynamic PET scans enabled a clear tumor visualization. The accumulation of [68Ga]56 in the tumor was NTS1R-mediated, as proven by blocking studies.

Isolated metastasis of an EGFR-L858R-mutated NSCLC of the meninges: the potential impact of CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in EGFRmut NSCLC in diagnosis, follow-up and treatment

Brain and leptomeningeal metastasis (LMM) of non-small cell lung cancer is still associated with poor prognosis. Moreover, the current diagnostic standard for LMM often yields false negative results and the scientific progress in this field is still unsatisfying. We present a case of a 71-year old patient with an isolated LMM. While standard diagnostics could only diagnose a cancer of unknown primary, the use of [⁶⁸Ga]-Pentixafor-PET/CT (CXCR4-PET/CT, a radiotracer targeting CXCR4) and a liquid biopsy of the cerebrospinal fluid revealed the primary NSCLC. The detection of L858R-EGFR, a common driver mutation in NSCLC, enabled us to treat the patient with Afatinib and monitor treatment using [⁶⁸Ga]-Pentixafor PET/CT. To estimate the impact of CXCR4 signaling and its ligands in NSCLC brain metastasis we looked at their expression and correlation with EGFR mutations in a primary and brain metastasis data set and investigated the previously described binding of extracellular ubiquitin to CXCR4. In conclusion, we describe a novel approach to improve diagnostics towards LMM and underline the impact of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in brain metastasis in a subset of NSCLC patients. We cannot confirm a correlation of CXCR4 expression with EGFR mutations or the binding of extracellular ubiquitin as previously reported.

[Ga-68-PSMA PET/CT for prostate cancer]

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is expressed as a cell surface protein physiologically in the prostate and can be found in all stages of prostate cancer. Even in castration-resistant prostate cancers, this overexpression of PSMA occurs. Due to the enzymatic activity of PSMA it was possible develop specific inhibitors from which "small molecule" radiopharmaceuticals were derived. By coupling the specific binding motif glutamate-urea-lysine with the chelator HBED-CC, which complexes Ga-68 very effectively, a new radiopharmaceutical is available for Ga-68-PSMA-PET/CT. According to the first results in patients with prostate carcinoma, this new diagnostic tool exhibited advantages in image quality compared to choline-PET/CT. An initial study demonstrated the higher contrast of the PET signal and an improved diagnostic accuracy. The properties of even further new PSMA PET radiopharmaceuticals can be of increasing importance for the diagnostic work-up of prostate cancer in all stages. In conjunction with therapeutic PSMA radiopharmaceuticals, a new field of theragnostics is opened.

Changes of apoptosis, p53, and bcl-2 by irradiation in poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma cell lines: a prognostic marker for the prospect of therapeutic success?

BACKGROUND

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) has an unfavorable prognosis. Surgical management is the principal treatment approach. In addition, radioiodine treatment and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) are given to reduce the risk of local relapse. Despite aggressive therapy, the response to treatment tends to become increasingly poorer over time. The objective of this study was to investigate the induction of apoptosis by EBRT as a function of p53 and bcl-2 protein levels in PDTC. The predictive value of these molecules with respect to treatment efficacy was evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two different cell lines of PDTC (FTC-133 and ML-1) were irradiated with a dose of 30 Gy. Apoptotic cells were quantified using terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-dUTP nick-end labeling staining without irradiation, 48 and 96 hours after irradiation. The protein levels of p53 and bcl-2 were measured simultaneously using flow cytometry and western blotting. The cell cycle distribution was determined.

RESULTS

Untreated FTC-133 cells showed a high rate of apoptosis, a high protein level of p53, and a low bcl-2 protein level. Forty-eight hours after irradiation, a slight reduction in apoptotic cells was observed in conjunction with an increase in bcl-2 and p53 protein levels. The slightly reduced fraction of apoptotic cells remained at the same level up to 96 hours after irradiation, whereas the p53 protein level was further downregulated. The cell cycle distribution showed a significant G2/M arrest after 48 hours and recovery 96 hours after irradiation. ML-1 cells did not show any detectable p53 levels and revealed a low rate of apoptosis which significantly increased 48 hours after irradiation. Ninety-six hours after irradiation, a decrease in apoptosis was detectable. The protein level of bcl-2 increased significantly within 48 hours and decreased 96 hours after irradiation. The cell cycle distribution showed a G2/M arrest after 48 hours without a recovery 96 hours after irradiation.

CONCLUSIONS

The p53 and bcl-2 expression profiles and the observed apoptotic rates of FTC-133 and ML-1 under irradiation are consistent with a more aggressive FTC-133 phenotype. Alterations in p53- and bcl-2 protein levels yield predictive information for EBRT efficacy.

Length variation of helix III in a hammerhead ribozyme and its influence on cleavage activity

The previously described HIV-1 directed hammerhead ribozyme 2as-Rz12 can form with its target RNA 2s helices I and III of 128 and 278 base pairs (bp). A series of derivatives was made in which helix III was truncated to 8, 5, 4, 3, and 2 nucleotides (nt). These asymmetric hammerhead ribozymes were tested for in vitro cleavage and for inhibition of HIV-1 replication in human cells. Truncation of helix III to 8 bp did not affect the in vitro cleavage potential of the parental catalytic antisense RNA 2as-Rz12. Further truncation of helix III led to decreased cleavage rates, with no measurable cleavage activity for the 2 bp construct. All catalytically active constructs showed complex cleavage kinetics. Three kinetic subpopulations of ribozyme-substrate complexes could be discriminated that were cleaved with fast or slow rates or not at all. Gel purification of preformed ribozyme-substrate complexes led to a significant increase in cleavage rates. However, the complex cleavage pattern remained. In mammalian cells, the helix III-truncated constructs showed the same but no increased inhibitory effect of the comparable antisense RNA on HIV-1 replication.

A helix 1-extended hairpin ribozyme exhibits altered cleavage behavior in vitro

The catalytic domain of a hairpin ribozyme was incorporated at the 3'-end of a 254-base antisense RNA directed against the RNA of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), generating a hairpin ribozyme with a largely extended helix 1. In parallel, a catalytic antisense RNA based on a hammerhead ribozyme was directed toward the same cleavage motif in the HIV-1 target. Both ribozymes were expected to create identical cleavage products. Cleavage analysis in vitro confirmed that the hammerhead ribozyme delivered the expected cleavage products. However, the helix 1-extended hairpin ribozyme catalyzed additional RNA cleavage at several unexpected sites, which were mapped. Some of the 3' cleavage products had other nucleotides than G at their 5'-terminus, indicating that the helix 1-extended hairpin ribozyme was able to cleave bonds other than NpG+1. Inspection of the sequence context of the different cleavage sites suggested that unconventional helices 2 in combination with an asymmetric loop A consisting of up to 32 unpaired nucleotides in the substrate strand were formed. A second variant of a helix 1-extended hairpin ribozyme that differed in two nucleotides gave consistent results.