p-NO2-Bn-H4neunpa and H4neunpa-Trastuzumab: Bifunctional Chelator for Radiometalpharmaceuticals and 111In Immuno-Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Imaging.

Potentially nonadentate (N5O4) bifunctional chelator p-SCN-Bn-H4neunpa and its immunoconjugate H4neunpa-trastuzumab for 111In radiolabeling are synthesized. The ability of p-SCN-Bn-H4neunpa and H4neunpa-trastuzumab to quantitatively radiolabel 111InCl3 at an ambient temperature within 15 or 30 min, respectively, is presented. Thermodynamic stability determination with In3+, Bi3+, and La3+ resulted in high conditional stability constant (pM) values. In vitro human serum stability assays have demonstrated both 111In complexes to have high stability over 5 days. Mouse biodistribution of [111In][In(p-NO2-Bn-neunpa)]-, compared to that of [111In][In(p-NH2-Bn-CHX-A″-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA))]2-, at 1, 4, and 24 h shows fast clearance of both complexes from the mice within 24 h. In a second mouse biodistribution study, the immunoconjugates 111In-neunpa-trastuzumab and 111In-CHX-A″-DTPA-trastuzumab demonstrate a similar distribution profile but with slightly lower tumor uptake of 111In-neunpa-trastuzumab compared to that of 111In-CHX-A″-DTPA-trastuzumab. These results were also confirmed by immuno-single photon emission computed tomography (immuno-SPECT) imaging in vivo. These initial investigations reveal the acyclic bifunctional chelator p-SCN-Bn-H4neunpa to be a promising chelator for 111In (and other radiometals) with high in vitro stability and also show H4neunpa-trastuzumab to be an excellent 111In chelator with promising biodistribution in mice.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of novel bifunctional tetrahydroxamate chelators for PET imaging of 89Zr-labeled antibodies.

Two compact and symmetrical bifunctional tetrahydroxamate chelators, 1 and 2, were synthesized and evaluated for labeling antibodies with 89Zr for imaging with positron emission tomography. Using 2,2'-iminodiacetamide as the backbone, four hydroxamate-containing moieties coupled to the diacetamide nitrogen were used for 89Zr labeling, while a pendant connected to the amino group provided an isothiocyanate group for coupling to the antibody. Both 1- and 2-conjugated Trastuzumab were labeled with 89Zr efficiently (>90% radiolabeling yield), and their 89Zr-labeled products maintained comparable immunoreactivity to Trastuzumab. Compared to 89Zr-labeled deferoxamine-conjugated Trastuzumab, 89Zr-1- and 89Zr-2-Trastuzumab showed faster demetalation in mouse plasma, and also displayed higher bone uptake in mice. Despite suboptimal stability of 89Zr complexes of 1 and 2, our design strategy led to tetrahydroxamate chelators for efficient 89Zr labeling, and could be potentially modified to provide novel chelators with improved stability.

An organotrifluoroborate for broadly applicable one-step 18F-labeling.

A new zwitterionic organotrifluoroborate is appended to three radiosynthons that afford undergo facile bioconjugation to several clinically relevant peptides and one enzyme inhibitor. Molecularly complex bioconjugates are (18)F-labeled in a single aqueous step in rapid time (<15 min) without HPLC purification to afford tracers in good yields (>200 mCi, 20-40%) at high specific activity (≥3 Ci/µmol) and at >98% purity. PET imaging shows in vivo stability and tumor uptake.

[18F]AZD2461, an Insight on Difference in PARP Binding Profiles for DNA Damage Response PET Imaging.

BACKGROUND: Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are extensively studied and used as anti-cancer drugs, as single agents or in combination with other therapies. Most radiotracers developed to date have been chosen on the basis of strong PARP1-3 affinity. Herein, we propose to study AZD2461, a PARP inhibitor with lower affinity towards PARP3, and to investigate its potential for PARP targeting in vivo. METHODS: Using the Cu-mediated 18F-fluorodeboronation of a carefully designed radiolabelling precursor, we accessed the 18F-labelled isotopologue of the PARP inhibitor AZD2461. Cell uptake of [18F]AZD2461 in vitro was assessed in a range of pancreatic cell lines (PSN-1, PANC-1, CFPAC-1 and AsPC-1) to assess PARP expression and in vivo in xenograft-bearing mice. Blocking experiments were performed with both olaparib and AZD2461. RESULTS: [18F]AZD2461 was efficiently radiolabelled via both manual and automated procedures (9 % ± 3 % and 3 % ± 1 % activity yields non-decay corrected). [18F]AZD2461 was taken up in vivo in PARP1-expressing tumours, and the highest uptake was observed for PSN-1 cells (7.34 ± 1.16 %ID/g). In vitro blocking experiments showed a lesser ability of olaparib to reduce [18F]AZD2461 binding, indicating a difference in selectivity between olaparib and AZD2461. CONCLUSION: Taken together, we show the importance of screening the PARP selectivity profile of radiolabelled PARP inhibitors for use as PET imaging agents.

Early Detection in a Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer by Imaging DNA Damage Response Signaling.

Despite its widespread use in oncology, the PET radiotracer 18F-FDG is ineffective for improving early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). An alternative strategy for early detection of pancreatic cancer involves visualization of high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanIN-3s), generally regarded as the noninvasive precursors of PDAC. The DNA damage response is known to be hyperactivated in late-stage PanINs. Therefore, we investigated whether the SPECT imaging agent 111In-anti-γH2AX-TAT allows visualization of the DNA damage repair marker γH2AX in PanIN-3s in an engineered mouse model of PDAC, to facilitate early detection of PDAC. Methods: Genetically engineered KPC (KRasLSL.G12D/+; p53LSL.R172H/+; PdxCre) mice were imaged with 18F-FDG and 111In-anti-γH2AX-TAT. The presence of PanIN/PDAC as visualized by histologic examination was compared with autoradiography and immunofluorescence. Separately, the survival of KPC mice imaged with 111In-anti-γH2AX-TAT was evaluated. Results: In KPC mouse pancreata, γH2AX expression was increased in high-grade PanINs but not in PDAC, corroborating earlier results obtained from human pancreas sections. Uptake of 111In-anti-γH2AX-TAT, but not 111In-IgG-TAT or 18F-FDG, within the pancreas correlated positively with the age of KPC mice, which correlated with the number of high-grade PanINs. 111In-anti-γH2AX-TAT localizes preferentially in high-grade PanIN lesions but not in established PDAC. Younger, non-tumor-bearing KPC mice that show uptake of 111In-anti-γH2AX-TAT in the pancreas survive for a significantly shorter time than mice with physiologic 111In-anti-γH2AX-TAT uptake. Conclusion:111In-anti-γH2AX-TAT imaging allows noninvasive detection of DNA damage repair signaling upregulation in preinvasive PanIN lesions and is a promising new tool to aid in the early detection and staging of pancreatic cancer.

Dual-isotope imaging allows in vivo immunohistochemistry using radiolabelled antibodies in tumours.

While radiolabelled antibodies have found great utility as PET and SPECT imaging agents in oncological investigations, a notable shortcoming of these agents is their propensity to accumulate non-specifically within tumour tissue. The degree of this non-specific contribution to overall tumour uptake is highly variable and can ultimately lead to false conclusions. Therefore, in an effort to obtain a reliable measure of inter-individual differences in non-specific tumour uptake of radiolabelled antibodies, we demonstrate that the use of dual-isotope imaging overcomes this issue, enables true quantification of epitope expression levels, and allows non-invasive in vivo immunohistochemistry. The approach involves co-administration of (i) an antigen-targeting antibody labelled with zirconium-89 (89Zr), and (ii) an isotype-matched non-specific control IgG antibody labelled with indium-111 (111In). As an example, the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab was radiolabelled with 89Zr, and co-administered intravenously together with its 111In-labelled non-specific counterpart to mice bearing human breast cancer xenografts with differing HER2 expression levels (MDA-MB-468 [HER2-negative], MDA-MB-231 [low-HER2], MDA-MB-231/H2N [medium-HER2], and SKBR3 [high-HER2]). Simultaneous PET/SPECT imaging using a MILabs Vector4 small animal scanner revealed stark differences in the intratumoural distribution of [89Zr]Zr-trastuzumab and [111In]In-IgG, highlighting regions of HER2-mediated uptake and non-specific uptake, respectively. Normalisation of the tumour uptake values and tumour-to-blood ratios obtained with [89Zr]Zr-trastuzumab against those obtained with [111In]In-IgG yielded values which were most strongly correlated (R = 0.94; P = 0.02) with HER2 expression levels for each breast cancer type determined by Western blot and in vitro saturation binding assays, but not non-normalised uptake values. Normalised intratumoural distribution of [89Zr]Zr-trastuzumab correlated well with intratumoural heterogeneity HER2 expression.

A Carbon-Fiber Sheet Resistor for MR-, CT-, SPECT-, and PET-Compatible Temperature Maintenance in Small Animals.

A magnetic resonance (MR)-, computed tomography (CT)-, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)-, and positron emission tomography (PET)-compatible carbon-fiber sheet resistor for temperature maintenance in small animals where space limitations prevent the use of circulating fluids was developed. A 250 Ω carbon-fiber sheet resistor was mounted to the underside of an imaging cradle. Alternating current, operating at 99 kHz, and with a power of 1-2 W, was applied to the resistor providing a cradle base temperature of ∼37°C. Temperature control was implemented with a proportional-integral-derivative controller, and temperature maintenance was demonstrated in 4 mice positioned in both MR and PET/SPECT/CT scanners. MR and CT compatibility were also shown, and multimodal MR-CT-PET-SPECT imaging of the mouse abdomen was performed in vivo. Core temperature was maintained at 35.5°C ± 0.2°C. No line-shape, frequency, or image distortions attributable to the current flow through the heater were observed on MR. Upon CT imaging, no heater-related artifacts were observed when carbon-fiber was used. Multimodal imaging was performed and images could be easily coregistered, displayed, analyzed, and presented. Carbon fiber sheet resistors powered with high-frequency alternating current allow homeothermic maintenance that is compatible with multimodal imaging. The heater is small, and it is easy to produce and integrate into multimodal imaging cradles.

89Zr for antibody labeling and in vivo studies - A comparison between liquid and solid target production.

INTRODUCTION: Zirconium-89 (89Zr, t1/2=78.4h) liquid target (LT) production offers an approach to introduce this positron-emitting isotope to cyclotron centres without the need for a separate solid target (ST) production set up. We compared the production, purification, and antibody radiolabeling yields of 89Zr-(LT) and 89Zr-(ST), and assessed the feasibility of 89Zr-(LT) for preclinical PET/CT. METHODS: 89Zr-(ST) production was performed with an 89Y foil on a TR 19 cyclotron at 13.8MeV. For LT production; an aqueous solution of yttrium nitrate (Y(NO3)3·6H2O) was irradiated on a TR 13 cyclotron at 12MeV. 89Zr was purified from the ST or LT material with hydroxamate resin, and used to radiolabel p-SCN-Bn-Deferoxamine (DFO)-conjugated Trastuzumab. MicroPET-CT imaging was performed at 1, 3 and 5days post-injection of 89Zr-DFO-Trastuzumab from ST or LT with biodistribution analysis on day 5. RESULTS: Irradiation of the ST yielded 2.88±1.07GBq/µA with a beam current of 14.0±3.8µA and irradiation time of 137±48min at end of bombardment while LT yielded 0.27±0.05GBq/µA with a beam current of 9.9±2.2µA and irradiation time of 221±29min. Radiolabeling of DFO-Trastuzumab with 89Zr-(ST) or 89Zr-(LT) was successful with purity>97% and specific activity>0.12MBq/µg (of antibody). MicroPET-CT imaging and biodistribution profiles showed similar uptake of 89Zr-(ST)-DFO-Trastuzumab and 89Zr-(LT)-DFO-Trastuzumab in tumor and all organs of interest. CONCLUSION: 89Zr-(LT) was effectively used to prepare antibody bioconjugates with specific activities suitable for small animal imaging. PET imaging and biodistribution revealed similar behaviours between bioconjugates labeled with 89Zr produced from the two target systems. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PATIENT CARE: These results have important implications for the production of PET isotopes such as 89Zr to cyclotron facilities with only LT capabilities - such as most clinical centres - expanding the availability of 89Zr-immunoPET.