Acute Rodent Tolerability, Toxicity, and Radiation Dosimetry Estimates of the S1P1-Specific Radioligand [11C]CS1P1.

PURPOSE: In preclinical studies with rodent models of inflammatory diseases, [11C]CS1P1 has been identified as a promising imaging agent targeting sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) in the central nervous system and other tissues. In preparation for USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of [11C]CS1P1 for human use, an acute biodistribution study in mice and an acute tolerability and toxicity evaluation in rats were conducted. PROCEDURES: Acute organ biodistribution and excretion data was obtained using male and female Swiss Webster mice intravenously (IV) injected with 4.8-10 MBq of [11C]CS1P1. The organ residence times for each harvested organ were calculated using the animal biodistribution data, and were entered in the program OLINDA/EXM for C-11 to obtain human radiation dosimetry estimates. Acute tolerability and toxicity studies were conducted in male and female Sprague Dawley rats. Rats were administered an IV bolus of either the vehicle control or 0.3 mg/kg CS1P1. Blood samples were collected and a gross post-mortem examination was conducted at day 2 or day 15 post-injection. RESULTS: The extrapolated human radiation dose estimates revealed that the highest organ dose was received by the liver with 24.05 µGy/MBq in males and 32.70 µGy/MBq in females. The effective dose (ED) estimates of [11C]CS1P1 were calculated at 3.5 µSv/MBq in males and 5.9 µSv/MBq in females. The acute tolerability and toxicity study identified 0.3 mg/kg as a no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) dose, which is a ~ 300-fold dose multiple of the human equivalent dose of the mass to be injected for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies in humans as a no-observable-effect limit. CONCLUSIONS: The toxicity study in rats suggested that injection dose of radiotracer [11C]CS1P1 with mass amount < 10 µg is safe for performing a human PET study. The dosimetry data supported an injection of 0.74 GBq (20 mCi) dose for human studies would be acceptable.

S1PR1 as a Novel Promising Therapeutic Target in Cancer Therapy.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) can regulate several physiological and pathological processes. S1P signaling via its cell surface receptor S1PR1 has been shown to enhance tumorigenesis and stimulate growth, expansion, angiogenesis, metastasis, and survival of cancer cells. S1PR1-mediated tumorigenesis is supported and amplified by activation of downstream effectors including STAT3, interleukin-6, and NF-κB networks. S1PR1 signaling can also trigger various other signaling pathways involved in carcinogenesis including activation of PI3K/AKT, MAPK/ERK1/2, Rac, and PKC/Ca, as well as suppression of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). It also induces immunological tolerance in the tumor microenvironment, while the immunosuppressive function of S1PR1 can also lead to the generation of pre-metastatic niches. Some tumor cells upregulate S1PR1 signaling pathways, which leads to drug resistant cancer cells, mainly through activation of STAT3. This signaling pathway is also implicated in some inflammatory conditions leading to the instigation of inflammation-driven cancers. Furthermore, it can also increase survival via induction of anti-apoptotic pathways, for instance, in breast cancer cells. Therefore, S1PR1 and its signaling pathways can be considered as potential anti-tumor therapeutic targets, alone or in combination therapies. Given the oncogenic nature of S1PR1 and its distribution in a variety of cancer cell types along with its targeting advantages over other molecules of this family, S1PR1 should be considered a favorable target in therapeutic approaches to cancer. This review describes the role of S1PR1 in cancer development and progression, specifically addressing breast cancer, glioma, and hematopoietic malignancies. We also discuss the potential use of S1P signaling modulators as therapeutic targets in cancer therapy.