Synthesis and Evaluation of 68Ga- and 177Lu-Labeled [Pro14]bombesin(8-14) Derivatives for Detection and Radioligand Therapy of Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor-Expressing Cancer.

The gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is overexpressed in a variety of cancers and represents a promising target for diagnosis and therapy. However, the extremely high accumulation in the pancreas observed for most of the clinically evaluated GRPR-targeted radiopharmaceuticals could limit their applications. In this study, we synthesized one GRPR antagonist (ProBOMB5) and two GRPR agonists (LW02056 and LW02057) by replacing the 4-thiazolidinecarboxylic acid (Thz14) residue in our previously reported GRPR-targeted tracers with Pro14. The 68Ga and 177Lu labeling were conducted in HEPES (2 M, pH 5.0) buffer and acetate (0.1 M, pH 4.5) buffer, respectively, and the radiolabeled products were obtained in a 24-57% decay-corrected radiochemical yield and >92% radiochemical purity. The binding affinities (Ki) of Ga-ProBOMB5, Ga-LW02056, Ga-LW02057, and Lu-ProBOMB5 were measured via in vitro competition binding assays and were 12.2 ± 1.89, 14.7 ± 4.81, 13.8 ± 2.24, and 13.6 ± 0.25 nM, respectively. The PET imaging and ex vivo biodistribution studies were conducted in PC-3 tumor-bearing mice at 1 h post injection. [68Ga]Ga-ProBOMB5, [68Ga]Ga-LW02056, and [68Ga]Ga-LW02057 enabled clear tumor visualization in PET images. The tumor uptake values of [68Ga]Ga-ProBOMB5, [68Ga]Ga-LW02056, and [68Ga]Ga-LW02057 were 12.4 ± 1.35, 8.93 ± 1.96, and 7.64 ± 0.55%ID/g, respectively, and their average pancreas uptake values were minimal (0.60-1.37%ID/g). Longitudinal SPECT imaging and ex vivo biodistribution studies were also conducted for [177Lu]Lu-ProBOMB5 and clinically validated [177Lu]Lu-RM2. Despite comparable tumor uptake at 1 h post injection ([177Lu]Lu-ProBOMB5:8.09 ± 1.70%ID/g; [177Lu]Lu-RM2:7.73 ± 0.96%ID/g), a faster clearance from PC-3 tumor xenografts was observed for [177Lu]Lu-ProBOMB5, leading to a lower radiation-absorbed dose delivered to tumors. Our data demonstrate that [68Ga]Ga-ProBOMB5 is a promising tracer for clinical translation for detecting GRPR-expressing tumor lesions. However, further optimizations are needed for [177Lu]Lu-ProBOMB5 to prolong tumor retention for therapeutic applications.

Synthesis and Evaluation of the First 68Ga-Labeled C-Terminal Hydroxamate-Derived Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor-Targeted Tracers for Cancer Imaging with Positron Emission Tomography.

Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), overexpressed in many solid tumors, is a promising imaging marker and therapeutic target. Most reported GRPR-targeted radioligands contain a C-terminal amide. Based on the reported potent antagonist D-Phe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Leu-NHOH, we synthesized C-terminal hydroxamate-derived [68Ga]Ga-LW02075 ([68Ga]Ga-DOTA-pABzA-DIG-D-Phe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Leu-NHOH) and [68Ga]Ga-LW02050 ([68Ga]Ga-DOTA-Pip-D-Phe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Leu-NHOH), and compared them with the closely related and clinically validated [68Ga]Ga-SB3 ([68Ga]Ga-DOTA-pABzA-DIG-D-Phe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Leu-NHEt). Binding affinities (Ki) of Ga-SB3, Ga-LW02075, and Ga-LW02050 were 1.20 ± 0.31, 1.39 ± 0.54, and 8.53 ± 1.52 nM, respectively. Both Ga-LW02075 and Ga-LW02050 were confirmed to be GRPR antagonists by calcium release assay. Imaging studies showed that PC-3 prostate cancer tumor xenografts were clearly visualized at 1 h post injection by [68Ga]Ga-SB3 and [68Ga]Ga-LW02050 in PET images, but not by [68Ga]Ga-LW02075. Ex vivo biodistribution studies conducted at 1 h post injection showed that the tumor uptake of [68Ga]Ga-LW02050 was comparable to that of [68Ga]Ga-SB3 (5.38 ± 1.00 vs. 6.98 ± 1.36 %ID/g), followed by [68Ga]Ga-LW02075 (3.97 ± 1.71 %ID/g). [68Ga]Ga-SB3 had the highest pancreas uptake (37.3 ± 6.90 %ID/g) followed by [68Ga]Ga-LW02075 (17.8 ± 5.24 %ID/g), while the pancreas uptake of [68Ga]Ga-LW02050 was only 0.53 ± 0.11 %ID/g. Our data suggest that [68Ga]Ga-LW02050 is a promising PET tracer for detecting GRPR-expressing cancer lesions.

Synthesis and Evaluation of 99mTc-Labeled PSMA-Targeted Tracers Based on the Lys-Urea-Aad Pharmacophore for Detecting Prostate Cancer with Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a well-validated prostate cancer marker but reported PSMA-targeted tracers derived from the Lys-urea-Glu pharmacophore including the clinically validated [99mTc]Tc-EDDA/HYNIC-iPSMA have high off-target uptake in kidneys, spleen, and salivary glands. In this study, we synthesized and evaluated three novel 99mTc-labeled PSMA-targeted tracers and investigated if the tracers derived from the Lys-urea-Aad pharmacophore could have minimized uptake in off-target organs/tissues. In vitro competition binding assays showed that compared with HYNIC-iPSMA, the three novel ligands had slightly weaker PSMA binding affinity (average Ki = 3.11 vs. 8.96-11.6 nM). Imaging and ex vivo biodistribution studies in LNCaP tumor-bearing mice showed that [99mTc]Tc-EDDA/HYNIC-iPSMA and the three novel tracers successfully visualized LNCaP tumor xenografts in SPECT images and were excreted mainly via the renal pathway. The average tumor uptake at 1 h post-injection varied from 5.40 to 18.8%ID/g, and the tracers derived from the Lys-urea-Aad pharmacophore had much lower uptake in the spleen and salivary glands. Compared with the clinical tracer [99mTc]Tc-EDDA/HYNIC-iPSMA, the Lys-urea-Aad-derived [99mTc]Tc-EDDA-KL01127 had lower background uptake and superior tumor-to-background contrast ratios and is therefore promising for clinical translation to detect prostate cancer lesions with SPECT.

Synthesis and Evaluation of 68Ga-Labeled (2S,4S)-4-Fluoropyrrolidine-2-Carbonitrile and (4R)-Thiazolidine-4-Carbonitrile Derivatives as Novel Fibroblast Activation Protein-Targeted PET Tracers for Cancer Imaging.

Fibroblast activation protein α (FAP-α) is a cell-surface protein overexpressed on cancer-associated fibroblasts that constitute a substantial component of tumor stroma and drive tumorigenesis. FAP is minimally expressed by most healthy tissues, including normal fibroblasts. This makes it a promising pan-cancer diagnostic and therapeutic target. In the present study, we synthesized two novel tracers, [68Ga]Ga-SB03045 and [68Ga]Ga-SB03058, bearing a (2S,4S)-4-fluoropyrrolidine-2-carbonitrile or a (4R)-thiazolidine-4-carbonitrile pharmacophore, respectively. [68Ga]Ga-SB03045 and [68Ga]Ga-SB03058 were evaluated for their FAP-targeting capabilities using substrate-based in vitro binding assays, and in PET/CT imaging and ex vivo biodistribution studies in an HEK293T:hFAP tumor xenograft mouse model. The IC50 values of natGa-SB03045 (1.59 ± 0.45 nM) and natGa-SB03058 (0.68 ± 0.09 nM) were found to be lower than those of the clinically validated natGa-FAPI-04 (4.11 ± 1.42 nM). Contrary to the results obtained in the FAP-binding assay, [68Ga]Ga-SB03058 demonstrated a ~1.5 fold lower tumor uptake than that of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 (7.93 ± 1.33 vs. 11.90 ± 2.17 %ID/g), whereas [68Ga]Ga-SB03045 (11.8 ± 2.35 %ID/g) exhibited a tumor uptake comparable to that of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-04. Thus, our data suggest that the (2S,4S)-4-fluoropyrrolidine-2-carbonitrile scaffold holds potential as a promising pharmacophore for the design of FAP-targeted radioligands for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Functionally Versatile and Highly Stable Chelator for 111In and 177Lu: Proof-of-Principle Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Targeting.

Here, we present the synthesis and characterization of a new potentially nonadentate chelator H4pypa and its bifunctional analogue tBu4pypa-C7-NHS conjugated to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeting peptidomimetic (Glu-urea-Lys). H4pypa is very functionally versatile and biologically stable. Compared to the conventional chelators (e.g., DOTA, DTPA), H4pypa has outstanding affinities for both 111In (EC, t1/2 ≈ 2.8 days) and 177Lu (ß-,γ, t1/2 ≈ 6.64 days). Its radiolabeled complexes were achieved at >98% radiochemical yield, RT within 10 min, at a ligand concentration as low as 10-6 M, with excellent stability in human serum over at least 5-7 days (<1% transchelation). The thermodynamic stabilities of the [M(pypa)]- complexes (M3+ = In3+, Lu3+, La3+) were dependent on the ionic radii, where the smaller In3+ has the highest pM value (30.5), followed by Lu3+ (22.6) and La3+ (19.9). All pM values are remarkably higher than those with DOTA, DTPA, H4octapa, H4octox, and H4neunpa. Moreover, the facile and versatile bifunctionalization enabled by the p-OH group in the central pyridyl bridge of the pypa scaffold (compound 14) allows incorporation of a variety of linkers for bioconjugation through easy nucleophilic substitution. In this work, an alkyl linker was selected to couple H4pypa to a PSMA-targeting pharmacophore, proving that the bioconjugation sacrifices neither the tumor-targeting nor the chelation properties. The biodistribution profiles of 111In- and 177Lu-labeled tracers are different, but promising, with the 177Lu analogue particularly outstanding.

Melanoma Imaging Using 18F-Labeled α-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Derivatives with Positron Emission Tomography.

Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is specifically expressed in the majority of melanomas, a leading cause of death related to skin cancers. Accurate staging and early detection is crucial in managing melanoma. Based on the α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (αMSH) sequence, MC1R-targeted peptides have been studied for melanoma imaging, predominately for use with single-photon emission computed tomography, with few attempts made for positron emission tomography (PET). 18F is a commonly used PET isotope due to readily available cyclotron production, pure positron emission, and a favorable half-life (109.8 min). In this study, we aim to design and evaluate αMSH derivatives that enable radiolabeling with 18F for PET imaging of melanoma. We synthesized three imaging probes based on the structure of Nle4-cyclo[Asp5-His-d-Phe7-Arg-Trp-Lys10]-NH2 (Nle-CycMSHhex), with a Pip linker (CCZ01064), an Acp linker (CCZ01070), or an Aoc linker (CCZ01071). 18F labeling was enabled by an ammoniomethyl-trifluoroborate (AmBF3) moiety. In vitro competition binding assays showed subnanomolar inhibition constant ( Ki) values for all three peptides. The 18F radiolabeling was performed via a one-step 18F-19F isotope exchange reaction that resulted in high radiochemical purity (>95%) and good molar activity (specific activity) ranging from 40.7 to 66.6 MBq/nmol. All three 18F-labeled peptides produced excellent tumor visualization with PET imaging in C57BL/6J mice bearing B16-F10 tumors. The tumor uptake was 7.80 ± 1.77, 5.27 ± 2.38, and 5.46 ± 2.64% injected dose per gram of tissue (%ID/g) for [18F]CCZ01064, [18F]CCZ01070, and [18F]CCZ01071 at 1 h post-injection (p.i.), respectively. Minimal background activity was observed except for kidneys at 4.99 ± 0.20, 4.42 ± 0.54, and 13.55 ± 2.84%ID/g, respectively. The best candidate [18F]CCZ01064 was further evaluated at 2 h p.i., which showed increased tumor uptake at 11.96 ± 2.31%ID/g and further reduced normal tissue uptake. Moreover, a blocking study was performed for CCZ01064 at 1 h p.i., where tumor uptake was significantly reduced to 1.97 ± 0.60%ID/g, suggesting the tumor uptake was receptor mediated. In conclusion, [18F]CCZ01064 showed high tumor uptake, low normal tissue uptake, and fast clearance and is therefore a suitable and promising candidate for PET imaging of melanoma.

Effects of Linker Modification on Tumor-to-Kidney Contrast of 68Ga-Labeled PSMA-Targeted Imaging Probes.

68Ga-PSMA-11 is currently the most popular prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radioligand used in the clinic to detect prostate cancer and metastases. However, the high uptake of 68Ga-PSMA-11 in kidneys can create halo-artifacts resulting in lower detection sensitivity for lesions adjacent to the kidneys. In this study, we developed two 68Ga-labeled PSMA-targeted tracers, 68Ga-HTK01166 and 68Ga-HTK01167, based on 68Ga-PSMA-617 with the goal of improving tumor-to-kidney ratio compared to 68Ga-PSMA-11. The 2-naphthylalanine (2-Nal) in PSMA-617 was replaced with 2-indanylglycine (Igl) or 3,3-diphenylalanine (Dip) to synthesize HTK01166 and HTK01167, respectively. Binding affinities ( Ki) of Ga-PSMA-11, Ga-PSMA-617, Ga-HTK01166, and Ga-HTK01167 to PSMA were 3.13 ± 0.40, 1.23 ± 0.08, 5.74 ± 2.48, and 25.7 ± 9.84 nM, respectively, as determined by in vitro competition binding assays. 68Ga labeling was performed in HEPES buffer with microwave heating, and 68Ga-labeled PSMA-11, PSMA-617, HTK01166, and HTK01167 were obtained in 46-69% average decay-corrected radiochemical yield with >99% radiochemical purity and 62.9-152 GBq/µmol average specific activity. PET imaging and biodistribution studies were performed in mice bearing PSMA-expressing LNCap prostate cancer xenografts. All tracers enabled clear visualization of tumors in PET images with excellent tumor-to-background contrast. The uptake values (%ID/g) for tumor and kidneys at 1 h postinjection were 8.91 ± 0.86 and 204 ± 70.6 for 68Ga-PSMA-11, 16.7 ± 2.30 and 29.2 ± 5.14 for 68Ga-PSMA-617, 14.1 ± 4.40 and 147 ± 59.6 for 68Ga-HTK01166, and 7.79 ± 1.65 and 4.30 ± 1.80 for 68Ga-HTK01167. The tumor-to-kidney ratios for 68Ga-labeled PSMA-11, PSMA-617, HTK01166, and HTK01167 were 0.05 ± 0.02, 0.63 ± 0.10, 0.10 ± 0.02, and 1.98 ± 0.63, respectively. Compared with 68Ga-PSMA-617, 68Ga-HTK01166 showed comparable tumor uptake and almost 5-fold higher kidney uptake, whereas 68Ga-HTK01167 exhibited lower tumor and kidney uptake. Compared with 68Ga-PSMA-11, 68Ga-HTK01167 had similar tumor uptake and tumor-to-blood contrast ratio (23.8 ± 6.71 vs 20.4 ± 4.98) but higher tumor-to-background contrast ratios for other background organs especially for kidneys. Our data indicate that substitution of 2-Nal in PSMA-617 with other lipophilic amino acid can modulate PSMA binding affinity and their pharmacokinetics in vivo.

Enhancing Treatment Efficacy of 177Lu-PSMA-617 with the Conjugation of an Albumin-Binding Motif: Preclinical Dosimetry and Endoradiotherapy Studies.

We designed and evaluated a novel albumin-binder-conjugated 177Lu-PSMA-617 derivative, 177Lu-HTK01169, with an extended blood retention time to maximize the radiation dose delivered to prostate tumors expressing prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). PSMA-617 and HTK01169 that contained N-[4-( p-iodophenyl)butanoyl]-Glu as an albumin-binding motif were synthesized using the solid-phase approach. Binding affinity to PSMA was determined by in vitro competition-binding assay. 177Lu labeling was performed in acetate buffer (pH 4.5) at 90 °C for 15 min. SPECT/CT imaging, biodistribution, and endoradiotherapy studies were conducted in mice bearing PSMA-expressing LNCaP tumor xenografts. Radiation dosimetry was calculated using OLINDA software. Lu-PSMA-617 and Lu-HTK01169-bound PSMA with high affinity ( Ki values = 0.24 and 0.04 nM, respectively). SPECT imaging and biodistribution studies showed that 177Lu-PSMA-617 and 177Lu-HTK01169 were excreted mainly via the renal pathway. With fast blood clearance (0.68%ID/g at 1 h postinjection), the tumor uptake of 177Lu-PSMA-617 peaked at 1 h postinjection (15.1%ID/g) and gradually decreased to 7.91%ID/g at 120 h postinjection. With extended blood retention (16.6 and 2.10%ID/g at 1 and 24 h, respectively), the tumor uptake of 177Lu-HTK01169 peaked at 24 h postinjection (55.9%ID/g) and remained at the same level by the end of the study (120 h). Based on dosimetry calculations, 177Lu-HTK01169 delivered an 8.3-fold higher radiation dose than 177Lu-PSMA-617 to LNCaP tumor xenografts. For the endoradiotherapy study, the mice treated with 177Lu-PSMA-617 (18.5 MBq) all reached humane end point (tumor volume >1000 mm3) by Day 73 with a median survival of 58 days. Mice treated with 18.5, 9.3, 4.6, or 2.3 MBq of 177Lu-HTK01169 had a median survival of >120, 103, 61, and 28 days, respectively. With greatly enhanced tumor uptake and treatment efficacy compared to 177Lu-PSMA-617 in preclinical studies, 177Lu-HTK01169 warrants further investigation for endoradiotherapy of prostate cancer.

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.

Radiolabeled R954 Derivatives for Imaging Bradykinin B1 Receptor Expression with Positron Emission Tomography.

Peptide receptors have emerged as promising targets for diagnosis and therapy. The aberrant overexpression of these receptors in different cancer subtypes allows for the adoption of new treatment strategies that complement conventional chemotherapies. Bradykinin B1 receptor (B1R) is a G protein-coupled receptor that is overexpressed in many cancers, with limited expression in healthy tissues. Previously, we developed 68Ga- and 18F-labeled derivatives of B1R antagonist peptides B9858 and B9958, and successfully targeted B1R-expressing tumor xenografts in vivo. R954 (Ac-Orn-Arg-Oic-Pro-Gly-αMePhe-Ser-d-2-Nal-Ile), a potent B1R antagonist, is reportedly more stable than B9858 against peptidase degradation. We evaluated two radiolabeled derivatives of R954 (68Ga-HTK01083 and 18F-HTK01146) for B1R PET imaging. Peptides were synthesized via solid phase strategy. Nonradioactive standards were obtain by reacting GaCl3 with DOTA-dPEG2-R954 and by clicking N-propargyl-N,N-dimethylammoniomethyl-trifluoroborate with azidoacetyl-dPEG2-R954. Binding affinity for B1R was determined by an in vitro competition binding assay. 68Ga-HTK01083 was obtained by incubating DOTA-dPEG2-R954 with 68GaCl3 under acidic conditions, while 18F-HTK01146 was prepared via an 18F-19F isotope exchange reaction. Biodistribution and imaging studies were conducted at 1 h postinjection (p.i.) in mice inoculated with B1R-expressing (B1R+) and B1R-nonexpressing (B1R-) cells. HTK01083 and HTK01146 bound B1R with good affinity (Ki = 30.5 and 24.8 nM, respectively). 68Ga/18F-labeled R954 were obtained on average in ≥10% decay-corrected radiochemical yield with >99% radiochemical purity and ≥52 GBq/µmol specific activity. For both tracers, clearance was predominantly renal with minimal involvement of the hepatobiliary system. For PET images, B1R+ tumors, kidneys, and bladder were visible. At 1 h p.i., uptake in B1R+ tumor was comparable between 68Ga-HTK01083 (8.46 ± 1.44%ID/g) and 18F-HTK01146 (9.25 ± 0.69%ID/g). B1R+ tumor-to-blood and B1R+ tumor-to-muscle ratios were 6.32 ± 1.44 and 20.7 ± 3.58 for 68Ga-HTK01083, and 7.24 ± 2.56 and 19.5 ± 4.29 for 18F-HTK01146. Our results indicate R954 is a good lead sequence for optimization of B1R tracers for cancer imaging.

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.

Synthesis and evaluation of 18F-labeled CJ-042794 for imaging prostanoid EP4 receptor expression in cancer with positron emission tomography.

The potent and selective prostanoid EP4 receptor antagonist CJ-042794 was radiolabeled with 18F, and evaluated for imaging EP4 receptor expression in cancer with positron emission tomography (PET). The fluorination precursor, arylboronic acid pinacol ester 4, was prepared in 4 steps with 42% overall yield. 18F-CJ-042794 was synthesized via a copper-mediated 18F-fluorination reaction followed by base hydrolysis, and was obtained in 1.5±1.1% (n=2) decay-corrected radiochemical yield. PET/CT imaging and biodistribution studies in mice showed that 18F-CJ-042794 was excreted through both renal and hepatobiliary pathways with significant retention in blood. The EP4-receptor-expressing LNCaP prostate cancer xenografts were clearly visualized in PET images with 1.12±0.08%ID/g (n=5) uptake value and moderate tumour-to-muscle contrast ratio (2.73±0.22) at 1h post-injection. However, the tumour uptake was nonspecific as it could not be blocked by co-injection of cold standard, precluding the application of 18F-CJ-042794 for PET imaging of EP4 receptor expression in cancer.

Synthesis and evaluation of a 68Ga-labeled bradykinin B1 receptor agonist for imaging with positron emission tomography.

A novel 68Ga-labeled bradykinin B1 receptor (B1R) agonist, 68Ga-Z01115, was synthesized and evaluated for imaging with positron emission tomography (PET). Z01115 exhibited good binding affinity (Ki=25.4±5.1nM) to hB1R. 68Ga-Z01115 was prepared in 74±5 decay-corrected radiochemical yield with >99% radiochemical purity and 155±89GBq/µmol (4.2±2.4Ci/µmol) specific activity. 68Ga-Z01115 was stable in vitro in mouse plasma (93% remaining intact after 60min incubation), and relatively stable in vivo (51±5% remaining intact at 5min post-injection). PET imaging and biodistribution studies in mice showed that 68Ga-Z01115 cleared rapidly from nontarget tissues/organs, and generated high target-to-nontarget contrast images. The uptake of 68Ga-Z01115 in B1R-positive (B1R+) tumor was 5.65±0.59%ID/g at 1h post-injection. Average contrast ratios of B1R+ tumor-to-B1R- tumor, -to-blood and -to-muscle were 24.3, 24.4 and 82.9, respectively. Uptake of 68Ga-Z01115 in B1R+ tumors was reduced by ∼90% with co-injection of cold standard, confirming it was mediated by B1R. Our data suggest that 68Ga-Z01115 is a promising tracer for imaging the expression of B1R that is overexpressed in a variety of cancers.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of 18F-labeled cationic carbonic anhydrase IX inhibitors for PET imaging.

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA-IX) is a marker for tumor hypoxia, and its expression is negatively correlated with patient survival. CA-IX represents a potential target for eliminating hypoxic cancers. We synthesized fluorinated cationic sulfonamide inhibitors 1-3 designed to target CA-IX. The binding affinity for CA-IX ranged from 0.22 to 0.96 µM. We evaluated compound 2 as a diagnostic PET imaging agent. Compound 2 was radiolabeled with 18F in 10 ± 4% decay-corrected radiochemical yield with 85.1 ± 70.3 GBq/µmol specific activity and >98% radiochemical purity. 18F-labeled 2 was stable in mouse plasma at 37 °C after 1 h incubation. PET/CT imaging was conducted at 1 h post-injection in a human colorectal cancer xenograft model. 18F-labeled 2 cleared through hepatobiliary and renal pathways. Tumor uptake was approximately 0.41 ± 0.06% ID/g, with a tumor-to-muscle ratio of 1.99 ± 0.25. Subsequently, tumor xenografts were visualized with moderate contrast. This study demonstrates the use of a cationic motif for conferring isoform selectively for CA-IX imaging agents.

Synthesis and evaluation of (18)F-labeled 4-nitrobenzyl derivatives for imaging tumor hypoxia with positron emission tomography: Comparison of 2-[(18)F]fluoroethyl carbonate and 2-[(18)F]fluoroethyl carbamate.

Two 4-nitrobenzyl derivatives, 2-fluoroethyl 4-nitrobenzyl carbonate 1 and 4-nitrobenzyl N-2-fluoroethyl carbamate 2, were radiolabeled with (18)F and evaluated for imaging tumor hypoxia with positron emission tomography. Although good tumor uptake was observed for [(18)F]1 and [(18)F]2 (>2.5%ID/g at 3-h post-injection), the tracers cleared slowly from nontarget tissues (>1.5%ID/g) and exhibited extensive defluorination in vivo (>4.0%ID/g for bone). Therefore, [(18)F]1 and [(18)F]2 are not suitable for imaging tumor hypoxia due to suboptimal tumor-to-background contrasts.

One-step synthesis of 4-[(18) F]fluorobenzyltriphenylphosphonium cation for imaging with positron emission tomography.

4-[(18) F]Fluorobenzyltriphenylphosphonium cation ((18) F-FBnTP) is a promising negative membrane potential targeting positron emission tomography tracer. However, the reported multistep radiolabeling approach for the synthesis of (18) F-FBnTP poses a challenge for routine clinical applications. In this study, we demonstrated that (18) F-FBnTP can be prepared in good conversion yields (~60%, nondecay corrected) in just one step via a copper-mediated (18) F-fluorination reaction using a pinacolyl arylboronate precursor. In addition, our data suggest that (18) F-labeled (phosphonium) cations can be efficiently prepared via a copper-mediated (18) F-fluoronation by using triflate as the counterion.

Imaging Bradykinin B1 Receptor with 68Ga-Labeled [des-Arg10]Kallidin Derivatives: Effect of the Linker on Biodistribution and Tumor Uptake.

Bradykinin B1 receptor (B1R) that is overexpressed in cancers but minimally expressed in normal healthy tissues represents an attractive biomarker for the development of cancer imaging agents. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of different linkers on the pharmacokinetics and tumor uptake of a B1R-targeting radio-peptide sequence, 68Ga-DOTA-linker-Lys-Arg-Pro-Hyp-Gly-Cha-Ser-Pro-Leu. Four peptides, SH01078, P03034, P04115, and P04168, with 6-aminohexanoic acid, 9-amino-4,7-dioxanonanoic acid, Gly-Gly, and 4-amino-(1-carboxymethyl)piperidine, respectively, as the linker were synthesized and evaluated. In vitro competition binding assays showed that the Ki values of SH01078, P03034, P04115, and P04168 were 27.8±4.9, 16.0±1.9, 11.4±2.5, and 3.6±0.2 nM, respectively. Imaging and biodistribution studies were performed in mice bearing both B1R-positive HEK293T::hB1R and B1R-negative HEK293T tumors. All tracers showed mainly renal excretion with excellent tumor visualization and minimal background activity except for kidneys and bladder. The average uptake of 68Ga-labeled SH01078, P03034, and P04115 in HEK293T::hB1R tumor was similar (1.96-2.17%ID/g) at 1 h postinjection. 68Ga-P04168 generated higher HEK293T::hB1R tumor uptake (4.15±1.13%ID/g) and lower background activity, leading to a >2-fold improvement in HEK293T::hB1R tumor-to-background (HEK293T tumor, blood, muscle, and liver) contrasts over those of 68Ga-labeled SH01078, P03034, and P04115. Our results indicate that the choice of linker affects binding affinity, pharmacokinetics, and tumor targeting. The use of the cationic 4-amino-(1-carboxymethyl)piperidine linker improved tumor visualization, and the resulting 68Ga-P04168 might be promising for clinical application for imaging B1R-expressing tumors with positron emission tomography.

(18)F-trifluoroborate derivatives of [des-arg(10)]kallidin for imaging bradykinin b1 receptor expression with positron emission tomography.

Bradykinin B1 receptor (B1R) is involved in pain and inflammation pathways and is upregulated in inflamed tissues and cancer. Due to its minimal expression in healthy tissues, B1R is an attractive target for the development of therapeutic agents to treat inflammation, chronic pain, and cancer. The goal of this study is to synthesize and compare two (18)F-labeled peptides derived from potent B1R antagonists B9858 and B9958 for imaging B1R expression with positron emission tomography (PET). Azidoacetyl-B9858 2 and azidoacetyl-B9958 3 were synthesized by a solid-phase approach and subsequently clicked to ammoniomethyl-trifluoroborate (AmBF3)-conjugated alkyne 1 to obtain AmBF3-B9858 and AmBF3-B9958, respectively. AmBF3-B9858 and AmBF3-B9958 bound B1R with high affinity, with Ki values at 0.09 ± 0.08 and 0.46 ± 0.03 nM, respectively, as measured by in vitro competition binding assays. (18)F labeling was performed via an (18)F-(19)F isotope exchange reaction. The radiofluorinated tracers were obtained within a synthesis time of 30 min and with 23-32% non-decay-corrected radiochemical yield, >99% radiochemical purity, and 43-87 GBq/µmol specific activity at the end of the synthesis. PET imaging and biodistribution studies were carried out in mice bearing both B1R-positive (B1R(+)) HEK293T::hB1R and B1R-negative (B1R(-)) HEK293T tumors. Both tracers cleared rapidly from most organs/tissues, mainly through the renal pathway. High uptake in B1R(+) tumors ((18)F-AmBF3-B9858: 3.94 ± 1.24% ID/g, tumor-to-muscle ratio 21.3 ± 4.33; (18)F-AmBF3-B9958: 4.20 ± 0.98% ID/g, tumor-to-muscle ratio 48.6 ± 10.7) was observed at 1 h postinjection. These results indicate that (18)F-AmBF3-B9858 and (18)F-AmBF3-B9958 are promising agents for the in vivo imaging of B1R expression with PET.

(18)F-AmBF3-MJ9: a novel radiofluorinated bombesin derivative for prostate cancer imaging.

A novel radiofluorinated derivative of bombesin, (18)F-AmBF3-MJ9, was synthesized and evaluated for its potential to image prostate cancer by targeting the gastrin releasing peptide receptor (GRPR). AmBF3-MJ9 was prepared from an ammoniomethyl-trifluoroborate (AmBF3) conjugated alkyne 2 and azidoacetyl-MJ9 via a copper-catalyzed click reaction, and had good binding affinity for GRPR (Ki=0.5±0.1nM). The (18)F-labeling was performed via a facile one-step (18)F-(19)F isotope exchange reaction, and (18)F-AmBF3-MJ9 was obtained in 23±5% (n=3) radiochemical yield in 25min with >99% radiochemical purity and 100±32GBq/µmol specific activity. (18)F-AmBF3-MJ9 was stable in mouse plasma, and was partially (22-30%) internalized after binding to GRPR. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and biodistribution studies in mice showed fast renal excretion and good uptake of (18)F-AmBF3-MJ9 by GRPR-expressing pancreas and PC-3 prostate cancer xenografts. Tumor uptake was 1.37±0.25%ID/g at 1h, and 2.20±0.13%ID/g at 2h post-injection (p.i.) with low background uptake and excellent tumor visualization (tumor-to-muscle ratios of 75.4±5.5). These data suggest that (18)F-AmBF3-MJ9 is a promising PET tracer for imaging GRPR-expressing prostate cancers.

Unnatural amino acid substitutions to improve in vivo stability and tumor uptake of 68Ga-labeled GRPR-targeted TacBOMB2 derivatives for cancer imaging with positron emission tomography.

BACKGROUND: Overexpressed in various solid tumors, gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is a promising cancer imaging marker and therapeutic target. Although antagonists are preferable for the development of GRPR-targeted radiopharmaceuticals due to potentially fewer side effects, internalization of agonists may lead to longer tumor retention and better treatment efficacy. In this study, we systematically investigated unnatural amino acid substitutions to improve in vivo stability and tumor uptake of a previously reported GRPR-targeted agonist tracer, [68Ga]Ga-TacBOMB2 (68Ga-DOTA-Pip-D-Phe6-Gln7-Trp8-Ala9-Val10-Gly11-His12-Leu13-Thz14-NH2). RESULTS: Unnatural amino acid substitutions were conducted for Gln7, Trp8, Ala9, Val10, Gly11 and His12, either alone or in combination. Out of 25 unnatural amino acid substitutions, tert-Leu10 (Tle10) and NMe-His12 substitutions were identified to be preferable modifications especially in combination. Compared with the previously reported [68Ga]Ga-TacBOMB2, the Tle10 and NMe-His12 derived [68Ga]Ga-LW01110 showed retained agonist characteristics and improved GRPR binding affinity (Ki = 7.62 vs 1.39 nM), in vivo stability (12.7 vs 89.0% intact tracer in mouse plasma at 15 min post-injection) and tumor uptake (5.95 vs 16.6 %ID/g at 1 h post-injection). CONCLUSIONS: Unnatural amino acid substitution is an effective strategy to improve in vivo stability and tumor uptake of peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals. With excellent tumor uptake and tumor-to-background contrast, [68Ga]Ga-LW01110 is promising for detecting GRPR-expressing cancer lesions with PET. Since agonists can lead to internalization upon binding to receptors and foreseeable long tumor retention, our optimized GRPR-targeted sequence, [Tle10,NMe-His12,Thz14]Bombesin(7-14), is a promising template for use for the design of GRPR-targeted radiotherapeutic agents.