89Zr-ImmunoPET for the Specific Detection of EMP2-Positive Tumors.

Epithelial membrane protein-2 (EMP2) is upregulated in a number of tumors and therefore remains a promising target for monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based therapy. In the current study, image guided therapy for an anti-EMP2 mAb was evaluated by positron emission tomography (PET) in both syngeneic and immunodeficient cancer models expressing different levels of EMP2 in order to enable a better understanding of its tumor uptake and off target accumulation and clearance. The therapeutic efficacy of the anti-EMP2 mAb was initially evaluated in high- and low-expressing tumors, and the mAb reduced tumor load for the high EMP2 expressing 4T1 and HEC-1-A tumors. To create an imaging agent, the anti-EMP2 mAb was conjugated to p-SCN-Bn-deferoxamine (DFO) and radiolabeled with 89Zr. Tumor targeting and tissue biodistribution were evaluated in syngeneic tumor models (4T1, CT26, and Panc02) and human tumor xenograft models (Ramos, HEC-1-A, and U87MG/EMP2). PET imaging revealed radioactive accumulation in EMP2 positive tumors within 24h post-injection, and the signal was retained for 5 days. High specific uptake was observed in tumors with high EMP2 expression (4T1, CT26, HEC-1-A, U87MG/EMP2), with less accumulation in tumors with low EMP2 expression (Panc02, Ramos). Biodistribution at 5 days post-injection revealed that the tumor uptake ranged from 2 to ~16 %ID/cc. The results show that anti-EMP2 mAbs exhibit EMP2-dependent tumor uptake with low off-target accumulation in preclinical cancer models. The development of improved anti-EMP2 antibody fragments may be useful to track EMP2 positive tumors for subsequent therapeutic interventions.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence and PET Imaging for Drug Discovery: A Paradigm Shift in Immunotherapy.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has the potential to become a powerful tool in drug discovery. This review aims to provide an overview of the current state of research and highlight the potential for this alliance to advance pharmaceutical innovation by accelerating the development and deployment of novel therapeutics. We previously performed a scoping review of three databases (Embase, MEDLINE, and CENTRAL), identifying 87 studies published between 2018 and 2022 relevant to medical imaging (e.g., CT, PET, MRI), immunotherapy, artificial intelligence, and radiomics. Herein, we reexamine the previously identified studies, performing a subgroup analysis on articles specifically utilizing AI and PET imaging for drug discovery purposes in immunotherapy-treated oncology patients. Of the 87 original studies identified, 15 met our updated search criteria. In these studies, radiomics features were primarily extracted from PET/CT images in combination (n = 9, 60.0%) rather than PET imaging alone (n = 6, 40.0%), and patient cohorts were mostly recruited retrospectively and from single institutions (n = 10, 66.7%). AI models were used primarily for prognostication (n = 6, 40.0%) or for assisting in tumor phenotyping (n = 4, 26.7%). About half of the studies stress-tested their models using validation sets (n = 4, 26.7%) or both validation sets and test sets (n = 4, 26.7%), while the remaining six studies (40.0%) either performed no validation at all or used less stringent methods such as cross-validation on the training set. Overall, the integration of AI and PET imaging represents a paradigm shift in drug discovery, offering new avenues for more efficient development of therapeutics. By leveraging AI algorithms and PET imaging analysis, researchers could gain deeper insights into disease mechanisms, identify new drug targets, or optimize treatment regimens. However, further research is needed to validate these findings and address challenges such as data standardization and algorithm robustness.

Artificial intelligence in immunotherapy PET/SPECT imaging.

OBJECTIVE: Immunotherapy has dramatically altered the therapeutic landscape for oncology, but more research is needed to identify patients who are likely to achieve durable clinical benefit and those who may develop unacceptable side effects. We investigated the role of artificial intelligence in PET/SPECT-guided approaches for immunotherapy-treated patients. METHODS: We performed a scoping review of MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and Embase databases using key terms related to immunotherapy, PET/SPECT imaging, and AI/radiomics through October 12, 2022. RESULTS: Of the 217 studies identified in our literature search, 24 relevant articles were selected. The median (interquartile range) sample size of included patient cohorts was 63 (157). Primary tumors of interest were lung (n = 14/24, 58.3%), lymphoma (n = 4/24, 16.7%), or melanoma (n = 4/24, 16.7%). A total of 28 treatment regimens were employed, including anti-PD-(L)1 (n = 13/28, 46.4%) and anti-CTLA-4 (n = 4/28, 14.3%) monoclonal antibodies. Predictive models were built from imaging features using univariate radiomics (n = 7/24, 29.2%), radiomics (n = 12/24, 50.0%), or deep learning (n = 5/24, 20.8%) and were most often used to prognosticate (n = 6/24, 25.0%) or describe tumor phenotype (n = 5/24, 20.8%). Eighteen studies (75.0%) performed AI model validation. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results suggest broad potential for the application of AI-guided immunotherapy management after further validation of models on large, prospective, multicenter cohorts. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: This scoping review describes how artificial intelligence models are built to make predictions based on medical imaging and explores their application specifically in the PET and SPECT examination of immunotherapy-treated cancers. KEY POINTS: • Immunotherapy has drastically altered the cancer treatment landscape but is known to precipitate response patterns that are not accurately accounted for by traditional imaging methods. • There is an unmet need for better tools to not only facilitate in-treatment evaluation but also to predict, a priori, which patients are likely to achieve a good response with a certain treatment as well as those who are likely to develop side effects. • Artificial intelligence applied to PET/SPECT imaging of immunotherapy-treated patients is mainly used to make predictions about prognosis or tumor phenotype and is built from baseline, pre-treatment images. Further testing is required before a true transition to clinical application can be realized.

Dual-inhibitory domain iCARs improve the efficiency of the AND-NOT gate CAR T strategy.

CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T cell therapy has shown clinical success in treating hematological malignancies, but its treatment of solid tumors has been limited. One major challenge is on-target, off-tumor toxicity, where CAR T cells also damage normal tissues that express the targeted antigen. To reduce this detrimental side-effect, Boolean-logic gates like AND-NOT gates have utilized an inhibitory CAR (iCAR) to specifically curb CAR T cell activity at selected nonmalignant tissue sites. However, the strategy seems inefficient, requiring high levels of iCAR and its target antigen for inhibition. Using a TROP2-targeting iCAR with a single PD1 inhibitory domain to inhibit a CEACAM5-targeting CAR (CEACAR), we observed that the inefficiency was due to a kinetic delay in iCAR inhibition of cytotoxicity. To improve iCAR efficiency, we modified three features of the iCAR-the avidity, the affinity, and the intracellular signaling domains. Increasing the avidity but not the affinity of the iCAR led to significant reductions in the delay. iCARs containing twelve different inhibitory signaling domains were screened for improved inhibition, and three domains (BTLA, LAIR-1, and SIGLEC-9) each suppressed CAR T function but did not enhance inhibitory kinetics. When inhibitory domains of LAIR-1 or SIGLEC-9 were combined with PD-1 into a single dual-inhibitory domain iCAR (DiCARs) and tested with the CEACAR, inhibition efficiency improved as evidenced by a significant reduction in the inhibitory delay. These data indicate that a delicate balance between CAR and iCAR signaling strength and kinetics must be achieved to regulate AND-NOT gate CAR T cell selectivity.

Development of 18F-Labeled hydrophilic trans-cyclooctene as a bioorthogonal tool for PET probe construction.

We report the development of a hydrophilic 18F-labeled a-TCO derivative [18F]3 (log P = 0.28) through a readily available precursor and a single-step radiofluorination reaction (RCY up to 52%). We demonstrated that [18F]3 can be used to construct not only multiple small molecule/peptide-based PET agents, but protein/diabody-based imaging probes in parallel.

Harnessing imaging tools to guide immunotherapy trials: summary from the National Cancer Institute Cancer Imaging Steering Committee workshop.

As the immuno-oncology field continues the rapid growth witnessed over the past decade, optimising patient outcomes requires an evolution in the current response-assessment guidelines for phase 2 and 3 immunotherapy clinical trials and clinical care. Additionally, investigational tools-including image analysis of standard-of-care scans (such as CT, magnetic resonance, and PET) with analytics, such as radiomics, functional magnetic resonance agents, and novel molecular-imaging PET agents-offer promising advancements for assessment of immunotherapy. To document current challenges and opportunities and identify next steps in immunotherapy diagnostic imaging, the National Cancer Institute Clinical Imaging Steering Committee convened a meeting with diverse representation among imaging experts and oncologists to generate a comprehensive review of the state of the field.

First-In-Human Pilot PET Immunoimaging Study of 64Cu-Anti-Carcinoembryonic Antigen Monoclonal Antibody (hT84.66-M5A) in Patients with Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Producing Cancers.

Background: PET imaging using radiolabeled immunoconstructs shows promise in cancer detection and in assessing tumor response to therapies. The authors report the first-in-human pilot study evaluating M5A, a humanized anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) monoclonal antibody (mAb), radiolabeled with 64Cu in patients with CEA-expressing malignancies. The purpose of this pilot study was to identify the preferred patient population for further evaluation of this agent in an expanded trial. Methods: Patients with CEA-expressing primary or metastatic cancer received 64Cu-DOTA-hT84.66-M5A with imaging performed at 1 and 2 days postinfusion. 64Cu-DOTA-hT84.66-M5A PET scan findings were correlated with CT, MRI, and/or FDG PET scans and with histopathologic findings from planned surgery or biopsy performed postscan. Results: Twenty patients received 64Cu-DOTA-hT84.66-M5A. Twelve patients demonstrated positive images, which were confirmed in 10 patients as tumor by standard-of-care (SOC) imaging, biopsy, or surgical findings. Four of the 8 patients with negative imaging were confirmed as true negative, with the remaining 4 patients having disease demonstrated by SOC imaging or surgery. All 5 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer underwent planned biopsy or surgery after 64Cu-DOTA-hT84.66-M5A imaging (4 patients imaged 6-8 weeks after completing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy) and demonstrated a high concordance between biopsy findings and 64Cu-DOTA-hT84.66-M5A PET scan results. Three patients demonstrated positive uptake at the primary site later confirmed by biopsy and at surgery as residual disease. Two patients with negative scans each demonstrated complete pathologic response. In 5 patients with medullary thyroid cancer, 64Cu-DOTA-hT84.66-M5A identified disease not seen on initial CT scans in 3 patients, later confirmed to be disease by subsequent surgery or MRI. Conclusions: 64Cu-DOTA-hT84.66-M5A demonstrates promise in tumor detection, particularly in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer and medullary thyroid cancer. A successor trial in locally advanced rectal cancer has been initiated to further evaluate this agent's ability to define tumor extent before and assess disease response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. clinical trial.gov (NCT02293954).

Biodistribution of Intra-Arterial and Intravenous Delivery of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in a Rat Model to Guide Delivery Strategies for Diabetes Therapies.

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (UC-MSC-EVs) have become an emerging strategy for treating various autoimmune and metabolic disorders, particularly diabetes. Delivery of UC-MSC-EVs is essential to ensure optimal efficacy of UC-MSC-EVs. To develop safe and superior EVs-based delivery strategies, we explored nuclear techniques including positron emission tomography (PET) to evaluate the delivery of UC-MSC-EVs in vivo. In this study, human UC-MSC-EVs were first successfully tagged with I-124 to permit PET determination. Intravenous (I.V.) and intra-arterial (I.A.) administration routes of [124I]I-UC-MSC-EVs were compared and evaluated by in vivo PET-CT imaging and ex vivo biodistribution in a non-diabetic Lewis (LEW) rat model. For I.A. administration, [124I]I-UC-MSC-EVs were directly infused into the pancreatic parenchyma via the celiac artery. PET imaging revealed that the predominant uptake occurred in the liver for both injection routes, and further imaging characterized clearance patterns of [124I]I-UC-MSC-EVs. For biodistribution, the uptake (%ID/gram) in the spleen was significantly higher for I.V. administration compared to I.A. administration (1.95 ± 0.03 and 0.43 ± 0.07, respectively). Importantly, the pancreas displayed similar uptake levels between the two modalities (0.20 ± 0.06 for I.V. and 0.24 ± 0.03 for I.A.). Therefore, our initial data revealed that both routes had similar delivery efficiency for [124I]I-UC-MSC-EVs except in the spleen and liver, considering that higher spleen uptake could enhance immunomodulatory application of UC-MSC-EVs. These findings could guide the development of safe and efficacious delivery strategies for UC-MSC-EVs in diabetes therapies, in which a minimally invasive I.V. approach would serve as a better delivery strategy. Further confirmation studies are ongoing.

89Zr-ImmunoPET Shows Therapeutic Efficacy of Anti-CD20-IFNα Fusion Protein in a Murine B-cell Lymphoma Model.

Antibody-mediated tumor delivery of cytokines can overcome limitations of systemic administration (toxicity, short half-lives). Previous work showed improved antitumor potency of anti-CD20-IFNα fusion proteins in preclinical mouse models of B-cell lymphoma. Although tumor targeting is mediated by the antibody part of the fusion protein, the cytokine component might strongly influence biodistribution and pharmacokinetics, as a result of its affinity, size, valency, and receptor distribution. Here, we used immunoPET to study the in vivo biodistribution and tumor targeting of the anti-CD20 rituximab-murine IFNα1 fusion protein (Rit-mIFNα) and compared it with the parental mAb (rituximab, Rit). Rit-mIFNα and Rit were radiolabeled with zirconium-89 (89Zr, t1/2 78.4 hours) and injected into C3H mice bearing syngeneic B-cell lymphomas (38C13-hCD20). Dynamic [(2 hours post injection (p.i.)] and static (4, 24, and 72 hours) PET scans were acquired. Ex vivo biodistribution was performed after the final scan. Both 89Zr-Rit-mIFNα and 89Zr-Rit specifically target hCD20-expressing B-cell lymphoma in vivo. 89Zr-Rit-mIFNα showed specific uptake in tumors (7.6 ± 1.0 %ID/g at 75 hours p.i.), which was significantly lower than 89Zr-Rit (38.4 ± 9.9 %ID/g, P < 0.0001). ImmunoPET studies also revealed differences in the biodistribution, 89Zr-Rit-mIFNα showed rapid blood clearance and high accumulation in the liver compared with 89Zr-Rit. Importantly, immunoPET clearly revealed a therapeutic effect of the single 89Zr-Rit-mIFNα dose, resulting in smaller tumors and fewer lymph node metastases compared with mice receiving 89Zr-Rit. Mice receiving 89Zr-Rit-mIFNα had enlarged spleens, suggesting that systemic immune activation contributes to therapeutic efficacy in addition to the direct antitumoral activity of IFNα. In conclusion, immunoPET allows the noninvasive tracking and quantification of the antibody-cytokine fusion protein and helps understand the in vivo behavior and therapeutic efficacy.

CD8-Targeted PET Imaging of Tumor-Infiltrating T Cells in Patients with Cancer: A Phase I First-in-Humans Study of 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C, a Radiolabeled Anti-CD8 Minibody.

There is a need for in vivo diagnostic imaging probes that can noninvasively measure tumor-infiltrating CD8+ leukocytes. Such imaging probes could be used to predict early response to cancer immunotherapy, help select effective single or combination immunotherapies, and facilitate the development of new immunotherapies or immunotherapy combinations. This study was designed to optimize conditions for performing CD8 PET imaging with 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C and determine whether CD8 PET imaging could provide a safe and effective noninvasive method of visualizing the whole-body biodistribution of CD8+ leukocytes. Methods: We conducted a phase 1 first-in-humans PET imaging study using an anti-CD8 radiolabeled minibody, 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C, to detect whole-body and tumor CD8+ leukocyte distribution in patients with metastatic solid tumors. Patients received 111 MBq of 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C followed by serial PET scanning over 5-7 d. A 2-stage design included a dose-escalation phase and a dose-expansion phase. Biodistribution, radiation dosimetry, and semiquantitative evaluation of 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C uptake were performed in all patients. Results: Fifteen subjects with metastatic melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma were enrolled. No drug-related adverse events or abnormal laboratory results were noted except for a transient increase in antidrug antibodies in 1 subject. 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C accumulated in tumors and CD8-rich tissues (e.g., spleen, bone marrow, nodes), with maximum uptake at 24-48 h after injection and low background activity in CD8-poor tissues (e.g., muscle and lung). Radiotracer uptake in tumors was noted in 10 of 15 subjects, including 7 of 8 subjects on immunotherapy, 1 of 2 subjects on targeted therapy, and 2 of 5 treatment-naïve subjects. In 3 patients with advanced melanoma or hepatocellular carcinoma on immunotherapy, posttreatment CD8 PET/CT scans demonstrated increased 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C uptake in tumor lesions, which correlated with response. Conclusion: CD8 PET imaging with 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C is safe and has the potential to visualize the whole-body biodistribution of CD8+ leukocytes in tumors and reference tissues, and may predict early response to immunotherapy.

ImmunoPET: harnessing antibodies for imaging immune cells.

Dramatic, but uneven, progress in the development of immunotherapies for cancer has created a need for better diagnostic technologies including innovative non-invasive imaging approaches. This review discusses challenges and opportunities for molecular imaging in immuno-oncology and focuses on the unique role that antibodies can fill. ImmunoPET has been implemented for detection of immune cell subsets, activation and inhibitory biomarkers, tracking adoptively transferred cellular therapeutics, and many additional applications in preclinical models. Parallel progress in radionuclide availability and infrastructure supporting biopharmaceutical manufacturing has accelerated clinical translation. ImmunoPET is poised to provide key information on prognosis, patient selection, and monitoring immune responses to therapy in cancer and beyond.

Anti-CD25 radioimmunotherapy with BEAM autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation conditioning in Hodgkin lymphoma.

High-risk relapsed or refractory (R/R) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is associated with poor outcomes after conventional salvage therapy and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT). Post-AHCT consolidation with brentuximab vedotin (BV) improves progression-free survival (PFS), but with increasing use of BV early in the treatment course, the utility of consolidation is unclear. CD25 is often expressed on Reed-Sternberg cells and in the tumor microenvironment in HL, and we hypothesized that the addition of 90Y-antiCD25 (aTac) to carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan (BEAM) AHCT would be safe and result in a transplantation platform that is agnostic to prior HL-directed therapy. Twenty-five patients with high-risk R/R HL were enrolled in this phase 1 dose-escalation trial of aTac-BEAM. Following an imaging dose of 111In-antiCD25, 2 patients had altered biodistribution, and a third developed an unrelated catheter-associated bacteremia; therefore, 22 patients ultimately received therapeutic 90Y-aTac-BEAM AHCT. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed, and 0.6 mCi/kg was deemed the recommended phase 2 dose, the dose at which the heart wall would not receive >2500 cGy. Toxicities and time to engraftment were similar to those observed with standard AHCT, though 95% of patients developed stomatitis (all grade 1-2 per Bearman toxicity scale). Seven relapses (32%) were observed, most commonly in patients with ≥3 risk factors. The estimated 5-year PFS and overall survival probabilities among 22 evaluable patients were 68% and 95%, respectively, and non-relapse mortality was 0%. aTac-BEAM AHCT was tolerable in patients with high-risk R/R HL, and we are further evaluating the efficacy of this approach in a phase 2 trial. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01476839.

Positron emission tomography imaging with 89Zr-labeled anti-CD8 cys-diabody reveals CD8+ cell infiltration during oncolytic virus therapy in a glioma murine model.

Determination of treatment response to immunotherapy in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a process which can take months. Detection of CD8+ T cell recruitment to the tumor with a noninvasive imaging modality such as positron emission tomography (PET) may allow for tumor characterization and early evaluation of therapeutic response to immunotherapy. In this study, we utilized 89Zr-labeled anti-CD8 cys-diabody-PET to provide proof-of-concept to detect CD8+ T cell immune response to oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) M002 immunotherapy in a syngeneic GBM model. Immunocompetent mice (n = 16) were implanted intracranially with GSC005 GBM tumors, and treated with intratumoral injection of oHSV M002 or saline control. An additional non-tumor bearing cohort (n = 4) receiving oHSV M002 treatment was also evaluated. Mice were injected with 89Zr-labeled anti-CD8 cys-diabody seven days post oHSV administration and imaged with a preclinical PET scanner. Standardized uptake value (SUV) was quantified. Ex vivo tissue analyses included autoradiography and immunohistochemistry. PET imaging showed significantly higher SUV in tumors which had been treated with M002 compared to those without M002 treatment (p = 0.0207) and the non-tumor bearing M002 treated group (p = 0.0021). Accumulation in target areas, especially the spleen, was significantly reduced by blocking with the non-labeled diabody (p < 0.001). Radioactive probe accumulation in brains was consistent with CD8+ cell trafficking patterns after oHSV treatment. This PET imaging strategy could aid in distinguishing responders from non-responders during immunotherapy of GBM.

Pre-conditioning modifies the TME to enhance solid tumor CAR T cell efficacy and endogenous protective immunity.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has led to impressive clinical responses in patients with hematological malignancies; however, its effectiveness in patients with solid tumors has been limited. While CAR T cells for the treatment of advanced prostate and pancreas cancer, including those targeting prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA), are being clinically evaluated and are anticipated to show bioactivity, their safety and the impact of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) have not been faithfully explored preclinically. Using a novel human PSCA knockin (hPSCA-KI) immunocompetent mouse model, we evaluated the safety and therapeutic efficacy of PSCA-CAR T cells. We demonstrated that cyclophosphamide (Cy) pre-conditioning significantly modified the immunosuppressive TME and was required to uncover the efficacy of PSCA-CAR T cells in metastatic prostate and pancreas cancer models, with no observed toxicities in normal tissues with endogenous expression of PSCA. This combination dampened the immunosuppressive TME, generated pro-inflammatory myeloid and T cell signatures in tumors, and enhanced the recruitment of antigen-presenting cells, as well as endogenous and adoptively transferred T cells, resulting in long-term anti-tumor immunity.

In vivo NIR-II structured-illumination light-sheet microscopy.

Noninvasive optical imaging with deep tissue penetration depth and high spatiotemporal resolution is important to longitudinally studying the biology at the single-cell level in live mammals, but has been challenging due to light scattering. Here, we developed near-infrared II (NIR-II) (1,000 to 1,700 nm) structured-illumination light-sheet microscopy (NIR-II SIM) with ultralong excitation and emission wavelengths up to ∼1,540 and ∼1,700 nm, respectively, suppressing light scattering to afford large volumetric three-dimensional (3D) imaging of tissues with deep-axial penetration depths. Integrating structured illumination into NIR-II light-sheet microscopy further diminished background and improved spatial resolution by approximately twofold. In vivo oblique NIR-II SIM was performed noninvasively for 3D volumetric multiplexed molecular imaging of the CT26 tumor microenvironment in mice, longitudinally mapping out CD4, CD8, and OX40 at the single-cell level in response to immunotherapy by cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG), a Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9) agonist combined with OX40 antibody treatment. NIR-II SIM affords an additional tool for noninvasive volumetric molecular imaging of immune cells in live mammals.

Identifying CD38+ cells in patients with multiple myeloma: first-in-human imaging using copper-64-labeled daratumumab.

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is one of the most widely used imaging techniques to detect multiple myeloma (MM). Intracellular FDG uptake depicts in vivo metabolic activity, which can be seen in both malignant and nonmalignant cells, resulting in limited sensitivity and specificity. Our group showed preclinically that tracing MM dissemination using a CD38-directed human antibody, daratumumab, that is radioconjugated with 64Cu via the chelator DOTA (64Cu-daratumumab), led to improved sensitivity and specificity over that of FDG. Here, we report the results of a phase 1 trial designed to (1) assess the safety and feasibility of 64Cu-daratumumab PET/CT and (2) preliminarily evaluate and characterize the ability of 64Cu-daratumumab to accurately detect or exclude MM lesions. A total of 12 daratumumab-naive patients were imaged. Prior to the injection of 15 mCi/5 mg of 64Cu-daratumumab, patients were treated with 0 (n = 3), 10 (n = 3), 45 (n = 3), or 95 mg (n = 3) of unlabeled daratumumab to assess its effect on image quality. No significant adverse events were observed from either unlabeled daratumumab or 64Cu-daratumumab. Of the dose levels tested, 45 mg unlabeled daratumumab was the most optimal in terms of removing background signal without saturating target sites. 64Cu-daratumumab PET/CT provided safe whole-body imaging of MM. A trial comparing the sensitivity and specificity of 64Cu-daratumumab PET/CT with that of FDG PET/CT is planned. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03311828.

Cross-Link-Functionalized Nanoparticles for Rapid Excretion in Nanotheranostic Applications.

Most NIR-IIb fluorophores are nanoparticle-based probes with long retention (≈1 month or longer) in the body. Here, we applied a novel cross-linked coating to functionalize core/shell lead sulfide/cadmium sulfide quantum dots (PbS/CdS QDs) emitting at ≈1600 nm. The coating was comprised of an amphiphilic polymer followed by three crosslinked amphiphilic polymeric layers (P3 coating), imparting high biocompatibility and >90 % excretion of QDs within 2 weeks of intravenous administration. The P3 -QDs were conjugated to an engineered anti-CD8 diabody (Cys-diabody) for in vivo molecular imaging of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in response to anti-PD-L1 therapy. Two-plex molecular imaging in combination with down-conversion Er nanoparticles (ErNPs) was performed for real-time in vivo monitoring of PD-L1 positive tumor cells and CTLs with cellular resolution by non-invasive NIR-IIb light sheet microscopy. Imaging of angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment and of lymph nodes deep in the body with a signal-to-background ratio of up to ≈170 was also achieved using P3 -QDs.

Evaluation of [131I]I- and [177Lu]Lu-DTPA-A11 Minibody for Radioimmunotherapy in a Preclinical Model of PSCA-Expressing Prostate Cancer.

PURPOSE: Radioimmunotherapy uses tumor-specific antibodies to deliver therapeutic radionuclides, but hematological toxicity due to the long serum half-life of intact antibodies remains a challenge. We evaluated a smaller antibody fragment, the minibody, with faster kinetics and a potentially improved therapeutic index. PROCEDURES: The anti-prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) minibody (A11 Mb) was radiolabeled with iodine-124 ([124I]I-A11 Mb) or conjugated with deferoxamine (DFO) and labeled with zirconium-89 ([89Zr]Zr-DFO-A11 Mb) for surrogate immunoPET to profile pharmacokinetics in a human prostate cancer xenograft model. Subsequently, minibodies labeled with two therapeutic beta emitters, directly iodinated [131I]I-A11 Mb (non-residualizing) and 177Lu chelated using DTPA ([177Lu]Lu-DTPA-A11 Mb) (residualizing), were compared for in vitro antigen-specific cytotoxicity. Full biodistribution studies (in 22Rv1-PSCA tumor bearing and hPSCA knock-in mice) were conducted for dosimetry calculations. Finally, the lead candidate [131I]I-A11 Mb was evaluated in a radioimmunotherapy experiment. Escalating single doses (3.7, 11, or 37 MBq) and saline control were administered to 22Rv1-PSCA tumor bearing mice and anti-tumor effects (tumor volume) and toxicity (body weight) were monitored. RESULTS: Minibodies radiolabeled with therapeutic beta emitters [131I]I-A11 Mb and [177Lu]Lu-DTPA-A11 Mb exhibited comparable tumor cell growth inhibition in vitro. In vivo surrogate immunoPET imaging using [89Zr]Zr-DFO-A11 Mb showed activity retention in liver and kidney up to 72 h, while [124I]I-A11 Mb cleared from liver, kidney, and blood by 48 h. Based on full biodistribution and dosimetry calculations, administering 37 MBq [131I]I-A11 Mb was predicted to deliver a favorable dose to the tumor (35 Gy), with a therapeutic index of 22 (tumor:bone marrow). For [177Lu]Lu-DTPA-A11 Mb, the kidneys would be dose-limiting, and the maximum tolerated activity (7.4 MBq) was not predicted to deliver an effective radiation dose to tumor. Radioimmunotherapy with a single dose of [131I]I-A11 Mb showed dose-dependent tumor inhibition with minimal off-target toxicity and improved median survival (19 and 24 days, P < 0.001) compared with untreated mice (12 days). CONCLUSIONS: These findings show the potential of the anti-PSCA minibody for targeted radioimmunotherapy with minimal toxicity, and the application of immunoPET and dosimetry for personalized treatment.

Persistence of adoptively transferred T cells with a kinetically engineered IL-2 receptor agonist.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a component of most protocols of adoptive cell transfer (ACT) therapy for cancer, but is limited by short exposure and high toxicities. NKTR-214 is a kinetically-engineered IL-2 receptor ßγ (IL-2Rßγ)-biased agonist consisting of IL-2 conjugated to multiple releasable polyethylene glycol chains resulting in sustained signaling through IL-2Rßγ. We report that ACT supported by NKTR-214 increases the proliferation, homing and persistence of anti-tumor T cells compared to ACT with IL-2, resulting in superior antitumor activity in a B16-F10 murine melanoma model. The use of NKTR-214 increases the number of polyfunctional T cells in murine spleens and tumors compared to IL-2, and enhances the polyfunctionality of T and NK cells in the peripheral blood of patients receiving NKTR-214 in a phase 1 trial. In conclusion, NKTR-214 may have the potential to improve the antitumor activity of ACT in humans through increased in vivo expansion and polyfunctionality of the adoptively transferred T cells.