Studies on the metabolism of the novel antitumor agent [N-methyl-11C]N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]acridine-4-carboxamide in rats and humans prior to phase I clinical trials.

This study reports on the biodistribution and metabolism of the 11C-labeled novel antitumor agent N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]acridine-4-carboxamide (DACA) (also known as NSC 601316) in rats (plasma and tissues) and humans (plasma). Information on plasma metabolites was uniquely obtained in humans prior to Phase I clinical trial following i.v. injection of [11C]DACA at tracer dose. DACA was labeled in the N-methyl position using no-carrier-added [11C]iodomethane. Rapid high-performance liquid chromatography methods were developed for metabolite analysis of [11C]DACA. The metabolism of [11C]DACA was investigated in patients by plasma sampling. The biodistribution and metabolism of [11C]DACA was investigated in rats by plasma sampling, sacrifice experiments with tissue analyses, and imaging using positron emission tomography scanning. Analysis of human plasma demonstrated rapid and extensive metabolism of [11C]DACA. The levels of [11C]DACA changed from 77 +/- 8% (SD) at 5 min to 25 +/- 5% at 45 min postinjection. Seven radioactive metabolites were observed in human plasma, and one was identified as [11C]DACA-N-oxide. Rapid clearance of 11C radioactivity from rat blood, plasma, and major organs was observed. The half-life of 11C radioactivity clearance in rat blood between 15 and 90 min was calculated to be 3.2 h; the levels of [11C]DACA in rat plasma decreased from 69 +/- 3% (SD) at 2 min to 29 +/- 1.5% at 25 min. The number of radioactive metabolites in rat plasma was the same as in human plasma except that the proportions differed. Again, one metabolite was identified as the [11C]DACA-N-oxide. Analysis of rat tissues showed rapid and extensive metabolism in tissues, particularly liver and kidney; however, [11C]DACA (i.e., the parent compound) was the major radioactive component in the lung, heart, and brain over 40 min. Positron emission tomography scanning using [11C]DACA in the rat showed little retention of 11C radioactivity in major organs with rapid excretion via gut and kidney. The rat data were consistent with animal (mouse and rat) preclinical data obtained with preexisting techniques with longer-lived isotopes. Labeling of potential anticancer drugs with positron-emitting radionuclides and performing in vivo preclinical evaluation at tracer doses in animals and humans prior to Phase I clinical trials provides unique information that could speed up the assessment of the drug and could potentially assist drug development programs. In this example, there was no unexpected interspecies difference in metabolism of DACA that would have alerted us to make a change in the planned Phase I study.

Comparative biodistribution and metabolism of carbon-11-labeled N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]acridine-4-carboxamide and DNA-intercalating analogues.

The tricyclic carboxamide N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]acridine-4-carboxamide (DACA) is a DNA-intercalating agent capable of inhibiting both topoisomerases I and II and is currently in Phase II clinical trial. Many related analogues have been developed, but despite their potent in vitro cytotoxicities, they exhibit poor extravascular distribution. As part of an ongoing drug development program to obtain related "minimal intercalators" with lower DNA association constants, we have compared the biodistribution and metabolite profiles of the prototype compound, DACA, with three analogues to aid rational drug selection. All of these compounds share a common structural feature, N-dimethyl side chain, which was radiolabeled with the positron-emitting radioisotope, carbon-11. This strategy was selected because it allows promising candidates emerging from preclinical studies in animals to be evaluated rapidly in humans using positron emission tomography (PET). The acridine DACA, the phenazine SN 23490, the pyridoquinoline SN 23719, and the dibenzodioxin SN 23935 were found to be cytotoxic in in vitro assays with an IC50 of 1.4-1.8 microM, 0.4-0.6 microM, 1.3-1.6 microM, and 24-36 microM, respectively, in HT29, U87MG, and A375M cell lines. Ex vivo biodistribution studies with carbon-11 radiolabeled compounds in mice bearing human tumor xenografts showed rapid clearance of 11C-radioactivity (parent drug and metabolites) from blood and the major organs. Rapid hepatobiliary clearance and renal excretion were also observed. There was low [<5% of injected dose/gram (%ID/g)] and variable uptake of 11C-radioactivity in three tumor types for all of the compounds. Tumor (U87MG) to blood 11C-radioactivity for [11C]DACA, [11C](9-methoxyphenazine-1-carboxamide (SN 23490), [11C]2-(4-pyridyl)quinoline-8-carboxamide (SN 23719), and [11C]dibenzo[1,4]dioxin-1-carboxamide (SN 23935) at 30 min were 2.9 +/- 1.1, 2.3 +/- 0.6, 2.6 +/- 0.6, and 0.7 +/- 0.2, respectively. For SN 23719, the distribution of 11C-radioactivity in normal tissues and tumors determined ex vivo was in broad agreement with that determined in vivo by whole body PET scanning. [11C]DACA was rapidly and extensively metabolized to several plasma metabolites and a major tumor metabolite. In contrast, [11C]SN 23935, [11C]SN 23490, and [11C]SN 23719 showed less extensive metabolism. In the tumor samples, the parent [11C]DACA and [11C]SN 23935 represented between 0.3 and 1.5%ID/g, whereas [11C]SN 23490 and [11C]SN 23719 represented between 1.5 and 2.8%ID/g. In conclusion, by using a strategy with 11C-labeling, we have determined the tissue distribution and metabolic stability of novel tricyclic carboxamides with the view of selecting analogues with potentially better in vivo activity against solid tumors. SN 23490 and SN 23719 had more favorable distribution and metabolic stability compared with DACA and SN 23935 and may warrant further development. The radiolabeling strategy used allows ex vivo and in vivo evaluation of promising anticancer agents in animals and offers the potential of rapid translation to studies in humans using PET.

Pharmacokinetic evaluation of N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]acridine-4-carboxamide in patients by positron emission tomography.

PURPOSE: To evaluate tumor, normal tissue, and plasma pharmacokinetics of N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]acridine-4-carboxamide (DACA). The study aimed to determine the pharmacokinetics of carbon-11-labeled DACA ([11C]DACA) and evaluate the effect of pharmacologic doses of DACA on radiotracer kinetics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: [11C]DACA (at 1/1,000 phase I starting dose) was administered to 24 patients with advanced cancer (pre-phase I) or during a phase I trial of DACA in five patients. Positron emission tomography (PET) was performed to assess pharmacokinetics and tumor blood flow. Plasma samples were analyzed for metabolite profile of [11C]DACA. RESULTS: There was rapid systemic clearance of [11C]DACA over 60 minutes (1.57 and 1.46 L x min(-1) x m(-2) in pre-phase I and phase I studies, respectively) with the production of several radiolabeled plasma metabolites. Tumor, brain, myocardium, vertebra, spleen, liver, lung, and kidneys showed appreciable uptake of 11C radioactivity. The area under the time-versus-radioactivity curves (AUC) showed the highest variability in tumors. Of interest to potential toxicity, maximum radiotracer concentrations (Cmax) in brain and vertebra were low (0.67 and 0.54 m(2) x mL(-1), respectively) compared with other tissues. A moderate but significant correlation was observed for tumor blood flow with AUC (r = 0.76; P =.02) and standardized uptake value (SUV) at 55 minutes (r = 0.79; P =.01). A decrease in myocardial AUC ( P =.03) and splenic and myocardial SUV ( P =.01 and.004, respectively) was seen in phase I studies. Significantly higher AUC, SUV, and Cmax were observed in tumors in phase I studies. CONCLUSION: The distribution of [11C]DACA and its radiolabeled metabolites was observed in a variety of tumors and normal tissues. In the presence of unlabeled DACA, pharmacokinetics were altered in myocardium, spleen, and tumors. These data have implications for predicting activity and toxicity of DACA and support the use of PET early in drug development.

Glucose metabolism in brain tumours can be estimated using [18F]2-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and a population-derived input function scaled using a single arterialised venous blood sample.

The aim of this study was to assess simplified methods for deriving input functions for estimating glucose metabolism using 18F-FDG-PET. Nine glioma patients underwent paired 18F-FDG-PET scans as part of a phase II study and the data used to estimate the metabolic rate of glucose (MRGlu) using a population-derived input function (arterial data from 14 scans) scaled using a single arterial blood sample taken at 20 min. Paired studies were performed in four further glioma patients with stable disease at least four months following radiotherapy to determine whether scaling the population-derived input function using a 20-min arterialised venous or venous sample further simplified the method. The heated hand method was used to obtain arterialised venous blood that approximated arterial blood. In the 9 phase II glioma patients, there was a good, statistically significant correlation between the MRGlu values estimated using the individual arterial input functions and the single arterial sample scaled population-derived input functions (r(2)=0.88, p<0.001, n=36). Blood samples collected during three scans on two of the stable disease patients showed no significant difference between the arterialised venous and arterial plasma concentrations of 18F (p>0.1, n=15) when the degree of arterialisation of the blood was monitored and maintained using a thermocouple. A significant difference was found between the plasma arterial and venous levels of 18F. There was an excellent correlation between MRGlu estimated using an arterial input function and a population-derived input function scaled using a single arterialised venous blood sample (r(2)=0.98, n=12). The method was reproducible with less than 4.4% variation between repeat tumour scans. Therefore, a population-derived input function scaled using a single arterialised venous blood sample at 20 min can be used for estimating MRGlu using 18F-FDG PET in glioma patients.

Measurement of cerebral monoamine oxidase B activity using L-[11C]deprenyl and dynamic positron emission tomography.

A tracer kinetic procedure was developed for the measurement of monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) activity using L-[11C]deprenyl and positron emission tomography (PET). The kinetic model consisted of two tissue compartments with irreversible binding to the second compartment (three rate constants). In addition, a blood volume component was included. Special attention was given to the accurate measurement of the plasma and whole blood input functions. The method was applied to the measurement of the dose-response curve of a reversible MAO-B inhibitor (Ro 19-6327). From the results, it followed that the rate constant for irreversible binding (k3) appeared to be a better index of MAO-B activity than the net influx constant Ki. Furthermore, regional analysis demonstrated that Ki, but not k3, was flow dependent. This implies that full kinetic analysis is required for an accurate assessment of MAO-B activity.

Regional cerebral glucose transport in insulin-dependent diabetic patients studied using [11C]3-O-methyl-D-glucose and positron emission tomography.

Regional cerebral [11C]3-O-methyl-D-glucose ([11C]MeG) uptake kinetics have been measured in five insulin-dependent diabetic patients and four normal controls using positron emission tomography (PET). Concomitant measurement of regional cerebral blood volume and CBF enabled corrections for the presence of intravascular [11C]MeG signal in cerebral regions of interest to be carried out, and regional cerebral [11C]MeG unidirectional extraction fractions to be computed. Four of the five diabetic subjects were studied with their fasting plasma glucose level clamped at a normoglycaemic level (4 mM), and four were studied at hyperglycaemic plasma glucose levels (mean 13 mM). The four diabetic subjects whose fasting plasma glucose levels were clamped at a normoglycaemic level of 4 mM had mean fasting whole-brain, cortical, and white matter [11C]MeG extraction fractions of 15, 15, and 16%, respectively, values similar to those found for the four normal controls (whole brain, 14%; cortex, 13%; white matter, 17%). Mean regional cerebral [11C]MeG extraction fractions were significantly reduced in diabetic subjects during hyperglycaemia whether their plasma insulin levels were undetectable or whether they were raised by continuous intravenous insulin infusion. Such a reduction in [11C]MeG extraction under hyperglycaemic conditions can be explained entirely in terms of increased competition between [11C]MeG and D-glucose for the passive facilitated transport carrier system for hexoses across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). It is concluded that the number and affinity of D-glucose carriers present in the BBB are within normal limits in treated insulin-dependent diabetic subjects. In addition, insulin appears to have no effect on the transport of D-glucose across the BBB.

Measurement of changes in opioid receptor binding in vivo during trigeminal neuralgic pain using [11C] diprenorphine and positron emission tomography.

The binding of [11C]diprenorphine to mu, kappa, and delta subsites in cortical and subcortical structures was measured by positron emission tomography in vivo in six patients before and after surgical relief of trigeminal neuralgia pain. The volume of distribution of [11C]diprenorphine binding was significantly increased after thermocoagulation of the relevant trigeminal division in the following areas: prefrontal, insular, perigenual, mid-cingulate and inferior parietal cortices, basal ganglia, and thalamus bilaterally. In addition to the pain relief associated with the surgical procedure, there also was an improvement in anxiety and depression scores. In the context of other studies, these changes in binding most likely resulted from the change in the pain state. The results suggest an increased occupancy by endogenous opioid peptides during trigeminal pain but cannot exclude coexistent down-regulation of binding sites.

Glucose transport across the blood-brain barrier in normal human subjects and patients with cerebral tumours studied using [11C]3-O-methyl-D-glucose and positron emission tomography.

The kinetics of the regional cerebral uptake of [11C]3-O-methyl-D-glucose ([11C]MeG), a competitive inhibitor of D-glucose transport, have been studied in normal human subjects and patients with cerebral tumours using positron emission tomography (PET). Concomitant measurement of regional cerebral blood volume and blood flow enabled corrections for the contribution of intravascular tracer signal in PET scans to be carried out and regional unidirectional cerebral [11C]MeG extractions to be determined. A three-compartment model containing an arterial plasma and two cerebral compartments was required to produce satisfactory fits to experimental regional cerebral [11C]MeG uptake data. Under fasting, resting conditions, normal controls had mean unidirectional whole-brain, cortical, and white matter [11C]MeG extractions of 14, 13, and 17%, respectively. Mean values of k1 and k2, first-order rate constants describing forward and back transport, respectively, of tracer into the first cerebral compartment, were similar for [11C]MeG and [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18FDG), a second competitive inhibitor of D-glucose transport. k3, a rate constant describing FDG phosphorylation, was 20 times higher for cortical FDG uptake than the k3 fitted for [11C]MeG cortical uptake. Glioma [11C]MeG extractions ranged from normal levels of 12% to raised levels of 30%. Transport of [11C]MeG in and out of contralateral cortical tissue was significantly depressed in patients with gliomas. It is concluded that under fasting, resting conditions, regional cerebral glucose extraction remains relatively uniform throughout normal brain tissue. Gliomas, however, may have raised levels of glucose extraction. The nature of the second cerebral compartment required to describe [11C]MeG uptake is unclear, but it could represent either a useless phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle or nonspecific tracer uptake by a cerebral subcompartment.

Benzodiazepine receptor quantification in vivo in humans using [11C]flumazenil and PET: application of the steady-state principle.

Carbon-11-labeled flumazenil combined with positron emission tomography (PET) was used to measure the concentration (Bmax) of the benzodiazepine (Bz) receptor in the brain and its equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) for flumazenil in five normal subjects. The steady-state approach was used injecting the tracer as a bolus of high specific activity. In each subject two studies were carried out. The first study was performed at essentially zero receptor occupancy, the tracer alone study. The second study was performed at a steady-state receptor occupancy of about 50%, achieved by a prolonged constant infusion of nonlabeled ("cold") flumazenil starting 2h before the bolus tracer injection and continuing until the end of scanning period. In this second study the free concentration of unmetabolized flumazenil in plasma water was measured in multiple blood samples. The observed tissue and plasma tracer curves, calibrated in the same units of radioactivity per millimeter, were analyzed in two ways: (a) by the noncompartmental (stochastic) approach making no assumptions regarding number of compartments in the tissue, and (b) by the single-compartment approach assuming rapid exchange (mixing) of tracer between all tissue compartments. The noncompartmental and the compartmental analyses gave essentially the same values for the distribution volume of the tracer, the parameter used for quantitation of the Bz receptor. As the compartmental approach could be applied to a shorter observation period (60 min instead of 120 min) it was preferred. The five subjects had a mean KD value of 12 nM/L of water and Bmax values of the grey matter ranging from 39 +/- 11 in thalamus to 120 +/- 14 nM/L of brain in occipital cortex. Most previous studies have been based on the pseudoequilibrium approach using the brain stem as a receptor-free reference region. This yields practically the same KD but lower Bmax values than the steady-state approach presented here.

Radiolabelled tracers and anticancer drugs for assessment of therapeutic efficacy using PET.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has the potential to improve efficacy of established and novel cancer therapies and to assist more rapid and rational progression of promising novel therapies into the clinic. This is due to PET's unrivalled sensitivity and ability to monitor the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs and biochemicals radiolabelled with short -lived positron emitting radioisotopes. PET is a multidisciplinary science which employs chemists, biologists, mathematical modellers, pharmacologists as well as clinicians. Clinical research questions in oncology determine the methodological challenges faced by these other disciplines. Within this context we focus on the developments of the radiolabelled compounds that have underpinned the clinical work in oncology for monitoring tumour and normal tissue pharmacokinetics, assessment of tumour response, cell proliferation, gene expression, hypoxia, multidrug resistance and status of receptors on tumours.

In vivo quantification of pulmonary beta-adrenoceptor density in humans with (S)-[11C]CGP-12177 and PET.

The in vivo regional distribution of pulmonary beta-adrenoceptors was imaged and quantified in humans with the hydrophilic beta-adrenoceptor antagonist (S)-CGP-12177 labeled with carbon-11 [(S)-[11C]CGP-12177] and positron emission tomography (PET). Six normal male volunteers and eight patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were studied. PET scanning consisted of transmission (tissue density), C15O (blood volume), and (S)-[11C]CGP-12177 (beta-adrenoceptor) emission scans. High-specific-activity (S)-[11C]-CGP-12177 (7.1 +/- 2.0 micrograms, 6.5 +/- 2.1 GBq/mumol) was given intravenously followed by a low-specific-activity (S)-[11C]CGP-12177 injection (34.0 +/- 4.8 micrograms, 2.3 +/- 0.8 GBq/mumol). Binding capacity (Bmax) was calculated in each region of interest as picomoles per gram by normalizing it to the local extravascular tissue density. In normal subjects, average Bmax for all regions of interest was 14.8 +/- 1.6 (SD) pmol/g, which is similar to previously reported in vitro values. In both groups there were no differences in beta-adrenoceptor density between peripheral and central regions nor between right and left lungs. In patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, extravascular tissue density was 24% higher than in normal subjects; Bmax per milliliter thoracic volume was correspondingly higher but was not different from that in normal subjects when expressed per gram tissue (15.8 +/- 2.6 pmol/g). These data suggest that in vivo beta-adrenoceptor density may be quantifiable in humans with the use of PET. This should offer a means to study physiological regulation through repeat measurements.

In vivo saturation kinetics of two dopamine transporter probes measured using a small animal positron emission tomography scanner.

When estimated in vitro, the parameters which describe the binding of radiolabelled analogues of cocaine to sites on the dopamine transporter are very much influenced by the methodology used. In the present study, a small animal positron emission tomography (PET) scanner was used to estimate in vivo saturation kinetics for two carbon-11 labelled compounds presently used to monitor dopamine terminal function. The binding of [11C]CFT (WIN 35,428) in rat striatum was adequately described by a single-site model, giving an apparent dissociation constant corresponding to an intravenous dose of 242 nmol/kg. In contrast, the binding of [11C]RTI-121 was better described by a two-site model with the 'high-affinity' site or state (dissociation constant = 1 nmol/kg) being significantly occupied at doses routinely used in PET scanning. Such findings cannot readily be predicted from in vitro work, but could aid in both the choice of ligand and the model used in quantification of scan data. While multi-dose in vivo PET studies are difficult in man, rat PET can easily be employed either pre-clinically for putative radioligands, or experimentally, to study drug interactions and receptor occupancy related to functional efficacy.

Regional cerebral opioid receptor studies with [11C]diprenorphine in normal volunteers.

The results are described of the cerebral uptake and heterogeneous retention of [11C]diprenorphine after intravenous injection in 4 normal volunteers. This potent opioid antagonist (Kd = 0.2 nM) was chosen because of its safety, lack of side-effects at trace doses in human pilot studies, rapid cerebral uptake and high percentage (80-90%) specific binding in animal in vivo studies. High uptake of [11C]diprenorphine was demonstrated in regions such as the thalamus, caudate nucleus, temporal, frontal and parietal cortices, which are known from postmortem studies to have high concentrations of opioid receptors. A stable level of activity or a very slow decline in activity was observed between 20 and 50 min after injection in areas such as the caudate nucleus and thalamus. Conversely, rapid washout of activity was observed in the occipital cortex, which is known to have low opioid receptor concentrations. Some 80-90% of maximum binding was naloxone reversible. These results with a ligand that is safe and without side-effects, suggest that this technique is suitable for studies of opioid physiology in man.

Dynamic monitoring of [11C]diprenorphine in rat brain using a prototype positron imaging device.

The present work tests the feasibility of using the most recently developed positron emission tomograph detector technology to image positron-emitting radioligands in small experimental animals. A prototype imaging device, using two opposing multicrystal, high-resolution (approximately 4 mm) block detectors of bismuth germanate to produce a 2-dimensional image in the centre of the field of view, is described. To evaluate the probe's potential as a non-invasive experimental tool, the dynamic regional distribution of the established opiate receptor ligand, [11C]diprenorphine was determined in rat brain following intravenous injection. The distribution of counts in the images was consistent with the localisation of diprenorphine binding sites and the specificity of the signal obtained was confirmed by administration of non-radioactive diprenorphine and naloxone. Although the signal-to-noise ratio was reduced compared with data obtained by post mortem dissection, the dynamic data acquisition capabilities of the system demonstrate the feasibility of monitoring the kinetics of ligand binding in individual animals and encourages further design of a small-diameter detector system with tomographic capabilities.

Quantitation of [11C]diprenorphine cerebral kinetics in man acquired by PET using presaturation, pulse-chase and tracer-only protocols.

The quantitation of regional cerebral in vivo opioid receptor rate constants using [11C]diprenorphine and positron emission tomography (PET) using 3 types of protocol (presaturation, pulse-chase naloxone displacement and tracer-only protocols) together with measurements of regional cerebral blood flow is described in normal volunteers. Arterial blood was sampled continuously for radioactivity and was corrected for metabolites and plasma/blood partition of radioactivity to provide a continuous plasma input function. A compartmental model involving 3 tissue compartments was used to describe the regional cerebral pharmacokinetics of the tracer. The compartments comprised: (1) free plus rapidly exchanging non-specifically bound ligand, (2) specifically bound, naloxone displaceable ligand, and (3) a kinetically distinguishable non-specifically bound pool. Regional estimates of fractional rate constants relating to specific binding were obtained using naloxone in a pulse-chase design of tracer displacement. Less precise estimates of these rate constraints were obtained from single-tracer-only studies, but when binding was expressed as the tissue total volume of distribution relative to plasma there was good correlation with regional values obtained from pulse-chase studies performed in the same individuals. The application of these protocols to the measurement of indices of regional-specific opioid receptor binding in the human brain is discussed.

In vivo distribution of opioid receptors in man in relation to the cortical projections of the medial and lateral pain systems measured with positron emission tomography.

In vivo opioid receptor binding in the cortical projections of the medial (cingulate and prefrontal cortex) and lateral pain system (primary somatosensory cortex) in male volunteers has been quantitated using [11C]diprenorphine and positron emission tomography. High levels of opioid receptor binding were seen in the cortical projections of the medial pain system in the cingulate and prefrontal cortex as has previously been observed in post-mortem studies. However, a focal reduction of opioid receptor binding was observed and quantitated in the primary motor/sensory strip when compared to surrounding parietal cortex. This new finding suggests that the medial pain system is likely to be more susceptible to exogenous and endogenous opioid neuromodulation than the so-called lateral pain system.

Evaluation of [methyl-3H]L655,708 and [ethyl-3H]RY80 as putative PET ligands for central GABA(A) receptors containing alpha5 subunit.

Two selective radioligands of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors containing the alpha5 subunit, [3H]L655,708 and [3H]RY80, were evaluated in rats as potential in vivo tracers for positron emission tomography (PET). Brain uptake index (BUI), a measure of first pass extraction, was moderate for [3H]L655,708 (BUI of 59%) and good for [3H]RY80 (BUI of 96%). This finding was consistent with their in vitro binding to plasma proteins of approximately 76% and 50%, respectively. Following intravenous injection of either radioligand, radioactivity in plasma was measured and uptake characteristics were assessed in brain within a time period relevant to PET scanning (up to 90 min). Discrete brain regions, such as frontal cortex, striatum, hypothalamus, thalamus, hippocampus, colliculi, medulla, and cerebellum, were sampled and the temporal distribution of radioactivity analysed. Despite the reasonable delivery to the brain, neither of the radioligands had sufficient retention in the tissues rich in alpha5-containing GABA(A) receptors to achieve a good selective signal. For both radioligands, a maximal tissue:cerebellum ratio of 1.5 was seen in hippocampus at 10 min after injection. Thus, neither of the compounds studied shows potential for further development as an in vivo PET ligand.

Evaluation of [11C]RTI-121 as a selective radioligand for PET studies of the dopamine transporter.

The cocaine analogue RTI-121 (3 beta-(4-iodophenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid isopropyl ester), when labeled with carbon-11, was evaluated in rats as a potential PET ligand for the dopamine transporter. The compound gave in vivo striatum:cerebellum ratios that were similar to those obtained with the related ligand [11C]RTI-55 (2 beta-(4-iodophenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester) but showed a much greater selectivity for the dopamine compared with the 5-HT uptake site. The results indicate that [11C]RTI-121 could be used in preference to [11C]RTI-55 in man. Experimentally, [11C]RTI-121 has potential in the quantification of dopamine terminal function in rat models of disease, using a combination of autoradiography, postmortem sampling, and in vivo tomography.

Characterization of the radioactive metabolites of the 5-HT1A receptor radioligand, [O-methyl-11C]WAY-100635, in monkey and human plasma by HPLC: comparison of the behaviour of an identified radioactive metabolite with parent radioligand in monkey using PET.

N-(2-(4-(2-Methoxy-phenyl)-1-piperazin-1-yl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridyl) cyclohexanecarboxamide (WAY-100635), labelled in the O-methyl group with carbon-11 (t1/2 = 20.4 min), is a promising radioligand for application with positron emission tomography (PET) to the study of 5-HT1A receptors in living human brain. An understanding of the metabolism of this new radioligand is crucial to the development of a biomathematical model for the interpretation of the kinetics of radioactivity uptake in brain in terms of receptor-binding parameters. After intravenous injection of [O-methyl-11C]WAY-100635 into humans, radioactivity was found to clear rapidly from blood and plasma. By using established methods for the analysis of radioactivity in plasma, it was found that intravenously injected [O-methyl-11C]WAY-100635 is rapidly metabolised to more polar radioactive compounds in a cynomolgus monkey and in humans. Thus, at 60 min postinjection, parent radioligand represented 40% and 5% of the radioactivity in monkey and human plasma, respectively. In monkey and human, one of the radioactive metabolites was identified as the descyclohexanecarbonyl analogue of the parent radioligand, namely [O-methyl-11C]WAY-100634. This compound is known to have high affinity for 5-HT1A receptors and alpha 1-adrenoceptors. In a PET experiment it was demonstrated that, after IV injection of [O-methyl-11C]WAY-100634 into a cynomolgus monkey, radioactivity was avidly taken up by brain. Uptake of radioactivity was higher in 5-HT1A receptor-rich frontal cortex than in cerebellum, which is devoid of 5-HT1A receptors. Polar radioactive metabolites appeared in plasma. The results suggest that the use of WAY-100635 labelled with carbon-11 in its cyclohexanecarbonyl moiety may provide enhanced signal contrast in PET studies and a possibility to develop a simple biomathematical model for regional brain radioactivity uptake.

Characterisation of the appearance of radioactive metabolites in monkey and human plasma from the 5-HT1A receptor radioligand, [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635--explanation of high signal contrast in PET and an aid to biomathematical modelling.

N-(2-(4-(2-Methoxy-phenyl)-1-piperazin-1-yl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridyl)++ +cyclohexanecarboxamide (WAY-100635), labelled in its amido carbonyl group with 11C (t1/2 = 20.4 min), is a promising radioligand for the study of brain 5-HT1A receptors with positron emission tomography (PET). Thus, in PET experiments in six cynomolgus monkeys and seven healthy male volunteers, [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635 was taken up avidly by brain. Radioactivity was retained in regions rich in 5-HT1A receptors, such as occipital cortex, temporal cortex and raphe nuclei, but cleared rapidly from cerebellum, a region almost devoid of 5-HT1A receptors. [Carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635 provides about 3- and 10-fold higher signal contrast (receptor-specific to nonspecific binding) than [O-methyl-11C]WAY-100635 in receptor-rich areas of monkey and human brain, respectively. To elucidate the effect of label position on radioligand behaviour and to aid in the future biomathematical interpretation of the kinetics of regional cerebral radioactivity uptake in terms of receptor-binding parameters, HPLC was used to measure [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635 and its radioactive metabolites in plasma at various times after intravenous injection. Radioactivity cleared rapidly from monkey and human plasma. Parent radioligand represented 19% of the radioactivity in monkey plasma at 47 min and 8% of the radioactivity in human plasma at 40 min. [Carbonyl-11C]desmethyl-WAY-100635 was below detectable limits in monkey plasma and at most a very minor radioactive metabolite in human plasma. [11C]Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid was identified as a significant radioactive metabolite. In human plasma this maximally represented 21% of the radioactivity at 10 min after radioligand injection. All other major radioactive metabolites in monkey and human plasma were even more polar. No-carrier-added [carbonyl-11C]cyclohexanecarboxylic acid was prepared in the laboratory and after intravenous administration into cynomolgus monkey was shown with PET to give only a low uptake of radioactivity into brain tissue. The acid rapidly gave rise to several radioactive metabolites of higher polarity in plasma. The observed lack of any significant metabolism of [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635 to highly lipophilic or pharmacologically potent radioactive compounds is consistent with its high signal contrast in primate brain.