IntroductionProstate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), highly expressed in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), is an established therapeutic target. Theranostic PSMA-targeting agents are widely used in patient management and has shown improved outcomes for mCRPC patients. Earlier, we optimized a urea-based probe for radionuclide visualization of PSMA-expression in vivo using computer modeling. With the purpose to develop a targeting agent equally suitable for radionuclide imaging and therapy, the agent containing DOTA chelator was designed (BQ7876). The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that 177Lu-labeled BQ7876 possesses target binding and biodistribution properties potentially enabling its use for radiotherapy.
MethodsBQ7876 was synthesized and labeled with Lu-177. Specificity and affinity of [177Lu]Lu-BQ7876 to PSMA-expressing PC3-pip cells was evaluated and its processing after binding to cells was studied. Animal studies in mice were performed to assess its biodistribution in vivo, target specificity and dosimetry. [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 was simultaneously evaluated for comparison.
ResultsBQ7876 was labeled with Lu-177 with radiochemical yield >99%. Its binding to PSMA was specific in vitro and in vivo when tested in antigen saturation conditions as well as in PSMA-negative PC-3 tumors. The binding of [177Lu]Lu-BQ7876 to living cells was characterized by rapid association, while the dissociation included a rapid and a slow phase with affinities KD1 = 3.8 nM and KD2 = 25 nM. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration for natLu-BQ7876 was 59 nM that is equal to 61 nM for natLu-PSMA-617. Cellular processing of [177Lu]Lu-BQ7876 was accompanied by slow internalization. [177Lu]Lu-BQ7876 was cleared from blood and normal tissues rapidly. Initial elevated uptake in kidneys decreased rapidly, and by 3 h post injection, the renal uptake (13 ± 3%ID/g) did not differ significantly from tumor uptake (9 ± 3%ID/g). Tumor uptake was stable between 1 and 3 h followed by a slow decline. The highest absorbed dose was in kidneys, followed by organs and tissues in abdomen.
DiscussionBiodistribution studies in mice demonstrated that targeting properties of [177Lu]Lu-BQ7876 are not inferior to properties of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617, but do not offer any decisive advantages.
导言前列腺特异性膜抗原(PSMA)在转移性去势抵抗性前列腺癌(mCRPC)中高度表达,是一种公认的治疗靶点。靶向 PSMA 的放射治疗药物已广泛应用于患者管理,并显示出对 mCRPC 患者的治疗效果有所改善。早些时候,我们利用计算机建模优化了一种基于
尿素的探针,用于体内PSMA表达的放射性核素显像。为了开发一种同样适用于放射性核素成像和治疗的靶向制剂,我们设计了含有 DOTA
螯合剂的制剂(BQ7876)。本研究的目的是检验 177Lu 标记的 BQ7876 是否具有靶向结合和
生物分布特性,从而有可能将其用于放射治疗。方法合成并用Lu-177标记BQ7876。评估了[177Lu]Lu-BQ7876对表达PSMA的PC3-pip细胞的特异性和亲和性,并研究了它与细胞结合后的处理过程。对小鼠进行了动物实验,以评估其体内
生物分布、靶向特异性和剂量。[结果BQ7876用Lu-177标记,放射
化学收率为>99%。在体外和体内抗原饱和状态下以及在PSMA阴性的PC-3肿瘤中测试时,它与PSMA的结合是特异性的。[177Lu]Lu-BQ7876与活细胞结合的特点是快速结合,而解离则包括快速和缓慢两个阶段,亲和力KD1 = 3.8 nM和KD2 = 25 nM。natLu-BQ7876 的半最大抑制浓度为 59 nM,相当于 natLu-PSMA-617 的 61 nM。[177Lu]Lu-BQ7876的细胞处理过程伴随着缓慢的内化。[177Lu]Lu-BQ7876能迅速从血液和正常组织中清除。肾脏最初升高的摄取量迅速下降,注射后3小时,肾脏摄取量(13 ± 3%ID/g)与肿瘤摄取量(9 ± 3%ID/g)没有显著差异。肿瘤摄取量在 1 至 3 小时内保持稳定,随后缓慢下降。在小鼠体内进行的
生物分布研究表明,[177Lu]Lu-BQ7876的靶向特性并不逊色于[177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617,但并不具有决定性的优势。