Angiogenesis facilitates tumor survival and promotes malignancy. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase (TK) signaling pathway is a key factor mediating angiogenesis, suggesting that this pathway may be a target for diagnosis and therapy. In this study, we aimed to develop small molecule radioiodinated probes applicable for in vivo VEGFR imaging considering the versatility and usefulness of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). We designed and synthesized four radioiodinated anthranilate compounds (6a–d) based on the structure of an anticancer drug targeting VEGFR-TK. The inhibitory potencies of corresponding cold compounds 4a–d and in vitro stability of compounds 6a–d were assessed by cellular proliferation inhibition assays and radio thin-layer chromatography after incubation in neutral solution. In vivo biodistributions were evaluated by determining radioactivity in tissues of interest after intravenous injection of test compounds in tumor-bearing mice. In vitro and in vivo blocking experiments using a selective VEGFR-TK inhibitor and SPECT/computed tomography (CT) imaging were performed in tumor-bearing mice. The radioiodinated compounds 6a–d were obtained with more than 68.0% radiochemical yield and more than 95% radiochemical purity. Because compounds 4a–d showed high inhibitory potencies and compounds 6c and 6d showed high in vitro stability, 6c ([125I]m-NPAM) and 6d ([125I]p-NPAM) were further evaluated. Analysis of the in vivo biodistribution revealed a tumor to blood radioactivity ratio of greater than 4 at 24 h after [125I]p-NPAM administration. Accumulation of radioactivity in cultured tumor cells and tumor xenografts after [125I]p-NPAM administration was significantly blocked by inhibitor pretreatment. Tumors were clearly imaged at 24 h after [125I]p-NPAM injection with SPECT/CT in comparison to that in inhibitor-pretreated tumor-bearing mice. [125I]p-NPAM may have potential applications as a lead compound for future development of a clinically usable VEGFR imaging probe for SPECT.
angiogenesis 促进肿瘤存活并促进恶性肿瘤的发展。血管内皮生长因子 (V
EGF)/V
EGF 受体 (V
EGFR)
酪氨酸激酶 (TK) 信号通路是介导血管生成的关键因素,这表明该通路可能是诊断和治疗的目标。在本研究中,我们旨在开发适用于体内 V
EGFR 成像的小分子放射
碘化探针,考虑到单光子发射计算机断层扫描 (
SPECT) 的多功能性和实用性。我们基于针对 V
EGFR-TK 的抗癌药物结构设计并合成了四种放射
碘化的
氨基
苯甲酸化合物 (6a–d)。通过细胞增殖抑制测定和中性溶液中孵育后的放射薄层色谱评估了相应冷化合物 4a–d 的抑制效力和化合物 6a–d 的体外稳定性。通过在肿瘤小鼠中静脉注射测试化合物后测定感兴趣组织的放射性来评估体内
生物分布。在肿瘤小鼠中使用选择性 V
EGFR-TK
抑制剂进行的体外和体内封闭实验,以及
SPECT/计算机断层扫描 (CT) 成像。放射
碘化化合物 6a–d 的放射
化学产率超过 68.0%,放射
化学纯度超过 95%。由于化合物 4a–d 显示出较强的抑制效力,而化合物 6c 和 6d 显示出较高的体外稳定性,因此对 6c ([125I]m-NP
AM) 和 6d ([125I]p-NP
AM) 进行了进一步评估。体内
生物分布分析显示,[125I]p-NP
AM 给药后肿瘤与血液的放射活性比在 24 小时后超过 4。给予 [125I]p-NP
AM 后,培养的肿瘤细胞和肿瘤异种移植体中放射活性的累积显著被
抑制剂预处理所阻断。与
抑制剂预处理的肿瘤小鼠相比,使用
SPECT/CT 在 [125I]p-NP
AM 注射后 24 小时清晰显示肿瘤。 [125I]p-NP
AM 可能作为未来开发临床可用 V
EGFR 成像探针的先导化合物具有潜在的应用价值。