Synthesis of an Estrogen Receptor β-Selective Radioligand: 5-[<sup>18</sup>F]Fluoro-(2<i>R*</i>,3<i>S*</i>)-2,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pentanenitrile and Comparison of in Vivo Distribution with 16α-[<sup>18</sup>F]Fluoro-17β-estradiol
作者:Jeongsoo Yoo、Carmen S. Dence、Terry L. Sharp、John A. Katzenellenbogen、Michael J. Welch
DOI:10.1021/jm050121f
日期:2005.10.1
Estrogen receptor beta (E beta), a less active ER subtype that appears to have a restraining effect on the more active ER alpha, could be a factor that determines the level of estrogen action in certain estrogen target tissues. E beta is found in breast cancer, and its levels relative to ER alpha decline with disease progression. Thus, the independent quantification of ER alpha and ER beta levels in breast cancer by imaging might be predictive of responses to different hormone therapies. To develop an imaging agent for ER beta, we synthesized a fluoroethyl. analogue of DPN (2,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanonitrile), a known ER beta-selective ligand. This analogue, FEDPN (5-fluoro(2R*,3S*)-2,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pentanenitrile), has an 8.3-fold absolute affinity preference for ER beta. [F-18]Fluoride-labeled FEDPN was prepared from a toluenesulfonate precursor, which provided [F-18]FEDPN with a specific activity greater than 3100 Ci/mmol after HPLC purification. Biodistribution studies in immature female rats using estradiol as a blocking agent revealed specific uptake of [F-18]FEDPN in the uterus and ovaries. Experiments using ER alpha- and ER beta-knockout mice demonstrated the expected ER alpha-subtype dependence in the tissue uptake of the known 16 alpha-[F-18]fluoro-17 beta-estradiol [F-18]FES), which has a 6.3-fold preference for ER alpha. The tissue uptake of [F-18]FEDPN in the ER knockout mice showed some evidence of mediation by ERP, but the levels of specific uptake of this agent were relatively modest. Based on our results, imaging of ER alpha can be done effectively with [18F]FES, but imaging of ER beta will likely require agents with more optimized ER beta binding affinity and selectivity than [F-18]FEDNP.