123I-MIP-1072, a Small-Molecule Inhibitor of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen, Is Effective at Monitoring Tumor Response to Taxane Therapy

Because traditional endpoints in oncology trials are not always applicable for metastatic prostate cancer, better ways of following response to treatment are needed. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a transmembrane protein expressed in normal human prostate epithelium and is upregulated in prostate cancer. (S)-2-(3-((S)-1-carboxy-5-((4-I-123-iodobenzyl) amino) pentyl) ureido) pentanedioic acid, I-123-MIP-1072, targets PSMA and was evaluated for monitoring the growth of PSMA-positive LNCaP cells in vitro and as xenografts after paclitaxel therapy. Methods: LNCaP and 22Rv1 cells were treated with paclitaxel (0100 nM) for 48 h, after which binding of I-123-MIP-1072 was examined. Cell number was determined by MTS assay, and PSMA expression was analyzed by Western blotting. LNCaP xenograft-bearing mice were treated with paclitaxel (6.25 mg/kg) for 3.5 cycles of 5 d on and 2 d off. Tissue distribution of I-123-MIP-1072 was determined on days 2 and 23 from the start of paclitaxel treatment. Results: Paclitaxel (10-100 nM) inhibited LNCaP and 22Rv1 cell growth after 48 h, and binding of I-123-MIP-1072 was proportional to cell number. Western blot analysis verified there was no paclitaxel-dependent change in PSMA expression. Treatment of LNCaP xenografts with paclitaxel resulted in a decrease in tumor volume (-21%), compared with an increase in the untreated xenografts (+205%) by day 23. Tumor uptake of I-123-MIP-1072 was proportional to changes in tumor mass: decreased by paclitaxel treatment and increased in untreated mice. Conclusion: Treatment of LNCaP cells or xenograft tumors with paclitaxel resulted in growth inhibition, which was detected with I-123-MIP1072. The high specificity of I-123-MIP-1072 for prostate cancer may allow monitoring of tumor progression in patients before, during, and after chemotherapy.