Preclinical Evaluation of 68Ga-DOTA-Minigastrin for the Detection of Cholecystokinin-2/Gastrin Receptor-Positive Tumors

In comparison to somatostatin receptor scintigraphy, gastrin receptor scintigraphy using In-111-DTPA-minigastrin (MG0) showed added value in diagnosing neuroendocrine tumors. We investigated whether the Ga-68-labeled gastrin analogue DOTA-MG0 is suited for positron emission tomography (PET), which could improve image quality. Targeting of cholecystokinin-2 (CCK2)/gastrin receptor-positive tumor cells with DOTA-MG0 labeled with either In-111 or Ga-68 in vitro was investigated using the AR42J rat tumor cell line. Biodistribution was examined in BALB/c nude mice with a subcutaneous AR42J tumor. In vivo PET imaging was performed using a preclinical PET-computed tomographic scanner. DOTA-MG0 showed high receptor affinity in vitro. Biodistribution studies revealed high tumor uptake of Ga-68-DOTA-MG0: 4.4 +/- 1.3 % ID/g at 1 hour postinjection. Coadministration of an excess unlabeled peptide blocked the tumor uptake (0.7 +/- 0.1 % ID/g), indicating CCK2/gastrin receptor-mediated uptake (p = .0005). The biodistribution of Ga-68-DOTA-MG0 was similar to that of In-111-DOTA-MG0. Subcutaneous and intraperitoneal tumors were clearly visualized by small-animal PET imaging with 5 MBq Ga-68-DOTA-MG0. In-111-and Ga-68-labeled DOTA-MG0 specifically accumulate in CCK2/gastrin receptor-positive AR42J tumors with similar biodistribution apart from the kidneys. AR42J tumors were clearly visualized by microPET. Therefore, Ga-68-DOTA-MG0 is a promising tracer for PET imaging of CCK2/gastrin receptor-positive tumors in humans.