64Cu-NO2A-RGD-Glu-6-Ahx-BBN(7-14)NH2: a heterodimeric targeting vector for positron emission tomography imaging of prostate cancer

Introduction: The present study describes the design and development of a new heterodimeric RGD-bombesin (BBN) agonist peptide ligand for dual receptor targeting of the form Cu-64-NO2A-RGD-Glu-6-Ahx-BBN(7-14)NH2 in which Cu-64=a positron emitting radiometal; NO2A=1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4-diacetic acid; Glu=glutamic acid; 6-Ahx=6-aminohexanoic acid; RGD=the amino acid sequence [Arg-Gly-Asp], a nonregulatory peptide that has been used extensively to target alpha(v)beta(3) receptors up-regulated on tumor cells and neovasculature; and BBN(7-14)NH2=Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Leu-Met-NH2, an agonist analogue of bombesin peptide for specific targeting of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPr). Methods: RGD-Glu-6-Ahx-BBN(7-14)NH2 was manually coupled with NOTA (1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid), and the resulting conjugate was labeled with Cu-64 to yield Cu-64-NO2A-RGD-Glu-6-Ahx-BBN(7-14)NH2. Purification was achieved via reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and characterization confirmed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Results: Competitive displacement binding assays displayed single-digit nanomolar IC50 values showing very high binding affinities toward the GRPr for the new heterodimeric peptide analogues. In vivo biodistribution studies showed high uptake and retention of tumor-associated radioactivity in PC-3 tumor-bearing rodent models with little accumulation and retention in nontarget tissues. The radiolabeled conjugate also exhibited rapid urinary excretion and high tumor-to-background ratios. Micro-positron emission tomography (microPET) molecular imaging investigations produced high-quality, high-contrast images in PC-3 tumor-bearing mice 15 h postinjection. Conclusions: Based on microPET imaging experiments that show high-quality, high-contrast images with virtually no residual gastrointestinal radioactivity, this new heterodimeric RGD-BBN conjugate can be considered as a promising PET tracer candidate for the diagnosis of GRPr-positive tumors in human patients. Published by Elsevier Inc.