Molecular Design of 68Ga- and 89Zr-Labeled Anticalin Radioligands for PET-Imaging of PSMA-Positive Tumors

by Selleckchem | May 05 2023

Anticalin proteins directed against the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), optionally having tailored plasma half-life using PASylation technology, show promise as radioligands for PET-imaging of xenograft tumors in mice. To investigate their suitability, the short-circulating unmodified Anticalin was labeled with 68Ga (τ1/2 = 68 min), using the NODAGA chelator, whereas the half-life extended PASylated Anticalin was labeled with 89Zr (τ1/2 = 78 h), using either the linear chelator deferoxamine (Dfo) or a cyclic derivative, fusarinine C (FsC). Different PSMA targeting Anticalin versions (optionally carrying the PASylation sequence) were produced carrying a single exposed N- or C-terminal Cys residue and site-specifically conjugated with the different radiochelators via maleimide chemistry. These protein conjugates were labeled with radioisotopes having distinct physical half-lives and, subsequently, applied for PET-imaging of subcutaneous LNCaP xenograft tumors in CB17 SCID mice. Uptake of the protein tracers into tumor versus healthy tissues was assessed by segmentation of PET data as well as biodistribution analyses. PET-imaging with both the 68Ga-labeled plain Anticalin and the 89Zr-labeled PASylated Anticalin allowed clear delineation of the xenograft tumor. The radioligand A3A5.1-PAS(200)-FsC·89Zr, having an extended plasma half-life, led to a higher tumor uptake 24 h p.i. compared to the 68Ga·NODAGA-Anticalin imaged 60 min p.i. (2.5% ID/g vs 1.2% ID/g). Pronounced demetallation was observed for the 89Zr·Dfo-labeled PASylated Anticalin, which was ∼50% lower in the case of the cyclic radiochelator FsC (p < 0.0001). Adjusting the plasma half-life of Anticalin radioligands using PASylation technology is a viable approach to increase radioisotope accumulation within the tumor. Furthermore, 89Zr-ImmunoPET-imaging using the FsC radiochelator is superior to that using Dfo. Our strategy for the half-life adjustment of a tumor-targeting Anticalin to match the physical half-life of the applied radioisotope illustrates the potential of small binding proteins as an alternative to antibodies for PET-imaging.

Comments：

The passage describes the use of Anticalin proteins, which are small binding proteins, as radioligands for PET-imaging of xenograft tumors in mice. The Anticalin proteins are directed against the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), and they can be modified using PASylation technology to tailor their plasma half-life. The Anticalin proteins were labeled with different radioisotopes, including 68Ga and 89Zr, and conjugated with different chelators, including NODAGA, deferoxamine (Dfo), and fusarinine C (FsC). The radioligands were applied for PET-imaging of subcutaneous LNCaP xenograft tumors in CB17 SCID mice.

The results showed that PET-imaging with both the 68Ga-labeled plain Anticalin and the 89Zr-labeled PASylated Anticalin allowed clear delineation of the xenograft tumor. The radioligand A3A5.1-PAS(200)-FsC·89Zr, which had an extended plasma half-life, led to a higher tumor uptake compared to the 68Ga·NODAGA-Anticalin imaged 60 min p.i. Pronounced demetallation was observed for the 89Zr·Dfo-labeled PASylated Anticalin, which was lower in the case of the cyclic radiochelator FsC.

Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of Anticalin proteins as an alternative to antibodies for PET-imaging. The use of PASylation technology to tailor the plasma half-life of Anticalin proteins is a viable approach to increase radioisotope accumulation within the tumor. Furthermore, the use of the cyclic radiochelator FsC is superior to that of Dfo for 89Zr-ImmunoPET-imaging.