Efficient [(18)F]AlF Radiolabeling of ZHER3:8698 Affibody Molecule for Imaging of HER3 Positive Tumors

Bioconjug Chem. 2016 Aug 17;27(8):1839-49. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.6b00259. Epub 2016 Jul 19.

Abstract

The human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) is overexpressed in several cancers, being linked to a more resistant phenotype and hence leading to poor patient prognosis. Imaging HER3 is challenging owing to the modest receptor number (<50000 receptors/cell) in overexpressing cancer cells. Therefore, to image HER3 in vivo, high target affinity PET probes need to be developed. This work describes two different [(18)F]AlF radiolabeling strategies of the ZHER3:8698 affibody molecule specifically targeting HER3. The one-pot radiolabeling of ZHER3:8698 performed at 100 °C and using 1,4,7-triazanonane-1,4,7-triacetate (NOTA) as chelator resulted in radiolabeled products with variable purity attributed to radioconjugate thermolysis. An alternative approach based on the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) reaction between a novel tetrazine functionalized 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4-diacetate (NODA) chelator and the trans-cyclooctene (TCO) functionalized affibody molecule was also investigated. This method enabled the radiolabeling of the protein at room temperature. The [(18)F]AlF-NOTA-ZHER3:8698 and [(18)F]AlF-NODA-ZHER3:8698 conjugates showed a specific uptake at 1 h after injection in high HER3-expressing MCF-7 tumors of 4.36 ± 0.92% ID/g and 4.96 ± 0.65% ID/g, respectively. The current results are encouraging for further investigation of [(18)F]AlF-NOTA-ZHER3:8698 as a HER3 imaging agent.

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum / chemistry*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / metabolism
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Female
  • Fluorine Radioisotopes*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / chemistry
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring
  • Humans
  • Isotope Labeling
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Stability
  • Receptor, ErbB-3 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Fluorine Radioisotopes
  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring
  • 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N',N''-triacetic acid
  • Aluminum
  • ERBB3 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-3