Synthesis, 18F-labeling, and in vitro and in vivo studies of bombesin peptides modified with silicon-based building blocks

Bioconjug Chem. 2008 Sep;19(9):1871-9. doi: 10.1021/bc800157h. Epub 2008 Aug 28.

Abstract

The gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPr) is overexpressed on various human tumors. The goal of our study was the synthesis of new 18F-labeled bombesin analogues for the PET imaging of GRPr expression in prostate tumor using a silicon-based one-step n. c. a. radiolabeling method. The silicon-containing building blocks were efficiently coupled to the N-terminus of the peptides via solid-phase synthesis. Radiolabeling of the obtained peptide precursors proceeded smoothly under acidic conditions (34-85% conversion). Using the di-tert-butyl silyl building block as labeling moiety, products containing a hydrolytically stable 18F-label were obtained. In in vitro receptor binding experiments 2-(4-(di-tert-butylfluorosilyl)phenyl)acetyl-Arg-Ava-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-NMeGly-His-Sta-Leu-NH 2 ( 4b, IC50 = 22.9 nM) displayed a 12-fold higher binding affinity than 2-(4-(di-tert-butylfluorosilyl)phenyl)acetyl-Arg-Ava-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His(3Me)-Sta-Leu-NH2 ( 3b, IC50 = 276.6 nM), and 4b was therefore chosen for further evaluation. In vitro and ex vivo metabolite studies of [18F]4b showed no significant degradation. In biodistribution experiments, tumor uptake of [18F]4b was low and unspecific, whereas the GRPr-rich pancreas revealed a high and specific accumulation of the radiotracer. This study demonstrates the applicability of our silicon-based one-step n. c. a. radiolabeling method for the synthesis of new 18F-labeled bombesin derivatives. This innovative approach represents a general, straightforward access to radiolabeled peptides as PET imaging probes.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Bombesin / analogs & derivatives
  • Bombesin / chemical synthesis*
  • Fluorine Radioisotopes / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Isotope Labeling
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Receptors, Bombesin / metabolism*
  • Silicon / chemistry*
  • Silicon / metabolism
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Fluorine Radioisotopes
  • Neurotransmitter Agents
  • Receptors, Bombesin
  • Bombesin
  • Silicon