Pharmacological characterization of α-MSH-derivatives

The melanocortin-1 receptor is known to be overexpressed in melanoma. Thus, it is a potential target for novel α-MSH peptide derivatives aiming at diagnosis and therapy of melanoma. In this study, NOTA-NCS was conjugated with two peptides: NAP-NS1, a linear peptide with 9 amino acids (Ahx-βAla-Nle-Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-NH₂) and NAP-NS2, a lactam bridge-cyclized peptide with 12 amino acids (ε-Ahx-β-Ala-cyclo(Lys-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Glu)-Arg-Pro-Val-NH₂) each with the sequence His-Phe-Arg-Trp for biological activity. Four α-MSH derivatives were investigated in competition assays in murine B16-F10 and human MeWo melanoma cells. (S)-p-NH₂-Bn-NOTA (NOTA-NAP-NS1) labeled with 64Cu and 68Ga, showing no transchelation in the cysteine and histidine challenge, was applied in saturation assays. Determination of octanol/water partition coefficients suggested that [⁶⁴Cu]Cu-NOTA-NAP-NS1 had high hydrophilicity, and in buffer and serum it was stable after 1 h and 24 h. NAP-NS1 and NOTA-NAP-NS1 showed higher affinity than the cyclic derivatives. Linking the chelate unit at the peptide was accompanied by some loss of affinity. Saturation studies with the labeled peptide resulted in K_d values in the lower nanomolar range for [⁶⁴Cu]Cu-NOTA-NAP-NS1 and [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-NOTA-NAP-NS1, respectively. Thus, both radiolabeled peptides appear to be promising for further investigations in animal melanoma models.

This research was supported by MIUR (PRIN 2008F5A3AF_002).