Synthesis and radiofluorination of [18F]F-BAY-8002: A novel potential radiotracer for PET imaging of monocarboxylate transporter 1

Objectives: The monocarboxylate transporters 1 and 4 (MCT1/4) are integral plasma membrane proteins that bi-directionally transport lactate as well as small monocarboxylated molecules. They are highly expressed in several tumors. BAY-8002 belongs to a class of compounds that have been identified as novel and specific MCT1 inhibitors based on functional high-throughput screening assays using a panel of cell lines highly sensitive towards MCT1 inhibition [1]. IC50 values of 1 to 12 nM and ca. 500–fold selectivity towards MCT4 have already been reported for BAY-8002 [1]. Here we designed an 18F-labeled analog of BAY-8002 ([18F]F-BAY-8002) aiming to image mainly MCT1 upregulation considering the fact that the absence of MCT4 expression in many types of cancer may not be necessarily sufficient as a single marker to predict treatment response [2].
Methods: BAY-8002 and its novel fluorinated analog (F-BAY-8002) were synthesized based on reported procedures [1]. As BAY-8002 already contains a chloro substituent which could serve as leaving group, the compound was considered as precursor for radiofluorination via a halogen-fluorine exchange approach (Figure 1A). [18F]F-BAY-8002 was radiolabeled via a one-step aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction (SNAr) using 2-5 mg of precursor in the presence of the [18F]KF/K222/K2CO3 complex in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 150 °C within 5 min (Figure 1B).

Figure 1. (A) Synthesis of BAY-8002 and its novel fluorinated analog; (B) Radiosynthesis of [18F]F-BAY-8002.
Separation of [18F]F-BAY-8002 from the chlorinated precursor was performed by semi-preparative HPLC. The tracer was finally purified via solid-phase extraction (Sep-Pak® C18 light cartridge) and formulated in 10% EtOH/saline solution to be ready for biological evaluations.
Results: Despite using identical conditions [1], the novel fluorinated analog F-BAY-8002 was obtained in only 4% overall yield due to formation of by-products which have not been observed during the synthesis of BAY-8002 (35% overall yield). Due to the lack of commercially available radioligands, the MCT1 affinity (Ki) of F-BAY-8002 could not yet be determined and we therefore intend to measure the KD value of our new radiotracer by in-house established methods in near future. The novel radiotracer [18F]F-BAY-8002 was synthesized in 30 ± 9% radiochemical yields (n = 4, non-isolated, estimated by radio-HPLC) within 5 min reaction time. After purification and formulation, the final product was obtained with a radiochemical purity of > 99% (n = 1). Further radiochemical characterization of the radiotracer and the transfer of the radiosynthesis to an automated module are in progress.
Conclusions: A novel 18F-labeled radioligand for potential specific MCT1-targeted imaging was developed via a straightforward fast approach in good radiochemical yields and high radiochemical purity. Notably, the labeling was successful even without protection of the carboxylic acid group resulting in a beneficial one-step instead of a two-step radiosynthesis procedure. In vitro and in vivo biological evaluation of the newly synthesized MCT1 radioligand are currently ongoing.
References: [1] Quanz, M. et al. Mol Cancer Ther. 2018 17:2285-2296; [2] Le Floch, R. et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2011 108:16663-8.