An attractive method for radiolabeling antibodies with Tc-99m


An attractive method for radiolabeling antibodies with Tc-99m

Wunderlich, G.; Naumann, A.; Schubert, M.; Pietzsch, H.-J.

Objectives: Radiolabeled Cetuximab (C225, Ab) is an attractive tool for tumor targeting and delivering of particles for therapy or imaging applications of EGFR positive tumors. The labeling of Ab with radionuclides requires suitable chelating agents for a stable binding of the radionuclides. Well known is the Ab labeling with In-111 (imaging) and Y-90 (therapy). The aim of the present study was to develop a sufficient radiolabeling technique of this Ab with Tc-99m for SPECT imaging. A second label with a fluorescent dye (Alexa 488) enables to track the uptake of the compound with fluorescent microscopy.
Methods: NOTA (2,2',2''-(1,4,7-triazonane-1,4,7-triyl)triacetic-acid) was linked to C225 and labeled with the [Tc-99m]Tc(H2O)3(CO)3 complex that was made by a standard tricarbonylkit preparation [1]. For preparation of [Tc-99m]Tc(CO)3-NOTA-C225-Alexa(488) (figure 1) and [Tc-99m]Tc(CO)3-NOTA-C225 1 nM of the modified antibody was incubated with up to 1 GBq [Tc-99m]Tc(H2O)3(CO)3 complex and was shaken for 2 h at 40°C. The product was isolated by gelfiltration and tested for yield and stability with ITLC (Silica gel impregnated glass fiber sheets, Varian) in 5% acetic acid. The cell membrane binding and cell uptake of the compound was detected with Cetuximab receptor positive A431 cells and Cetuximab negative MDA cells. For comparison the pure NOTA ligand and unmodified Cetuximab were labeled with [Tc-99m]Tc(H2O)3(CO)3.
Results: NOTA-C225-Alexa(488), NOTA-C225 and NOTA ligand were successfully labeled with [Tc-99m]Tc(H2O)3(CO)3. Sufficient radiolabeling of Cetuximab was achieved and determined by ITLC. Yields: [Tc-99m]Tc-NOTA-C225-Alexa(488) 25-30% and [Tc-99m]Tc-NOTA-C225 50-60%. After purification the labeled compound is stable in cell culture medium and phosphate buffered saline to 24 h with a release of about 20%. Maximum membrane uptake at A431cells is determined after 1 h followed by a partly internalization into the cells. The affinity constant was found Kd = 3.71 nM and Bmax = 35 nM. Already after 1 h the localisation of NOTAC225-Alexa(488) is visualized with fluorescence microscope at cell membrane.
Conclusions: NOTA-Cetuximab can be radiolabeled with Tc-99m which is an interesting approach for SPECT studies in Nuclear Medicine besides the Ab labeling with Ga-68 or Cu-64.
Acknowledgements
References [1] Alberto, R. et al. (1998) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 120, 7987-7988.

  • Poster
    21st Internatioonal Symposium on Radiopharmaceutical Sciences (ISRS), 26.-31.05.2015, Columbia/Missouri, USA
  • Open Access Logo Abstract in refereed journal
    Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals 58(2015), S105
    DOI: 10.1002/jlcr.3302_2

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