Molecular markers derived from bombesin for tumor diagnosis by SPECT and PET

Author(s)

Priscilla Brunelli Pujatti

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN/BT)
• Defense date: 2012-06-15

Examining board members

Elaine Bortoleti de Araújo; Valbert Nascimento Cardoso; Euclides Timoteo da Rocha; Carlos Roberto Jorge Soares; Carlota de Oliveira Rangel Yagui

• Advisor: Elaine Bortoleti de Araújo

Abstract

A high number of molecules have already been identified to have high affinity to some receptors overexpressed on tumour cells and the radiolabelling of those molecules offers the possibility of new compounds for tumour diagnosis and therapy by nuclear medicine. Among of those molecules, bombesin (BBN) has become focus of interest, as its BB2 receptors are known to be overexpressed in prostate, breast, colon, pancreatic and lung tumour, as long as glioblastomas and neuroblastomas. BBN agonists and antagonists have already been described for this purpose and promising results were obtained in preclinical studies. However, most of them exhibited high abdominal accumulation, especially in pancreas and intestines, which can compromise diagnosis accuracy and cause serious adverse effects in therapy. In this context, the goal of the present work to radiolabel new BBN derivatives with 111In and 68Ga and to evaluate their potential for BB2 positive tumors diagnosis by single photon emission tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). The structure of studied peptides was Q-YGn-BBN(6-14), where Q is the chelator, n is the number of glycine aminoacids in the spacer YGn and BBN(6-14) is the original bombesin sequence from the aminoacid 6 to 14. The derivative in which the last aminoacid (methionine, Met) was replaced by norleucine (Nle) was also evaluated. The experimental evaluation of the bombesin derivatives was divided into four steps: computational studies, molecular markers for SPECT, molecular markers for PET and toxicological studies. The teorical partition (log P) and distribution (log D) coefficients were calculated for all bombesin derivatives conjugated to DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) and DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid) chelators applying computational programmes. Bombesin derivatives for SPECT were developed by radiolabelling DTPA-conjugated bombesin derivatives with 111In to determine the best spacer for in vivo applications, regarding the stability and in vivo properties. The derivative with the most favorable properties and conjugated to DTPA or DOTA was evaluated in comparative in vitro and in vivo studies in different BB2 expressing tumour cells, in order to determine the best chelator to be used in vivo. Some comparative studies were also performed with the BBN analogue BZH3, which was described by the literature. The molecular marker for PET was developed by radiolabelling the derivative chosen with 68Ga and evaluating the biodistribution profile in healthy and tumour mice. Finally, toxicological studies were performed by injecting an excess of cold bombesin derivatives in rats to determine their safety for clinical querries. All derivatives conjugated to DTPA were radiolabelled with 111In at high radiochemical purity and high specific activity (174 GBq/μmol). The molecular markers presented high stability during radiolabelling and low stability at room temperature and this stability was increased after the addition of stabilizer agents. Stability in human serum analysis suggested time-course degradation by human serum enzymes and the increase on glycine aminoacids in the spacer improved the molecular markers stability, as long as the replacement of terminal Met by Nle. HPLC and log P results confirmed the teorical log P data which showed that the BBN derivatives present low lipophilicity, which decreases with the increase on glycine aminoacids in the spacer and the replacement of terminal Met by Nle. In vivo studies demonstrated that 111In-DTPA-BBN analogues present fast blood clearance, excretion by renal pathway and low abdominal accumulation. Highest tumour uptake was observed with the Nle-terminal derivative (YG5N), which was used for the comparison between the DTPA and DOTA chelators. DOTA-YG5N was also radiolabeled with 111In at high specific activity (100 GBq/μmol), but this was lower than for the DTPA derivatives. Saturation binding assays on prostate (PC-3 e LNCaP) and breast (T-47D) tumour cells showed similar affinity for the radiopeptide conjugated to DTPA and DOTA, higher binding of DOTA-peptide to PC-3 and LNCap cells was observed, but not for T-47D cells. This molecular marker was also more internalized by PC-3 cells. In vivo studies showed higher stability for 111In-DOTA-YG5N in mice serum, and the uptake of DTPA and DOTA peptide was similar by PC-3 and LNCaP tumour, although this last tumour has shown 2-fold less BB2 receptors than PC-3. SPECT/CT imaging of PC-3 and LNCaP was possible with both radiopeptides. When compared to 111In-BZH3, the molecular markers present similar tumour uptake, but with more favorable images, because of their lower abdominal uptake. DOTA-YG5N was radiolabeled with 68Ga with high radiochemical purity and the biodistribution profile was similar to the peptide labeled with 111In, with significative PC-3 tumour uptake. Toxicological studies showed the bombesin derivatives are safe up to concentration administered and did not present hematological, hepatic or renal toxicity. The BBN derivative YG5N conjugated to DTPA or DOTA is a promising and safe tool for BB2 expressing tumour diagnosis by SPECT and PET. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/07417-9 - Bombesin derivatives as molecular markers for tumor diagnosis by SPECT and PET
• Grantee: Priscilla Brunelli Pujatti
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate