METHODS:Cysteine was added to the C terminus of the Affibody molecule for the coupling of maleimide linkers, and 3 radiolabeling strategies were assessed: silicon-fluoride acceptor approach ((18)F-SiFA), (18)F-AlF-NOTA, and 4-(18)F-fluorobenzaldehyde ((18)F-FBA). The biodistributions of the radiolabeled Affibody molecules were then determined in naïve CD-1 nude mice, and tumor targeting was assessed in CD-1 nude mice bearing high-HER2-expressing NCI-N87 tumors and low-HER2-expressing A431 tumors. The (111)In-ABY-025 compound, which has demonstrable clinical utility, served as a reference tracer.
RESULTS:The non-decay-corrected radiochemical yields based on starting (18)F-fluoride using the (18)F-FBA, (18)F-SiFA, and (18)F-AlF-NOTA methods were 13% ± 3% (n = 5), 38% ± 2% (n = 3), and 11% ± 4% (n = 6), respectively. In naïve mice, both the (18)F-AlF-NOTA-Z(HER2:2891) and the (111)In-ABY-025 compounds showed a significant kidney retention (70.3 ± 1.3 and 73.8 ± 3.0 percentage injected dose [%ID], respectively, at 90 min after injection), which was not observed for (18)F-FBA-Z(HER2:2891) or (18)F-SiFA-Z(HER2:2891) (4.8 ± 0.6 and 10.1 ± 0.7 %ID, respectively, at 90 min). The (18)F-SiFA-Z(HER2:2891) conjugate was compromised by increasing bone retention over time (5.3 ± 1.0 %ID/g at 90 min after injection), indicating defluorination. All the radiolabeled Affibody molecules assessed showed significantly higher retention in NCI-N87 tumors than A431 tumors at all time points (P < 0.05), and PET/CT imaging of (18)F-FBA-Z(HER2:2891) in a dual NCI-N87/A431 xenograft model demonstrated high tumor-to-background contrast for NCI-N87 tumors.
CONCLUSION:The HER2 Affibody molecule Z(HER2:2891) has been site-selectively radiolabeled by three (18)F conjugation methods. Preliminary biologic data have identified (18)F-FBA-Z(HER2:2891) (also known as GE226) as a favored candidate for further development and radiochemistry automation.