Kevin L. Alston

Astatine-211 labeling of internalizing anti-EGFRvIII monoclonal antibody using N-succinimidyl 5-[211At]astato-3-pyridinecarboxylate

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) such as the anti-epidermal growth factor variant III (EGFRvIII) MAb L8A4 are rapidly internalized, which can lead to rapid loss of radioactivity from the tumor cell. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential utility of N-succinimidyl 5-[211At]astato-3-pyridinecarboxylate ([211At]SAPC) for labeling murine L8A4 with 211At. SAPC was synthesized by astatodestannylation of N-succinimidyl 5-tri-n-butylstannyl 3-pyridinecarboxylate and then coupled to L8A4 in approximately 50% yield. The affinity and immunoreactive fraction for 211At-labeled L8A4 were comparable to those obtained when the MAb was labeled with 131I via N-succinimidyl 5-[131I]iodo-3-pyridinecarboxylate (SIPC). Paired-label comparisons of the 211At- and 131I-labeled MAbs demonstrated similar internalization and catabolism by EGFRvIII-positive cells in vitro, and with the exception of the stomach, similar tissue distribution in athymic mice with EGFRvIII-expressing U87MGdeltaEGFR xenografts. These results suggest that SAPC may be a useful reagent for labeling L8A4, and possibly other internalizing proteins, with 211At.

Enhanced binding and inertness to dehalogenation of alpha-melanotropic peptides labeled using N-succinimidyl 3-iodobenzoate.

Two peptides of potential utility for targeting melanoma cells, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and its more potent analogue [Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH, were radioiodinated in 45-65% yield using N-succinimidyl 3-[125I]iodobenzoate (SIB). To determine whether this labeling method resulted in improved in vitro and in vivo characteristics, these peptides also were labeled with 131I by direct iodination with the iodogen method. For alpha-MSH, the rapid tissue clearance of both radionuclides in mice was consistent with rapid degradation of the peptide; however, significantly lower levels of 125I were observed in thyroid and stomach, reflecting a greater inertness to deiodination. More extensive comparisons were performed with [Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH. The in vitro binding of [Nle4,D-Phe7,Lys11-(125I)IBA]-alpha-MSH (prepared using SIB) to the murine B-16 melanoma cell line, 34.1 +/- 4.7%, was more than twice as high as that for [Tyr2(131I),Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH (15.0 +/- 0.1%), and its KD was more than 10-fold lower than that for conventionally labeled peptide (10 +/- 5 versus 140 +/- 14 pM). The normal tissue clearance of [Nle4,D-Phe7,Lys11-(125I)IBA]-alpha-MSH in mice was faster than that of [Tyr2(131I),-Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH. The 19-40-fold lower activity concentrations of [Nle4,D-Phe7,Lys11-(125I)IBA]-alpha-MSH in tissues accumulating free iodide (thyroid and stomach) suggest a greater inertness of this peptide to deiodination. The primary urinary catabolite of [Nle4,D-Phe7, Lys11-(125I)IBA]-alpha-MSH was the lysine conjugate of iodobenzoic acid, whereas radioiodide was the chief catabolite generated from [Tyr2(131I),Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH. We conclude that further evaluation of [Nle4,D-Phe7,Lys11-(125I)IBA]-alpha-MSH for targeting alpha-MSH receptors is warranted and that SIB may be a useful method for the radioiodination of peptides.

Astatine-211-Labeled Biotin Conjugates Resistant to Biotinidase for Use in Pretargeted Radioimmunotherapy

We report herein the preparation and biological evaluation of two radioastatinated biotin conjugates, (3-[211At]astatobenzoyl)norbiotinamide and ((5-[211At]astato-3-pyridinyl)carbonyl)norbiotinamide. Both conjugates were stable in the presence of human serum and cerebrospinal fluid as well as murine serum, indicating a resistance to degradation to biotinidase. The normal tissue clearance of (3-[211At]astatobenzoyl)norbiotinamide and ((5-[211At]astato-3-pyridinyl)carbonyl)norbiotinamide was rapid, as observed previously with their iodo analogues. Also reported are the first syntheses of N-succinimidyl 5-[211At]astato-3-pyridinecarboxylate and 3-[211At]astatoaniline, two reagents of potential utility for labeling proteins and peptides with 211At.

Catabolism of 4-fluoro-3-iodobenzylguanidine and meta-iodobenzylguanidine by SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells.

BackgroundA fluorine substituted derivative of meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG), 4-fluoro-3-iodobenzylguanidine (FIBG), is retained in SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells in vitro to a higher degree than the MIBG. MethodTo investigate whether the higher retention of FIBG is due to differences in the catabolic degradation of the two tracers, in vitro paired-label studies were performed using SK-N-SH cells. ResultsNo detectable amount of benzyl amines, benzoic acids or hippuran derivatives, potential catabolites of these tracers, were seen in either case. Even after 48 h, the cell culture supernatants contained exclusively intact 125I-MIBG and 125I-FIBG. In contrast, in some cases, HPLC analysis of cell lysates indicated the presence of a very polar compound(s) as the predominant species with smaller quantities of intact tracers. The per cent total radioactivity in the lysate at each time point that was associated with intact 125I-FIBG was (average [range]) 25.4% [20.3–30.5], 22.5% [19.3–25.6], and 18.8% [14.3–23.3], at 0 h, 24 h and 48 h, respectively. The corresponding values for 125I-MIBG were 24.3% [21.0–27.5], 19.1% [11.7–26.5] and 17.4% [14.6–20.1]. No significant amount of activity was associated with high molecular weight species for either halobenzylguanidine, indicating that protein binding was not a major factor.