Paresh J. Kothari

Ga-66 labeled somatostatin analogue DOTA-DPhe1-Tyr3-octreotide as a potential agent for positron emission tomography imaging and receptor mediated internal radiotherapy of somatostatin receptor positive tumors.

Radionuclide labeled somatostatin analogues selectively target somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-expressing tumors as a basis for diagnosis and treatment of these tumors. Recently, a DOTA-functionalized somatostatin analogue, DOTATOC (DOTA-DPhe1-Tyr3-octreotide) has been developed. This compound has been shown to be superior to the other somatostatin analogues as indicated by its uniquely high tumor-to-non-target tissue ratio. DOTATOC can be labeled with a variety of radiometals including gallium radioisotopes. Gallium-66 is a positron emitting radionuclide (T(1/2) =9.5 hr; beta+=56%), that can be produced in carrier free form by a low-beam energy cyclotron. In this study we investigated SSTR targeting characteristics of 66Ga-DOTATOC in AR42J rat pancreas tumor implanted nude mice as a potential agent for diagnosis and receptor-mediated internal radiotherapy of SSTR-expressing tumors. We compared our results with 67Ga- and 68Ga- labeled DOTATOC. The radiolabeling procedure gave labeling yield ranged from 85-95% and radiochemical and chemical purity was > 95%. In-vitro competitive binding curves and in-vivo competitive displacement studies with an excess of unlabeled peptide indicates that there is specific binding of the radioligand to SSTR. Animal biodistribution data and serial microPET images demonstrated rapid tumor uptake and rapid clearance from the blood and all tissues except kidney. Maximum % ID/g values for tumor were 10.0 +/- 0.7, 13.2 +/- 2.1 and 9.8 +/- 1.5 for 66Ga-, 67Ga-, and 68Ga-DOTATOC, respectively. Calculated tumor, kidney and bone marrow doses for 66Ga-DOTATOC based on biodistribution data were 178, 109 and 1.2 cGy/MBq, respectively. We conclude that 66Ga labeled DOTATOC can be used for PET diagnosis and quantitative imaging-based dosimetry of SSTR positive tumors. 66Ga-DOTATOC may also be used in higher doses for ablation of these tumors. However, kidney is the critical organ for toxicity (tumor/kidney ratio = 1.64), and high kidney uptake must be eliminated before devising a therapy protocol.

Site-Specific 18F-Labeling of the Protein Hormone Leptin Using a General Two-Step Ligation Procedure

The protein hormone leptin acts to regulate body fat and energy expenditure. Resistance to this hormone is implicated in human obesity and its pathophysiological consequences. In order to gain insight into the mechanism of leptin resistance, an (18)F-labeled derivative was developed to study the biodistribution of the hormone using positron emission tomography (PET). A two-step, site specific ligation approach was developed for this purpose, in which an aminooxy-reactive group was incorporated at the C-terminus of leptin using expressed protein ligation (EPL), which was subsequently derivatized with [ (18)F]fluorobenzaldehyde using an aniline-accelerated radiochemical oximation reaction. The modified hormone was shown to be biologically active in vitro and in vivo, and it was applied to PET imaging in ob/ ob mice. These protocols will allow for the routine production of site-specifically (18)F radiolabeled leptin, as well as other proteins, for use in PET imaging in systems from mouse to man.

PET Imaging of Leptin Biodistribution and Metabolism in Rodents and Primates

We have determined the systemic biodistribution of the hormone leptin by PET imaging. PET imaging using (18)F- and (68)Ga-labeled leptin revealed that, in mouse, the hormone was rapidly taken up by megalin (gp330/LRP2), a multiligand endocytic receptor localized in renal tubules. In addition, in rhesus monkeys, 15% of labeled leptin localized to red bone marrow, which was consistent with hormone uptake in rodent tissues. These data confirm a megalin-dependent mechanism for renal uptake in vivo. The significant binding to immune cells and blood cell precursors in bone marrow is also consistent with prior evidence showing that leptin modulates immune function. These experiments set the stage for similar studies in humans to assess the extent to which alterations of leptins biodistribution might contribute to obesity; they also provide a general chemical strategy for (18)F labeling of proteins for PET imaging of other polypeptide hormones.

Adenovirus capsid-based anti-cocaine vaccine prevents cocaine from binding to the nonhuman primate CNS dopamine transporter.

Cocaine addiction is a major problem for which there is no approved pharmacotherapy. We have developed a vaccine to cocaine (dAd5GNE), based on the cocaine analog GNE linked to the capsid proteins of a serotype 5 adenovirus, designed to evoke anti-cocaine antibodies that sequester cocaine in the blood, preventing access to the CNS. To assess the efficacy of dAd5GNE in a large animal model, positron emission tomography (PET) and the radiotracer [11C]PE2I were used to measure cocaine occupancy of the dopamine transporter (DAT) in nonhuman primates. Repeat administration of dAd5GNE induced high anti-cocaine titers. Before vaccination, cocaine displaced PE2I from DAT in the caudate and putamen, resulting in 62±4% cocaine occupancy. In contrast, dAd5GNE-vaccinated animals showed reduced cocaine occupancy such that when anti-cocaine titers were >4 × 105, the cocaine occupancy was reduced to levels of <20%, significantly below the 47% threshold required to evoke the subjective ‘high’ reported in humans.

1-[11C]Butanol: Synthesis and development as a radiopharmaceutical for blood flow measurements☆

Abstract 1-[ 11 C]Butanol was synthesized via two routes: carbonylation of an organoborane and carbonation of a Grignard reagent. The reaction of 11 CO with B- n -propyl-9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, followed by oxidation in alkaline medium, produced 1-[ 11 C]butanol in 33–71% yield (EOB) in 60 min. The reaction of 11 CO 2 with 1-propylmagnesium bromide, followed by a lithium aluminum hydride reduction, produced 1-[ 11 C]butanol in 55–74% yield (EOB) in 25–27 min. The radiochemical purity was 95–99% in each case.

Syntheses with isotopically labelled carbon. Methyl iodide, formaldehyde and cyanide

Many of the uniquely labelled synthetic precursors currently employed in the design of sophisticated radiolabelled compounds have their origins in the field of hot atom chemistry. Particularly, the development during the past few years of automated, on-line synthetic procedures which combine the nuclear reaction, hot atom and classical chemistry, and rapid purification methods has allowed the incorporation of useful radionuclides into suitable compounds of chemical and biochemical interest. The application of isotopically labelled methyl iodide, formaldehyde, and cyanide anion as synthetic intermediates in research involving human physiology and nuclear medicine, as well as their contributions to other scientific methodology, is reviewed.

Measurement of Cerebral Blood Flow in the Rat with Intravenous Injection of [11C]Butanol by External Coincidence Counting: A Repeatable and Noninvasive Method in the Brain

No method has been reported for measuring CBF, repeatedly and noninvasively, in the rat brain. A new method is described, which is noninvasive to the brain, skull, or cervical large vessels. Two pairs of coincidence detectors were positioned, one over the rat brain and the other at the loop of a catheter inserted into the femoral artery. The coincidence head curve and arterial curve were recorded after intravenous injection of 1-[11C]butanol in 15 rats. CBF was calculated by one-compartment curve fitting (CBFo) from 1-min data and with the recirculation corrected height/area method from 3-min data (CBFh · 3min) and 5-min data (CBFh · 5min). CBFo agreed well with CBFh · 5min, although a slight overestimation was observed in CBFh · 3min. The normal CBFo in the normocapnic group (n = 6, paco2 36.7 ± 2.3 mm Hg) was 1.76 ± 0.49 ml/g min (mean ± SD). A good correlation was observed between CBFo (y) and Paco2 (x), and the regression line was y = 0.0629x – 0.715 (r = 0.88, p < 0.0001). We concluded that this method gives the stable blood flow values noninvasively and with a minimum loss of blood (<0.28 ml per measurement). Applications of this method include activation studies, studies on the effect of drugs and treatments, and water and oxygen extraction fraction studies using different tracers in the same rat.

Preparation of 11C-Urea from No-carrier-added 11C-Cyanide☆

Abstract Carbon-11 labeled urea was synthetized by thermal transformation of 11 C-labeled ammonium cyanate. The 11 C-cyanate was prepared by oxidation of 11 C-cyanide. The total synthesis was accomplished in 20 min starting from 11 CN − to obtain 11 C-urea in 85±5% radiochemical yield with purity greater than 98%. HPLC was utilized to examine the various reactants and products.

Striatal dopamine type 2 receptor availability in anorexia nervosa

The neurobiology of anorexia nervosa remains incompletely understood. Here we utilized PET imaging with the radiotracer [(11)C]raclopride to measure striatal dopamine type 2 (D2) receptor availability in patients with anorexia nervosa. 25 women with anorexia nervosa who were receiving treatment in an inpatient program participated, as well as 25 control subjects. Patients were scanned up to two times with the PET tracer [(11)C]raclopride: once while underweight, and once upon weight restoration. Control subjects underwent one PET scan. In the primary analyses, there were no significant differences between underweight patients (n=21) and control subjects (n=25) in striatal D2 receptor binding potential. Analysis of subregions (sensorimotor striatum, associative striatum, limbic striatum) did not reveal differences between groups. In patients completing both scans (n=15), there were no detectable changes in striatal D2 receptor binding potential after weight restoration. In this sample, there were no differences in striatal D2 receptor binding potential between patients with anorexia nervosa and control subjects. Weight restoration was not associated with a change in striatal D2 receptor binding. These findings suggest that disturbances in reward processing in this disorder are not attributable to abnormal D2 receptor characteristics, and that other reward-related neural targets may be of greater relevance.

Synthesis of nitrogen-13 labeled alkylamines via amination of organoboranes

Organoboranes react with nitrogen-13 labeled ammonia to produce alkylamines in moderate yield. When 13N labeled ammonia was bubbled into a tetrahydrofuran solution containing 0.5M tridecylborane, 1-[13N]aminodecane was formed in 25-30 min from the end of bombardment (EOB) in 40-60% overall yield. 1-[13N]aminooctane and 1-[13N]aminohexane were also synthesized from appropriate organoboranes in similar yield.