1. |
- Ekblad, Torun, et al.
(author)
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Development and preclinical characterisation of 99mTc-labelled Affibody molecules with reduced renal uptake
- 2008
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In: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1619-7070 .- 1619-7089. ; 35:12, s. 2245-2255
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose Affibody molecules are low molecular weight proteins (7 kDa), which can be selected to bind to tumour-associated target proteins with subnanomolar affinity. Because of rapid tumour localisation and clearance from nonspecific compartments, Affibody molecules are promising tracers for molecular imaging. Earlier, 99mTc-labelled Affibody molecules demonstrated specific targeting of tumour xenografts. However, the biodistribution was suboptimal either because of hepatobiliary excretion or high renal uptake of the radioactivity. The goal of this study was to optimise the biodistribution of Affibody molecules by chelator engineering. Materials and methods Anti-HER2 ZHER2:342 Affibody molecules, carrying the mercaptoacetyl-glutamyl-seryl-glutamyl (maESE), mercaptoacetyl-glutamyl-glutamyl-seryl (maEES) and mercaptoacetyl-seryl-glutamyl-glutamyl (maSEE) chelators, were prepared by peptide synthesis and labelled with 99mTc. The tumour-targeting capacity of these conjugates was compared with each other and with the best previously available conjugate, 99mTc-maEEE-ZHER2:342, in nude mice bearing SKOV-3 xenografts. The tumour-targeting capacity of the most promising conjugate, 99mTc-maESE-ZHER2:342, was compared with radioiodinated ZHER2:342. Results All novel conjugates demonstrated successful tumour targeting and a low degree of hepatobiliary excretion. The renal uptakes of serine-containing conjugates, 33 ± 5, 68 ± 21 and 71 ± 10%IA/g, for99mTc-maESE-ZHER2:342, 99mTc-maEES-ZHER2:342 and 99mTc-maSEE-ZHER2:342, respectively, were significantly reduced in comparison with 99mTc-maEEE-ZHER2:342 (102 ± 13%IA/g). For 99mTc-maESE-ZHER2:342, a tumour uptake of 9.6 ± 1.8%IA/g and a tumour-to-blood ratio of 58 ± 6 were reached at 4 h p.i. Conclusions A combination of serine and glutamic acid residues in the chelator sequence confers increased renal excretion and relatively low renal uptake of 99mTc-labelled Affibody molecules. In combination with preserved targeting capacity, this improved imaging of targets in abdominal area.
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2. |
- Ekblad, Torun, et al.
(author)
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Positioning of Tc-99m-chelators influences radiolabeling, stability and biodistribution of Affibody molecules
- 2009
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In: Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters. - : Elsevier BV. - 0960-894X .- 1464-3405. ; 19:14, s. 3912-3914
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Affibody molecules represent a novel class of affinity proteins with a high potential as tracers for radio-nuclide molecular imaging. In this comparative structure-property study, a series of Affibody molecules with the Tc-99m-chelators maGGG, maSSS, or maESE attached to the e-amine of the internally positioned K49 was prepared by peptide synthesis, for comparison to molecules with similar chelators positioned at the N-terminus. The conjugates were labeled with Tc-99m and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. It was found that both composition and position of the chelating moiety influence the label stability, biodistribution and targeting properties of HER2-binding Affibody molecules.
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3. |
- Engfeldt, Torun, et al.
(author)
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99mTc-chelator engineering to improve tumour targeting properties of a HER2-specific Affibody molecule
- 2007
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In: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1619-7070 .- 1619-7089. ; 34:11, s. 1843-1853
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE: Monitoring HER2 expression is crucial for selection of breast cancer patients amenable to HER2-targeting therapy. The Affibody molecule Z(HER2:342) binds to HER2 with picomolar affinity and enables specific imaging of HER2 expression. Previously, Z(HER2:342) with the additional N-terminal mercaptoacetyl-glycyl-glycyl-glycyl (maGGG) sequence was labelled with (99m)Tc and demonstrated specific targeting of HER2-expressing xenografts. However, hepatobiliary excretion caused high radioactivity accumulation in the abdomen. We investigated whether the biodistribution of Z(HER2:342) can be improved by substituting glycyl residues in the chelating sequence with more hydrophilic seryl residues. METHODS: The Affibody molecule Z(HER2:342), carrying the chelators mercaptoacetyl-glycyl-seryl-glycyl (maGSG), mercaptoacetyl-glycyl-D: -seryl-glycyl [maG(D-S)G] and mercaptoacetyl-seryl-seryl-seryl (maSSS), were prepared by peptide synthesis and labelled with (99m)Tc. The differences in the excretion pathways were evaluated in normal mice. The tumour targeting capacity of (99m)Tc-maSSS-Z(HER2:342) was studied in nude mice bearing SKOV-3 xenografts and compared with the capacity of radioiodinated Z(HER2:342). RESULTS: A shift towards renal excretion was obtained when glycine was substituted with serine in the chelating sequence. The radioactivity in the gastrointestinal tract was reduced threefold for the maSSS conjugate in comparison with the maGGG conjugate 4 h post injection (p.i.). The tumour uptake of (99m)Tc-maSSS-Z(HER2:342) was 11.5 +/- 0.5% IA/g 4 h p.i., and the tumour-to-blood ratio was 76. The pharmacokinetics and uptake characteristics of technetium-labelled Z(HER2:342) were better than those of radioiodinated Z(HER2:342). CONCLUSION: The introduction of serine residues in the chelator results in better tumour imaging properties of the Affibody molecule Z(HER2:342) compared with glycyl-containing chelators and is favourable for imaging of tumours and metastases in the abdominal area.
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4. |
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5. |
- Orlova, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Synthetic affibody molecules : a novel class of affinity ligands for molecular imaging of HER2-expressing malignant tumors
- 2007
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In: Cancer Research. - 0008-5472 .- 1538-7445. ; 67:5, s. 2178-2186
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Affibody molecule Z(HER2:342-pep2), site-specifically and homogeneously conjugated with a 1,4,7,10-tetra-azacylododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) chelator, was produced in a single chemical process by peptide synthesis. DOTA-Z(HER2:342-pep2) folds spontaneously and binds HER2 with 65 pmol/L affinity. Efficient radiolabeling with >95% incorporation of (111)In was achieved within 30 min at low (room temperature) and high temperatures (up to 90 degrees C). Tumor uptake of (111)In-DOTA-Z(HER2:342-pep2) was specific for HER2-positive xenografts. A high tumor uptake of 23% injected activity per gram tissue, a tumor-to-blood ratio of >7.5, and high-contrast gamma camera images were obtained already 1 h after injection. Pretreatment with Herceptin did not interfere with tumor targeting, whereas degradation of HER2 using the heat shock protein 90 inhibitor 17-allylamino-geldanamycin before administration of (111)In-DOTA-Z(HER2:342-pep2) obliterated the tumor image. The present results show that radiolabeled synthetic DOTA-Z(HER2:342-pep2) has the potential to become a clinically useful radiopharmaceutical for in vivo molecular imaging of HER2-expressing carcinomas.
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6. |
- Tolmachev, Vladimir, et al.
(author)
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111In-benzyl-DTPA-ZHER2:342, an affibody-based conjugate for in vivo imaging of HER2 expression in malignant tumors
- 2006
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In: Journal of Nuclear Medicine. - 0161-5505 .- 1535-5667. ; 47:5, s. 846-53
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Data on expression of the HER2 (erbB-2) receptor in breast carcinoma make it possible to select the most efficient treatment. There are strong indications that HER2 expression possesses prognostic and predictive values in ovarian, prostate, and lung carcinomas as well. Visualization of HER2 expression using radionuclide targeting can provide important diagnostic information. The Affibody Z(HER2:342) is a short (approximately 7 kDa) phage-display-selected protein that binds HER2 with an affinity of 22 pmol/L. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether (111)In-labeled HER2:342 can be used for imaging of HER2 overexpression in vivo. METHODS: Z(HER2:342) was labeled with (111)In via isothiocyanate-benzyl-DTPA (DTPA is diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) and the conjugate was characterized in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: (111)In-Benzyl-DTPA-Z(HER2:342) preserved the capacity to bind living HER2-expressing cells specifically. The affinity of In-benzyl-DTPA-Z(HER2:342) to HER2 was 21 pmol/L according to surface plasmon resonance measurements. In nude mice bearing HER2-expressing SKOV-3 xenografts, a tumor uptake of 12% +/- 3% injected activity per gram and a tumor-to-blood ratio of about 100 were obtained 4 h after injection. Tumor uptake in vivo was receptor specific, as it could be blocked with an excess of nonlabeled Z(HER2:342). HER2-expressing xenografts were clearly imaged 4 h after injection using a gamma-camera. CONCLUSION: (111)In-Benzyl-DTPA-Z(HER2:342) is a promising candidate for visualization of HER2 expression in carcinomas, using the single-photon detection technique.
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7. |
- Tolmachev, Vladimir, et al.
(author)
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Affibody molecules : potential for in vivo imaging of molecular targets for cancer therapy
- 2007
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In: Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy. - : Informa Healthcare. - 1471-2598 .- 1744-7682. ; 7:4, s. 555-568
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Targeting radionuclide imaging of tumor-associated antigens may help to select patients who will benefit from a particular biological therapy. Affibody molecules are a novel class of small (approximately 7 kDa) phage display-selected affinity proteins, based on the B-domain scaffold of staphylococcal protein A. A large library (3 x 10(9) variants) has enabled selection of high-affinity (up to 22 pM) binders for a variety of tumor-associated antigens. The small size of Affibody molecules provides rapid tumor localization and fast clearance from nonspecific compartments. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential of Affibody molecules for specific and high-contrast radionuclide imaging of HER2 in vivo, and pilot clinical data using indium-111 and gallium-68 labeled anti-HER2 Affibody tracer have confirmed its utility for radionuclide imaging in cancer patients.
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8. |
- Tolmachev, Vladimir, et al.
(author)
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Radionuclide therapy of HER2-positive microxenografts using a 177Lu-labeled HER2-specific Affibody molecule
- 2007
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In: Cancer Research. - 0008-5472 .- 1538-7445. ; 67:6, s. 2773-2782
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A radiolabeled anti-HER2 Affibody molecule (Z(HER2:342)) targets HER2-expressing xenografts with high selectivity and gives good imaging contrast. However, the small size (approximately 7 kDa) results in rapid glomerular filtration and high renal accumulation of radiometals, thus excluding targeted therapy. Here, we report that reversible binding to albumin efficiently reduces the renal excretion and uptake, enabling radiometal-based nuclide therapy. The dimeric Affibody molecule (Z(HER2:342))(2) was fused with an albumin-binding domain (ABD) conjugated with the isothiocyanate derivative of CHX-A''-DTPA and labeled with the low-energy beta-emitter (177)Lu. The obtained conjugate [CHX-A''-DTPA-ABD-(Z(HER2:342))(2)] had a dissociation constant of 18 pmol/L to HER2 and 8.2 and 31 nmol/L for human and murine albumin, respectively. The radiolabeled conjugate displayed specific binding to HER2-expressing cells and good cellular retention in vitro. In vivo, fusion with ABD enabled a 25-fold reduction of renal uptake in comparison with the nonfused dimer molecule (Z(HER2:342))(2). Furthermore, the biodistribution showed high and specific uptake of the conjugate in HER2-expressing tumors. Treatment of SKOV-3 microxenografts (high HER2 expression) with 17 or 22 MBq (177)Lu-CHX-A''-DTPA-ABD-(Z(HER2:342))(2) completely prevented formation of tumors, in contrast to mice given PBS or 22 MBq of a radiolabeled non-HER2-binding Affibody molecule. In LS174T xenografts (low HER2 expression), this treatment resulted in a small but significant increase of the survival time. Thus, fusion with ABD improved the in vivo biodistribution, and the results highlight (177)Lu-CHX-A''-DTPA-ABD-(Z(HER2:342))(2) as a candidate for treatment of disseminated tumors with a high level of HER2 expression.
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9. |
- Tolmachev, Vladimir, et al.
(author)
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The influence of Bz-DOTA and CHX-AaEuro(3)-DTPA on the biodistribution of ABD-fused anti-HER2 Affibody molecules : implications for In-114m-mediated targeting therapy
- 2009
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In: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1619-7070 .- 1619-7089. ; 36:9, s. 1460-1468
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Affibody molecules represent a novel class of high-affinity agents for radionuclide tumour targeting. Fusion of the Affibody molecules with an albumin-binding domain (ABD) enables modification of the blood kinetics of the Affibody molecules and reduction of the renal dose. Lu-177-CHX-AaEuro(3)-DTPA-ABD-(Z(HER2:342))(2), an anti-HER2 Affibody molecule-ABD fusion protein has earlier demonstrated promising results in treatment of HER2-expressing micro-xenografts in mice. The use of the in vivo generator In-114m/In-114 as a label for ABD-fused Affibody molecules would create preconditions for efficient treatment of both micrometastases (due to conversion and Auger electrons of In-114m) and bulky tumours (due to high-energy beta particles from the daughter nuclide In-114). The goal of this study was to investigate if different chelators influence the biodistribution of ABD-(Z(HER2:342))(2) and to find an optimal chelator for attachment of In-114m to the Affibody molecule-ABD fusion protein. Isothiocyanate derivatives of Bz-DOTA and CHX-AaEuro(3)-DTPA were coupled to ABD-(Z(HER2:342))(2). The cellular processing of both conjugates was studied in vitro. The influence of chelators on the biodistribution was investigated in mice using double isotope (In-114m and In-111) labelling. The apparent affinity of CHX-AaEuro(3)-DTPA-ABD-(Z(HER2:342))(2) and Bz-DOTA-ABD-(Z(HER2:342))(2) to the extracellular domain of HER2 was similar, 13.5 and 15.0 pM, respectively. It was found that both conjugates were internalized by SKOV-3 cells. The use of CHX-AaEuro(3)-DTPA provided better cellular retention of the radioactivity, better tumour accumulation of radioactivity and better tumour to organ dose ratios than Bz-DOTA-ABD-(Z(HER2:342))(2). CHX-AaEuro(3)-DTPA is more suitable for In-114m labelling of Affibody molecule-ABD fusion proteins for radionuclide therapy.
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10. |
- Tran, Thuy, et al.
(author)
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99mTc-maEEE-ZHER2:342, an Affibody Molecule-Based Tracer for the Detection of HER2 Expression in Malignant Tumors
- 2007
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In: Bioconjugate chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1043-1802 .- 1520-4812. ; 18:6, s. 1956-1964
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Detection of HER2-overexpression in tumors and metastases is important for the selection of patients who will benefit from trastuzumab treatment. Earlier investigations showed successful imaging of HER2-positive tumors in patients using indium- or gallium-labeled Affibody molecules. The goal of this study was to evaluate the use of 99mTc-labeled Affibody molecules for the detection of HER2 expression. The Affibody molecule ZHER2:342 with the chelator sequences mercaptoacetyl-Gly-Glu-Gly (maGEG) and mercaptoacetyl-Glu-Glu-Glu (maEEE) was synthesized by peptide synthesis and labeled with technetium-99m. Binding specificity, cellular retention, and in vitro stability were investigated. The biodistribution of 99mTc-maGEG-ZHER2:342 and 99mTc-maEEE-ZHER2:342 was compared with 99mTc-maGGG-ZHER2:342 in normal mice, and the tumor targeting properties of 99mTc-maEEE-ZHER2:342 were determined in SKOV-3 xenografted nude mice. The results showed that the Affibody molecules were efficiently labeled with technetium-99m. The labeled conjugates were highly stable in vitro with preserved HER2-binding capacity. The use of glutamic acid in the chelator sequences for 99mTc-labeling of ZHER2:342 reduced the hepatobiliary excretion 3-fold with a single Gly-to-Glu substitution and 10-fold with three Gly-to-Glu substitutions. 99mTc-maEEE-ZHER2:342 showed a receptor-specific tumor uptake of 7.9 ± 1.0 %IA/g and a tumor-to-blood ratio of 38 at 4 h pi. Gamma-camera imaging with 99mTc-maEEE-ZHER2:342 could detect HER2-expressing tumors in xenografts already at 1 h pi. It was concluded that peptide synthesis for the coupling of chelator sequences to Affibody molecules for 99mTc labeling is an efficient way to modify the in vivo kinetics. Increased hydrophilicity, combined with improved stability of the mercaptoacetyl-triglutamyl chelator, resulted in favorable biodistribution, making 99mTc-maEEE-ZHER2:342 a promising tracer for clinical imaging of HER2 overexpression in tumors.
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