Visual Abstract
Abstract
227Th is a promising radioisotope for targeted α-particle therapy. It produces 5 α-particles through its decay, with the clinically approved 223Ra as its first daughter. There is an ample supply of 227Th, allowing for clinical use; however, the chemical challenges of chelating this large tetravalent f-block cation are considerable. Using the CD20-targeting antibody ofatumumab, we evaluated chelation of 227Th4+ for α-particle–emitting and radiotheranostic applications. Methods: We compared 4 bifunctional chelators for thorium radiopharmaceutical preparation: S-2-(4-Isothiocyanatobenzyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane tetraacetic acid (p-SCN-Bn-DOTA), 2-(4-isothicyanatobenzyl)-1,2,7,10,13-hexaazacyclooctadecane-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaacetic acid (p-SCN-Bn-HEHA), p-isothiacyanatophenyl-1-hydroxy-2-oxopiperidine-desferrioxamine (DFOcyclo*-p-Phe-NCS), and macrocyclic 1,2-HOPO N-hydroxysuccinimide (L804-NHS). Immunoconstructs were evaluated for yield, purity, and stability in vitro and in vivo. Tumor targeting of the lead 227Th-labeled compound in vivo was performed in CD20-expressing models and compared with a companion 89Zr-labeled PET agent. Results: 227Th-labeled ofatumumab-chelator constructs were synthesized to a radiochemical purity of more than 95%, excepting HEHA. 227Th-HEHA-ofatumumab showed moderate in vitro stability. 227Th-DFOcyclo*-ofatumumab presented excellent 227Th labeling efficiency; however, high liver and spleen uptake was revealed in vivo, indicative of aggregation. 227Th-DOTA-ofatumumab labeled poorly, yielding no more than 5%, with low specific activity (0.08 GBq/g) and modest long-term in vitro stability (<80%). 227Th-L804-ofatumumab coordinated 227Th rapidly and efficiently at high yields, purity, and specific activity (8 GBq/g) and demonstrated extended stability. In vivo tumor targeting confirmed the utility of this chelator, and the diagnostic analog, 89Zr-L804-ofatumumab, showed organ distribution matching that of 227Th to delineate SU-DHL-6 tumors. Conclusion: Commercially available and novel chelators for 227Th showed a range of performances. The L804 chelator can be used with potent radiotheranostic capabilities for 89Zr/227Th quantitative imaging and α-particle therapy.
Radiotheranostic agents provide a unique ability to detect, characterize, treat, and monitor sites of disease with exceptional specificity. A persistent challenge for clinical theranostics is the development of suitably matched therapeutic and diagnostic agents that provide correlating pharmacokinetic data to guide therapeutic application. Ideally, this goal is realized in the form of a targeted agent that can be labeled with radionuclides for either imaging or therapy without other chemical changes. Radiometals must be stably bound to a molecularly specific vector (a small molecule, peptide, or antibody) to achieve localized uptake. The extended biologic residency time and longer radiologic half-life (t½) of isotopes used for antibody-based agents add a requirement for greater stability. To date, a limited number of chelates have been clinically applied, notably from the DOTA and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid classes (1). Advancements in radioisotopes available for theranostic applications necessitate radiologic and chemical efforts to achieve stable, safe, and effective radiopharmaceutical preparation.
Interest in treatments using α-particle–emitting isotopes with high linear-energy transfer continues to grow. A promising isotope that has been widely used to date is 225Ac, yet the supply of isotopically pure 225Ac is limited (2). Theranostic pairs for 225Ac radioimmunotherapy typically use 111In (3,4). Although these isotopes have reasonably close half-lives (2.8 and 9.8 d t½ for 111In and 225Ac, respectively), SPECT imaging presents challenges in image quantification for pharmacokinetics and dosimetry (5). Alternatively, the radiotheranostics of 225Ac using 89Zr (t½, 3.3 d) for PET have highly similar pharmacokinetics; however, different chelators are required for coordination of each isotope (6,7).
227Th (t½, 18.7 d) is produced from 227Ac (t½, 21.7 y) with a branching ratio of 98.6% and produces 5 α-particles, including from its first daughter, 223Ra (t½, 11.4 d) (Supplemental Fig. 1; supplemental materials are available at http://jnm.snmjournals.org). Tetravalent thorium bears a 5f 0 electronic configuration and is typically 8-, 10-, or even 12-fold coordinated. Chelation with 227Th has been limited to a few bifunctional ligands, such as macrocyclic DOTA (displaying inefficient labeling yields), and newer hydroxypyridinone or picolinic acid constructs. It can be challenging for such ligands to also stably complex PET isotopes (8–11), as chelation chemistries are often class-specific (transition metals, lanthanides, actinides, or other heavy metals). Cross-class metal radiolabeling involves different chemistries and mechanisms (12,13), and evaluation of single-agent theranostic precursors is ongoing (9).
In this work, we evaluated 4 antibody-chelator conjugates for in vitro and in vivo stability using ofatumumab, a human anti-CD20 antibody (14,15). The most stable 227Th chelator conjugate, L804, was evaluated in vivo for tumor-targeting capability in Raji tumor–bearing mice. An 89Zr-L804- theranostic analog was compared, as well as conventional 89Zr-chelating DFO. Data demonstrate long-term stability and a pharmacokinetic match between 89Zr tracer and 227Th radiotherapy, with translational potential for quantitative imaging and treatment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Chemicals were from Sigma-Aldrich unless otherwise noted. Ofatumumab (Novartis) was obtained from the Washington University in St. Louis clinical pharmacy. The bifunctional chelators S-2-(4-Isothiocyanatobenzyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane tetraacetic acid (p-SCN-Bn-DOTA) and 2-(4-isothicyanatobenzyl)-1,2,7,10,13-hexaazacyclooctadecane-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaacetic acid (p-SCN-Bn-HEHA) were purchased from Macrocyclics. The desferrioxamine derivative p-isothiacyanatophenyl-1-hydroxy-2-oxopiperidine-desferrioxamine (DFOcyclo*-p-Phe-NCS) was synthesized as outlined in the supplemental materials, and macrocyclic 1,2-HOPO N-hydroxysuccinimide (L804-NHS) was provided by Lumiphore, Inc. Solutions were prepared with Chelex (Bio-Rad)-treated ultrapure water. 227Th was supplied as dried nitrates by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Chelators and Conjugations
DFOcyclo*-p-Phe-NCS was prepared in 5 steps from known precursors. The synthesis and characterization are reported in Supplemental Figures 2–5 (16–20). Chelator-to-antibody ratios of 8:1 (p-Bn-SCN-HEHA), 5:1 (DFOcyclo*-p-Phe-NCS), and 4.2:1 (L804-NHS) were reacted in 0.1 M Na2CO3 (pH 9, 37°C for 1 h). L804-ofatumumab was prepared in 0.5 M NH4OAc, pH 5.5, with 1 mM CaCl2. Before 227Th radiolabeling, buffer was exchanged by spin desalting columns (Zeba, 40K, 0.5 mL; Thermo Scientific) to 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) (1 M, pH 7). Conjugate ratios were measured by capillary mass spectrometry with an Exactive Plus (Thermo Fisher). Samples were run at a resolving power of 8,750 or 17,500 at 300 m/k and analyzed by Protein Metric Intact.
227Th and 89Zr Radiolabeling and Purification
DOTA-ofatumumab was radiolabeled following a 2-step procedure (21,22) in which 0.925–1.85 MBq of 227Th(IV) nitrate dissolved in 0.2 M HCl was added to p-Bn-SCN-DOTA (10 mg/mL; 20 μL in 0.1 M NH4OAc at pH 6). We verified a pH of 6 and incubated (65°C, 1 h) under gentle shaking. After radiocomplexation, the material was conjugated to the antibody (1 mg) at pH 9 in 0.1 M Na2CO3 (37°C for 2 h); 10 μL of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (50 mM) was added, then the mixture was purified twice in saline using a preconditioned spin desalting column (7 kDa).
Single-step labeling (5–7 mg/mL; 1 mg) using 227Th at 0.925–1.85 MBq in 0.1 M NH4OAc at pH 6 (HEHA) or 1 M HEPES at pH 7 (DFOcyclo* and L804) occurred under gentle shaking (37°C, 2 h) and was quenched with 10 μL of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (50 mM) before purification, as above. Free 223Ra was adsorbed on the column resin, providing high 227Th isotopic purity. Radical scavengers were either ascorbic acid (10 μL, 150 mg/mL, for DOTA) or gentisic acid (0.1 M, 20 μL, for others). 89Zr radiolabeling of DFO-ofatumumab was conducted as previously described (15). 89Zr radiolabeling of L804-ofatumumab (7 mg/mL) was performed in 0.5 M NH4OAc with 1 mM CaCl2 at pH 5.5 and 37°C for 2 h, with purification as above.
Radiopharmaceutical Quality Control
Protein concentration was determined by bicinchoninic acid assay, with more than 90% recoveries. Radiochemical yields were calculated as the ratio of initial activity to measured activity obtained after purification, using γ-counting and calibrated high-purity germanium (GEM-50195-S; Ametek) detection (for 227Th).
Radiochemical purity (RCP) evaluation used thin-layer chromatography (AR-2000; Bioscan) and fast protein liquid chromatography (AKTA; GE Healthcare) for both 227Th and 89Zr (Supplemental Figs. 6 and 7). Labeled antibodies were migrated on silica-coated paper with an aqueous solution of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (10 mM, pH 5). A control strip of unchelated 227Th dissolved in NH4OAc displayed complete migration to the front of the strip. After thin-layer chromatography reading, samples were bisected for quantitative radioisotopic determination by high-purity germanium. Radioisotopic purity was verified after purification (Supplemental Fig. 8). Stability and purity were determined using fast protein liquid chromatography with ultraviolet light (280 nm) coupled with in-line radiodetection (Lablogic) for 89Zr, with 1-mL fraction collection for 227Th/223Ra γ-counting.
In Vitro Stability Assay
227Th-ofatumumab constructs (100 μg/0.74–0.925 MBq) were incubated in human plasma diluted 1:10 at 37°C, under gentle shaking over 1 half-life of 227Th. To monitor 227Th dissociation from antibody, samples were surveyed by thin-layer chromatography and size-exclusion chromatography fast protein liquid chromatography every other day. Thin-layer chromatography sections and fast protein liquid chromatography fractions were γ-counted (protocol below). 227Th activities integrated at the antibody retention time (12–14 min) over the sum of eluted activity defines the RCP percentage of 277Th-ofatumumab.
Immunoreactivity was evaluated by the assay of Lindmo et al. (23). Cells were incubated with the labeled samples (∼5 ng of 227Th conjugate, 16.7 ± 1.33 kBq) and blocked with unlabeled ofatumumab. Raji cells (12 × 106) were incubated for 1 h in phosphate-buffered saline and 1% bovine serum albumin and washed, in triplicate.
Administration and In Vivo Distribution
The studies were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. For organ distribution, female 6- to 8-wk-old Swiss Webster mice (Charles River) were intravenously administered constructs through the retroorbital sinus. The animals received 5.55–9.25 kBq of 227Th-labeled antibody or 740 kBq of 89Zr analogs. Injections were adjusted with unlabeled precursor to 20 μg of antibody per injection (supplemental materials).
At the times indicated, mice were killed by CO2 asphyxiation and organs were γ-counted (Wizard2; Perkin Elmer). 227Th and 223Ra (at equilibrium) activities were determined by decomposing the γ-spectra, and percentage injected activity (%IA) per gram of tissue for 227Th was computed. Absolute activity per organ (Bq/g) was defined using a γ-counting methodology, applying serial dilutions of a calibrated 223Ra source and Bateman equation–corrected 227Th decay spectra (24).
PET and PET/CT
PET imaging of SU-DHL-6–bearing mice was performed using 89Zr-labeled L804-ofatumumab (6.66 MBq) at 1, 2, 3, and 7 d after injection (R4 microPET; Siemens). A blocking cohort with 200 μg of unlabeled ofatumumab (2 h before tracer) was included. The scanner was calibrated with a mouse-sized cylinder phantom of aqueous 18F with a known activity concentration (25), energy windows of 350–650 keV, and coincidence timing of 6 ns. Corrected scanner data were reconstructed by an iterative 3-dimensional maximum a priori algorithm. Volumes of interest were defined, and %IA/mL was computed (ASIPro; Siemens).
PET/CT of the SU-DHL-6 tumor–bearing animals was performed on the Nanoscan (Mediso) on day 7. A CT acquisition of 720°, 70 kV/980 μA of 90 ms, and 4× binning was reconstructed by filtered backprojection to produce isotropic 124-μm voxels (122 × 122 × 97 mm). PET data (400–600 keV, 5-ns timing) were reconstructed using the iterative, 3-dimensional TeraTomo algorithm (4 iterations and 6 subsets; Mediso Medical Imaging Systems). Decay, attenuation, and scatter corrections were applied to quantify injected activity.
RESULTS
Ofatumumab, a second-generation humanized anti-CD20 antibody targeting non-Hodgkin lymphoma, was modified with 1 of 4 chelators, radiolabeled with 227Th, and tested for yield, purity, and stability. The bifunctional chelators considered for this study were 4-arm DOTA, HEHA, DFOcyclo*, and the L804 (Fig. 1).
Radiochemical Yields, Purity, and Specific Activity
227Th labeling of DOTA-ofatumumab required a 2-step procedure first chelating 227Th to p-SCN-Bn-DOTA and then following with antibody conjugation. The final radiochemical yield reached no more than 3% because of poor conjugation efficiency. Other conjugates underwent a 1-step radiolabeling procedure resulting in radiochemical yields of 23%, 60%, and 97%, for HEHA, DFOcyclo*, and L804, respectively (Fig. 2B). The RCP of the final products was lowest for HEHA-ofatumumab (<90%), whereas the DOTA, DFOcyclo*, and L804 constructs all achieved an RCP of more than 99% (Fig. 2C; Supplemental Figs. 6 and 7). Radioisotopic purity was more than 99% for all radiopharmaceuticals, demonstrating high selectivity for 227Th over 223Ra and other daughters (Supplemental Fig. 8). The specific activities of 227Th-ofatumumab varied widely: 0.08 GBq/g for DOTA, 1.5–3 GBq/g for DFOcyclo*, and 8 GBq/g for L804 with 3.2 chelators per antibody (Supplemental Fig. 9). L804-ofatumumab was successfully labeled with 89Zr, with RCP of more than 99% (Supplemental Fig. 7), using a specific activity ranging from 330–370 GBq/g for the PET imaging study to 70–75 GBq/g for the organ distribution.
Radiopharmaceutical quality control for 227Th-labeled ofatumumab. All calculations were based on 227Th only. (A) Radiochemical yields of DOTA, HEHA, DFOcyclo*, and L804 conjugated to ofatumumab; highest yield (>95%) was obtained for L804 after purification. (B) Achieved RCPs of >95% for all except HEHA. (C) Raji cell binding showing that all 227Th-labeled constructs preserved moderate affinities. (D) In vitro stability of 227Th counts associated with antibody at 4°C in buffer (left) or human serum protein challenge at 37°C (right), over 14 d.
In Vitro Stability and Immunoreactivity
Radioconjugate stability varied when challenged with human serum. HEHA demonstrated the lowest coordination capability with 227Th, whereas DOTA, DFOcyclo*, and L804 demonstrated stable chelation over 2 wk in buffer or plasma. DOTA and DFOcyclo* maintained adequate binding of 227Th ranging between 50% and 70% over 10 d of challenge (Fig. 2D; Supplemental Fig. 6). L804 presented the highest stability, with more than 80% of 227Th bound to the antibody after 2 wk (Supplemental Fig. 7). Binding to CD20-expressing cells indicated similar immunoreactivity for all 4 conjugates: DOTA construct binding at 44% ± 2.3% (similar to what was previously reported with rituximab (26)), HEHA at 34% ± 1.6%, DFOcyclo* at 60.2% ± 2.9%, and L804 at 32% ± 3% (Fig. 3B).
Comparative 227Th organ uptake in naïve mice. (A) Organ distribution of 227Th-DOTA-, HEHA-, DFOcyclo*-, and L804-ofatumumab 24 h after injection. Extended blood circulation was seen for DOTA and L804, compared with elevated liver and spleen uptake observed for DFOcyclo* and high liver uptake for HEHA constructs. (B and C) 227Th-L804-ofatumumab distribution at 24 h (B) and 15 d (C) after injection for 227Th and 223Ra. ofat = ofatumumab; p.i. = postinjection.
In Vivo Distribution
Acute 227Th stability was assessed in vivo with naïve mice at 24 h after injection (Fig. 3). 227Th-labeled HEHA and DFOcyclo* constructs were insufficiently stable, with elevated liver uptake (both) and spleen uptake (DFOcyclo*) (>20 %IA/g). In contrast, 227Th-DOTA- and 227Th-L804-ofatumumab presented nearly identical distributions and no significant differences in organ uptake.
The concatenated decay of 227Th (Supplemental Fig. 1) presents opportunities and challenges for drug development. We decomposed 227Th activities from daughter 223Ra (at equilibrium) and analyzed 227Th-L804-ofatumumab distribution. 223Ra does not decay in place, where 227Th accumulates, but rather recirculates and is sequestered in the skeleton (Figs. 3B and 3C) in agreement with previous reports (22,27). Initial 227Th uptake in lungs, liver, and kidney (>10 %IA/g) decreased over 2 wk to no more than 5%IA/g, suggesting clearance and elimination of antibody (Supplemental Fig. 10). Dosimetric evaluation of a 150 kBq/kg treatment was computed to predict human organ-absorbed doses using IDAC-Dose, version 2.1 (Supplemental Table 1) (28–30). The highest values for bone, kidney, liver, and spleen ranged from 71 to 65 mGy/MBq; heart wall and bone marrow were both 50 mGy/MBq.
Tumor-Targeting Evaluation
The 227Th-L804 conjugate was selected as the lead agent for further evaluation. We first investigated the tumor-targeting ability of 227Th-L804-ofatumumab in CD20–positive Raji tumors. Mice were randomized to receive 227Th-L804-ofatumumab, control 227Th-L804-IgG, or 227Th-L804-ofatumumab preceded by unmodified ofatumumab. The early blood signal for the unblocked group (21.6 ± 1.9 %IA/g) decreased with time to 7.5 ± 1.8 %IA/g at 7 d (Fig. 4). Control IgG uptake was significantly greater in the spleen over the course of the experiment, whereas 227Th tumor uptake was significantly higher for the targeted construct at all time points (to control IgG, P < 0.01) and to blocked group at 7 d (P < 0.05). Peak tumor uptake at day 3 for 227Th-L804-ofatumumab achieved 20 ± 1 %IA/g (Fig. 4).
Organ distribution of 227Th-L804-ofatumamab and 227Th-L804-IgG and blocking with ofatumumab using Raji tumor–bearing mice (R2G2, female), reporting 227Th only (%IA/g) at 24 h, 3 d, and 7 d after injection. GI = gastrointestinal tract.
227Th and 89Zr Theranostics
Having validated the stability and biologic activity of 227Th-L804-ofatumumab, we next tested the analogous 89Zr PET agent. We compared the pharmacokinetics of 227Th- and 89Zr-L804-ofatumumab and conventional 89Zr-DFO-ofatumumab (Fig. 5). Small but statistically significant differences were observed between 227Th- and 89Zr-L804-ofatumumab for blood, heart, lung, and cecal tissues at 1 d (Fig. 5A). At 14 d, no differences were detected (Fig. 5B). 89Zr-L804- and 89Zr-DFO-ofatumumab have highly similar distributions except for longer-term skeletal uptake; bone signal was significantly higher for 89Zr-DFO-ofatumumab (7.3 ± 1.3 %IA/g) than for 89Zr-L804-ofatumumab (3.7 ± 0.5 %IA/g). 227Th-L804 bone uptake was correspondingly low (3.0 ± 0.4 %IA/g). Free radiometal may also explain the increased liver and spleen values for 89Zr-DFO- over 227Th/89Zr-L804-ofatumumab (31). Together, these data demonstrate that use of different chelators (DFO and L804) alters radiopharmaceutical distribution to a greater degree than does exchange of radiometals.
Pharmacokinetic comparison of 227Th-L804-, 89Zr-L804-, and 89Zr-DFO-ofatumumab in naïve female mice at 1 d (A) and 14 d (B) after injection. Significant differences were observed for blood, heart, and lung accumulation of 227Th-L804- vs. 89Zr-L804-ofatumumab at 1 d (P < 0.05). At 14 d, no differences were seen between 227Th-L804- and 89Zr-L804-ofatumumab. 89Zr bone uptake was greater for DFO (7.3 ± 1.1 %IA/g) than for L804 (89Zr, 3.7 ± 0.5 %IA/g; 227Th, 3.0 ± 0.4 %IA/g [P < 0.001]). p.i. = postinjection.
The theranostic capability of L804-ofatumumab for 89Zr PET was tested in CD20–positive SU-DHL-6 xenografts (Fig. 6). Recapitulating Raji accumulation of 227Th-L804-ofatumumab, we observed high-contrast delineation with 89Zr-L804-ofatumumab and a low skeletal signal. To confirm specificity, blocking antibody was administered to a representative animal; the result was decreased tumor uptake (Supplemental Fig. 11). Metastatic invasion of lymph nodes was also visualized, along with primary tumor, and was confirmed by histologic analysis (Supplemental Fig. 12) (32).
(A) Representative PET images of SU-DHL-6 tumor–bearing animal with 89Zr-L804-ofatumumab, with or without blocking. (B) PET/CT at 7 d, without blocking. On right are cross-sectional images of cervical lymph nodes, brachial lymph nodes, and tumor, from top to bottom.
DISCUSSION
Radiopharmaceutical therapy is an emerging cancer treatment class. Tempering enthusiasm are concerns of off-target tissue effects and the limited availability of several radionuclides. α-particle–emitting therapy confronts both concerns because demand for a key radionuclide, 225Ac, greatly exceeds supply (33). Alternatives include 223Ra (however, receptor-specific targeting is challenging) (34) and 227Th (for which there is an ample stock for early-phase trials) (35,36). Labeling with 227Th has been achieved in the past using DOTA, octapa, and octadentate 3,2-hydroxypyridinonate structures (37), with the last of these used in clinical trials (NCT03507452 and NCT02581878). However, 227Th lacks suitable in vivo stability with 89Zr compatible chelators, potentially precluding theranostic use (22,36). Here, we chose 4 chelators from different classes to test 227Th coordination efficiency, stability, purity, and cancer cell receptor targeting, and we evaluated the lead conjugate as a companion 89Zr diagnostic.
Chelator selection was based on chemical attributes and prior experience. DOTA is a versatile chelator and has previously been used for 227Th coordination (22,38), which requires a 2-step procedure (26,39). The result was poor radiolabeling yields (<5%) and low specific activity (0.8 GBq/g). Previously reported 227Th-DOTA-antibody specific activities exceed the results of this work for 227Th-DOTA-ofatumumab, suggesting that antibody labeling can be further optimized (39). HEHA is a large cyclic chelator with 12 donor atoms, potentially amenable to Th4+ coordination (40). HEHA is an efficient in vitro chelator for 225Ac3+ (41) but has limited in vivo applicability (42). Conjugated to ofatumumab, HEHA complexed 227Th with limited efficiency and RCP, and data indicate that 227Th-HEHA-ofatumumab lacks in vivo stability.
DFOcyclo*- and L804-ofatumumab presented the most interesting radiolabeling efficiencies, purities, and specific activities with 227Th, in line with recent reports (43). DFOcyclo* is a linear chelator of 4 hydroxamate donors providing octadentate coordination. It presents features similar to those of DFO, with the addition of a fourth cyclic hydroxamic acid motif for additional stability to complexes embedding an 8-coordinated metal (44). We also investigated a macrocyclic approach using L804 articulated with four 1-hydroxypyridin-2-one chelators. Previously, L804 immune constructs have shown high affinity for 177Lu and 89Zr (45) and potential for actinides (46).
Both DFOcyclo* and L804 presented attractive in vitro stability, suggesting strong coordinating features for 227Th formulations. Surprisingly, despite excellent DFOcyclo* in vitro results, the elevated liver and spleen accumulations suggest instability of the conjugate or metal decomplexation. 227Th-L804-ofatumumab remained intact in vivo, as CD20-expressing tumor recognition was achieved for 2 tumor mouse models of lymphoma. 227Th-L804-ofatumumab organ distributions were similar to the DOTA conjugate in naïve mice, with extended blood content and low bone uptake. In vitro performance and in vivo utility indicate that L804 is an effective chelator of 227Th for radiopharmaceutical applications.
γ-spectroscopic analysis of the radiolabeled material showed selective 227Th labeling with insignificant 223Ra. However, concatenated decay leads to production of daughters over time, complicating quality control and in vivo evaluation (47). 227Th-L804-ofatumumab was administered with high radionuclidic purity, and in vivo ingrowth of 223Ra was notable for its skeletal redistribution anticipated from 223RaCl2 distribution in mice (27,48) and other 227Th conjugates (49). 227Th-L804-ofatumumab organ distribution over 2 wk indicates clearance from off-target organs including lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys. Predicted human dosimetry showed that bone, kidney, and spleen may receive the highest absorbed doses for activity administrations of 150 kBq/kg. We computed low bone marrow dose estimates (<2 Gy). Considering stable 227Th coordination, the magnitude of tumor activity–delivery, and dosimetry, 227Th-L804 may drive further interest in radioimmunotherapy.
Finally, we addressed the theranostic potential for quantitative imaging using 89Zr-L804-ofatumumab. Subtle but significant differences were measured in blood (early time points) versus 227Th, and these differences resolved at 2 wk; otherwise, a nearly identical distribution was observed. In contrast, the increasing bone uptake with DFO conjugate indicated inadequate long-term stability. PET imaging of 89Zr-L804-ofatumumab further confirmed effective chelation of 89Zr by L804, displaying—with clear contrast—primary tumor SU-DHL-6 and diseased lymph nodes and showing low skeletal uptake.
CONCLUSION
L804 is the most stable and versatile chelator of those tested, providing facile coordination of 227Th and 89Zr. Stable chelation of 227Th was demonstrated and applied for tumor-targeted delivery across 2 lymphoma models. These data support the further development of 227Th/89Zr antibody theranostics using this chemically identical precursor.
DISCLOSURE
Financial support was received from NIH NCI (R01CA229893, R01CA240711, and R01EB02925901 to Daniel Thorek), P30 CA091842, the Children’s Discovery Institute of Washington University in St. Louis and St. Louis Children’s Hospital (to Diane Abou), the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the Conseil Régional de Bourgogne through the Plan d’Action Regional pour l’Innovation (program PARI II “Pharmaco-imagerie et agents théragnostiques”), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), and the University of Strasbourg. Floriane Mangin acknowledges the Université de Bourgogne for a postdoctoral fellowship. Darren Magda and David Tatum own intellectual property relating to L804 and are employees of Lumiphore, Inc. (Berkeley, CA). No other potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.
KEY POINTS
QUESTION: Can we stably achieve antibody radiolabeling using an identical precursor for both 89Zr imaging and 227Th therapy?
PERTINENT FINDINGS: L804 is the most stable and versatile chelator of 4 tested for coordination of 227Th and 89Zr as a theranostic pair.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PATIENT CARE: These data support the development of suitably matched therapeutic and diagnostic agents that provide correlating pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data to guide therapeutic application.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank Dr. Jacqueline Payton at Washington University in St. Louis for supplying SU-DHL-6 cells. Isotope was supplied in part by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (Isotope Program, Office of Nuclear Physics). We thank the Cyclotron Facility for 89Zr, and we thank the Small Animal Cancer Imaging Core for imaging assistance, both of Washington University in St. Louis.
Footnotes
Guest Editor: Jason Lewis, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Published online May. 04, 2023.
- © 2023 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.
Immediate Open Access: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY) allows users to share and adapt with attribution, excluding materials credited to previous publications. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Details: http://jnm.snmjournals.org/site/misc/permission.xhtml.
REFERENCES
- Received for publication October 3, 2022.
- Revision received March 7, 2023.
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