Preparation of 66Ga- and 68Ga-labeled Ga(III)-deferoxamine-folate as potential folate-receptor-targeted PET radiopharmaceuticals

Nucl Med Biol. 2003 Oct;30(7):725-31. doi: 10.1016/s0969-8051(03)00080-5.

Abstract

A folate-receptor-targeting radiopharmaceutical, Ga(III)-deferoxamine-folate (Ga-DF-Folate), was radiolabeled with two positron-emitting isotopes of gallium, cyclotron-produced (66)Ga (9.5 hour half-life) and generator-produced (68)Ga (68 minute half-life). The [(66)Ga]Ga-DF-Folate was administered to athymic mice with folate-receptor-positive human KB cell tumor xenografts to demonstrate that microPET mouse tumor imaging is feasible with (66)Ga, despite the relatively high positron energy of this radionuclide. Using the athymic mouse KB tumor xenograft model, dual-isotope autoradiography was also performed following i.v. co-administration of [(18)F]-FDG, a marker of regional metabolic activity, and folate-receptor-targeted [(111)In]In-DTPA-Folate. The autoradiographic images of 1 mm tumor sections demonstrate the gross heterogeneity of the KB cell tumor xenograft, as well as subtle disparity in the regional accumulation of the two radiotracers.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoradiography
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Deferoxamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Deferoxamine / chemical synthesis
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored
  • Folic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Folic Acid / chemical synthesis
  • Gallium Radioisotopes* / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Isotope Labeling / methods*
  • KB Cells
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / chemical synthesis
  • Receptors, Cell Surface*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed / methods*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored
  • Gallium Radioisotopes
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • deferoxamine-gamma-folate conjugate
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Folic Acid
  • Deferoxamine