Imaging CXCR4 expression in human cancer xenografts: evaluation of monocyclam 64Cu-AMD3465

J Nucl Med. 2011 Jun;52(6):986-93. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.110.085613.

Abstract

The chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is overexpressed in several cancers and metastases and as such presents an enticing target for molecular imaging of metastases and metastatic potential of the primary tumor. CXCR4-based imaging agents could also be useful for diagnosis, staging, and therapeutic monitoring. Here we evaluated a positron-emitting monocyclam analog, (64)Cu-{N-[1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecanyl-1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)]-2-(aminomethyl)pyridine} ((64)Cu-AMD3465), in subcutaneous U87 brain tumors and U87 tumors stably expressing CXCR4 (U87-stb-CXCR4) and in colon tumors (HT-29) using dynamic and whole-body PET supported by ex vivo biodistribution studies. Both dynamic and whole-body PET/CT studies show specific accumulation of radioactivity in U87-stb-CXCR4 tumors, with the percentage injected dose per gram reaching a maximum of 102.70 ± 20.80 at 60 min and tumor-to-muscle ratios reaching a maximum of 362.56 ± 153.51 at 90 min after injection of the radiotracer. Similar specificity was also observed in the HT-29 colon tumor model. Treatment with AMD3465 inhibited uptake of radioactivity by the tumors in both models. Our results show that (64)Cu-AMD3465 is capable of detecting lesions in a CXCR4-dependent fashion, with high target selectivity, and may offer a scaffold for the synthesis of clinically translatable agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colonic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Copper Radioisotopes
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Neoplasm Transplantation / diagnostic imaging*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Pyridines* / chemical synthesis
  • Pyridines* / chemistry
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Radiopharmaceuticals* / chemical synthesis
  • Radiopharmaceuticals* / chemistry
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / biosynthesis*
  • Solubility
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Whole-Body Counting

Substances

  • CXCR4 protein, mouse
  • Copper Radioisotopes
  • N-(1,4,8,11- tetraazacyclotetradecanyl-1,4-phenylenebis(methylene))-2-(aminomethyl)- pyridine
  • Pyridines
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Receptors, CXCR4