Evaluation of 64Cu-labeled acridinium cation: a PET radiotracer targeting tumor mitochondria

Searching for a Paradigm Shift in Auger-Electron Cancer Therapy with Tumor-Specific Radiopeptides Targeting the Mitochondria and/or the Cell Nucleus

Although 99mTc is not an ideal Auger electron (AE) emitter for Targeted Radionuclide Therapy (TRT) due to its relatively low Auger electron yield, it can be considered a readily available “model” radionuclide useful to validate the design of new classes of AE-emitting radioconjugates. With this in mind, we performed a detailed study of the radiobiological effects and mechanisms of cell death induced by the dual-targeted radioconjugates 99mTc-TPP-BBN and 99mTc-AO-BBN (TPP = triphenylphosphonium; AO = acridine orange; BBN = bombesin derivative) in human prostate cancer PC3 cells. 99mTc-TPP-BBN and 99mTc-AO-BBN caused a remarkably high reduction of the survival of PC3 cells when compared with the single-targeted congener 99mTc-BBN, leading to an augmented formation of γH2AX foci and micronuclei. 99mTc-TPP-BBN also caused a reduction of the mtDNA copy number, although it enhanced the ATP production by PC3 cells. These differences can be attributed to the augmented uptake of 99mTc-TPP-BBN in the mitochondria and enhanced uptake of 99mTc-AO-BBN in the nucleus, allowing the irradiation of these radiosensitive organelles with the short path-length AEs emitted by 99mTc. In particular, the results obtained for 99mTc-TPP-BBN reinforce the relevance of targeting the mitochondria to promote stronger radiobiological effects by AE-emitting radioconjugates.

Multifunctional Cyanine-Based Theranostic Probe for Cancer Imaging and Therapy

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. A cancer-targeted multifunctional probe labeled with the radionuclide has been developed to provide multi-modalities for NIR fluorescence and nuclear imaging (PET, SPECT), for photothermal therapy (PTT), and targeted radionuclide therapy of cancer. In this study, synthesis, characterization, in vitro, and in vivo biological evaluation of the cyanine-based probe (DOTA-NIR790) were demonstrated. The use of cyanine dyes for the selective accumulation of cancer cells were used to achieve the characteristics of tumor markers. Therefore, all kinds of organ tumors can be targeted for diagnosis and treatment. The DOTA-NIR790 labeled with lutetium-111 could detect original or metastatic tumors by using SPECT imaging and quantify tumor accumulation. The β-emission of ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTA-NIR790 can be used for targeted radionuclide therapy of tumors. The DOTA-NIR790 enabled imaging by NIR fluorescence and by nuclear imaging (SPECT) to monitor in real-time the tumor accumulation and the situation of cancer therapy, and to guide the surgery or the photothermal therapy of the tumor. The radionuclide-labeled heptamethine cyanine based probe (DOTA-NIR790) offers multifunctional modalities for imaging and therapies of cancer.

Mitochondria-Targeted Triphenylphosphonium-Based Compounds: Syntheses, Mechanisms of Action, and Therapeutic and Diagnostic Applications

Mitochondria are recognized as one of the most important targets for new drug design in cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases. Currently, the most effective way to deliver drugs specifically to mitochondria is by covalent linking a lipophilic cation such as an alkyltriphenylphosphonium moiety to a pharmacophore of interest. Other delocalized lipophilic cations, such as rhodamine, natural and synthetic mitochondria-targeting peptides, and nanoparticle vehicles, have also been used for mitochondrial delivery of small molecules. Depending on the approach used, and the cell and mitochondrial membrane potentials, more than 1000-fold higher mitochondrial concentration can be achieved. Mitochondrial targeting has been developed to study mitochondrial physiology and dysfunction and the interaction between mitochondria and other subcellular organelles and for treatment of a variety of diseases such as neurodegeneration and cancer. In this Review, we discuss efforts to target small-molecule compounds to mitochondria for probing mitochondria function, as diagnostic tools and potential therapeutics. We describe the physicochemical basis for mitochondrial accumulation of lipophilic cations, synthetic chemistry strategies to target compounds to mitochondria, mitochondrial probes, and sensors, and examples of mitochondrial targeting of bioactive compounds. Finally, we review published attempts to apply mitochondria-targeted agents for the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

The Synthesis and Evaluations of the (6 8) Ga-Lissamine Rhodamine B (LRB) as a New Radiotracer for Imaging Tumors by Positron Emission Tomography

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to synthesize and evaluate (68)Ga-labeled Lissamine Rhodamine B (LRB) as a new radiotracer for imaging MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells induced tumor mice by positron emission tomography (PET).

METHODS

Firstly, we performed the radio synthesis and microPET imaging of (68)Ga(DOTA-LRB) in athymic nude mice bearing MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer xenografts. Additionally, the evaluations of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), as a glucose metabolism radiotracer for imaging tumors in the same xenografts, have been conducted as a comparison.

RESULTS

The radiochemical purity of (68)Ga(DOTA-LRB) was >95%. MicroPET dynamic imaging revealed that the uptake of (68)Ga(DOTA-LRB) was mainly in normal organs, such as kidney, heart, liver, and brain and mainly excreted from kidney. The MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 tumors were not clearly visible in PET images at 5, 15, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min after injection of (68)Ga(DOTA-LRB). The tumor uptake values of (18)F-FDG were 3.79 ± 0.57 and 1.93 ± 0.48%ID/g in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 tumor xenografts, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

(68)Ga(DOTA-LRB) can be easily synthesized with high radiochemical purity and stability; however, it may be not an ideal PET radiotracer for imaging of MDR-positive tumors.

64Cu-labeled phosphonium cations as PET radiotracers for tumor imaging

Alteration in mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨ(m)) is an important characteristic of cancer. The observation that the enhanced negative mitochondrial potential is prevalent in tumor cell phenotype provides a conceptual basis for development of mitochondrion-targeting therapeutic drugs and molecular imaging probes. Since plasma and mitochondrial potentials are negative, many delocalized organic cations, such as rhodamine-123 and (3)H-tetraphenylphosphonium, are electrophoretically driven through these membranes, and able to localize in the energized mitochondria of tumor cells. Cationic radiotracers, such as (99m)Tc-Sestamibi and (99m)Tc-Tetrofosmin, have been clinically used for diagnosis of cancer by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and noninvasive monitoring of the multidrug resistance (MDR) transport function in tumors of different origin. However, their diagnostic and prognostic values are often limited due to their insufficient tumor localization (low radiotracer tumor uptake) and high radioactivity accumulation in the chest and abdominal regions (low tumor selectivity). In contrast, the (64)Cu-labeled phosphonium cations represent a new class of PET (positron emission tomography) radiotracers with good tumor uptake and high tumor selectivity. This review article will focus on our recent experiences in evaluation of (64)Cu-labeled phosphonium cations as potential PET radiotracers. The main objective is to illustrate the impact of radiometal chelate on physical, chemical, and biological properties of (64)Cu radiotracers. It will also discuss some important issues related to their tumor selectivity and possible tumor localization mechanism.