Development of 177Lu-scFvD2B as a Potential Immunotheranostic Agent for Tumors Overexpressing the Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen

Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 9;10(1):9313. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66285-2.

Abstract

The clinical translation of theranostic 177Lu-radiopharmaceuticals based on inhibitors of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has demonstrated positive clinical responses in patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa). However, challenges still remain, particularly regarding their pharmacokinetic and dosimetric properties. We developed a potential PSMA-immunotheranostic agent by conjugation of a single-chain variable fragment of the IgGD2B antibody (scFvD2B) to DOTA, to obtain a 177Lu-labelled agent with a better pharmacokinetic profile than those previously reported. The labelled conjugated 177Lu-scFvD2B was obtained in high yield and stability. In vitro, 177Lu-scFvD2B disclosed a higher binding and internalization in LNCaP (PSMA-positive) compared to PC3 (negative control) human PCa cells. In vivo studies in healthy nude mice revealed that 177Lu-scFvD2B present a favorable biokinetic profile, characterized by a rapid clearance from non-target tissues and minimal liver accumulation, but a slow wash-out from kidneys. Micro-SPECT/CT imaging of mice bearing pulmonary microtumors evidenced a slow uptake by LNCaP tumors, which steadily rose up to a maximum value of 3.6 SUV at 192 h. This high and prolonged tumor uptake suggests that 177Lu-scFvD2B has great potential in delivering ablative radiation doses to PSMA-expressing tumors, and warrants further studies to evaluate its preclinical therapeutic efficacy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Surface / immunology
  • Antigens, Surface / metabolism*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / pharmacokinetics*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II / immunology
  • Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II / metabolism*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates / chemistry
  • Immunoconjugates / pharmacokinetics
  • Immunoconjugates / pharmacology*
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region / chemistry
  • Lutetium / pharmacokinetics
  • Male
  • Mice, Nude
  • PC-3 Cells
  • Precision Medicine / methods
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Radioisotopes / pharmacokinetics
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / chemistry
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / pharmacokinetics*
  • Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Single-Chain Antibodies / chemistry
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antigens, Surface
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region
  • Radioisotopes
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Single-Chain Antibodies
  • 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane- 1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid
  • Lutetium
  • Lutetium-177
  • FOLH1 protein, human
  • Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II