The neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y1 receptor (Y1R) selective radioligand (R)-Nα-(2,2-diphenylacetyl)-Nω-[4-(2-[18F]fluoropropanoylamino)butyl]aminocarbonyl-N-(4-hydroxybenzyl)argininamide ([18F]23), derived from the high-affinity Y1R antagonist BIBP3226, was developed for imaging studies of Y1R-positive tumors. Starting from the argininamide core bearing amine-functionalized spacer moieties, a series of fluoropropanoylated and fluorobenzoylated derivatives was synthesized and studied for Y1R affinity. The fluoropropanoylated derivative 23 displayed high affinity (Ki = 1.3 nM) and selectivity toward Y1R. Radiosynthesis was accomplished via 18F-fluoropropanoylation, yielding [18F]23 with excellent stability in mice; however, the biodistribution study revealed pronounced hepatobiliary clearance with high accumulation in the gall bladder (>100 %ID/g). Despite the unfavorable biodistribution, [18F]23 was successfully used for imaging of Y1R positive MCF-7 tumors in nude mice. Therefore, we suggest [18F]23 as a lead for the design of PET ligands with optimized physicochemical properties resulting in more favorable biodistribution and higher Y1R-dependent enrichment in mammary carcinoma.
Keywords: Fluorine-18; NPY; PET; Y1R; antagonist; neuropeptide Y; positron emission tomography.