Alpha-PET for Prostate Cancer: Preclinical investigation using 149Tb-PSMA-617

Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 28;9(1):17800. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-54150-w.

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to investigate 149Tb-PSMA-617 for targeted α-therapy (TAT) using a mouse model of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-expressing prostate cancer. 149Tb-PSMA-617 was prepared with >98% radiochemical purity (6 MBq/nmol) for the treatment of mice with PSMA-positive PC-3 PIP tumors. 149Tb-PSMA-617 was applied at 1 × 6 MBq (Day 0) or 2 × 3 MBq (Day 0 & Day 1 or Day 0 & Day 3) and the mice were monitored over time until they had reached a pre-defined endpoint which required euthanasia. The tumor growth was significantly delayed in mice of the treated groups as compared to untreated controls (p < 0.05). TAT was most effective in mice injected with 2 × 3 MBq (Day 0 & 1) resulting in a median lifetime of 36 days, whereas in untreated mice, the median lifetime was only 20 days. Due to the β+-emission of 149Tb, tumor localization was feasible using PET/CT after injection of 149Tb-PSMA-617 (5 MBq). The PET images confirmed the selective accumulation of 149Tb-PSMA-617 in PC-3 PIP tumor xenografts. The unique characteristics of 149Tb for TAT make this radionuclide of particular interest for future clinical translation, thereby, potentially enabling PET-based imaging to monitor the radioligand's tissue distribution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Surface / genetics
  • Antigens, Surface / metabolism
  • Dipeptides / pharmacokinetics*
  • Dipeptides / therapeutic use*
  • Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II / genetics
  • Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II / metabolism
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring / pharmacokinetics*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • PC-3 Cells
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / methods*
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Radioisotopes / pharmacokinetics*
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Terbium / pharmacokinetics*
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Transduction, Genetic
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Burden / drug effects
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antigens, Surface
  • Dipeptides
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring
  • PSMA-617
  • Radioisotopes
  • Terbium-149
  • Terbium
  • FOLH1 protein, human
  • Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen