Developing the 134Ce and 134La pair as companion positron emission tomography diagnostic isotopes for 225Ac and 227Th radiotherapeutics

Nat Chem. 2021 Mar;13(3):284-289. doi: 10.1038/s41557-020-00598-7. Epub 2020 Dec 14.

Abstract

Developing targeted α-therapies has the potential to transform how diseases are treated. In these interventions, targeting vectors are labelled with α-emitting radioisotopes that deliver destructive radiation discretely to diseased cells while simultaneously sparing the surrounding healthy tissue. Widespread implementation requires advances in non-invasive imaging technologies that rapidly assay therapeutics. Towards this end, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has emerged as one of the most informative diagnostic techniques. Unfortunately, many promising α-emitting isotopes such as 225Ac and 227Th are incompatible with PET imaging. Here we overcame this obstacle by developing large-scale (Ci-scale) production and purification methods for 134Ce. Subsequent radiolabelling and in vivo PET imaging experiments in a small animal model demonstrated that 134Ce (and its 134La daughter) could be used as a PET imaging candidate for 225AcIII (with reduced 134CeIII) or 227ThIV (with oxidized 134CeIV). Evaluating these data alongside X-ray absorption spectroscopy results demonstrated how success relied on rigorously controlling the CeIII/CeIV redox couple.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen / diagnostic imaging
  • Animals
  • Cerium / chemistry*
  • Cerium Radioisotopes / chemistry
  • Lanthanum / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / chemistry*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / metabolism
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Cerium Radioisotopes
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Cerium
  • Lanthanum