[(99m)Tc]-5 and its rhenium congener were synthesized and characterized. In vitro studies showed that the rhenium compound has a high affinity for CA IX and effectively inhibits CA IX activity. In vivo studies revealed a limited tracer accumulation in a CA IX expressing tumor but with increasing tumor-to-blood activity ratios as a function of time.

In vivo visualization of tumor hypoxia related markers, such as the endogenous transmembrane protein CA IX may lead to novel therapeutic and diagnostic applications in the management of solid tumors. In this study 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzene sulfonamide (AEBS, K(i) = 33 nM for CA IX) has been conjugated with bis(aminoethanethiol) (BAT) and mercaptoacetyldiglycine (MAG2) tetradendate ligands and the conjugates radiolabelled with (99m)Tc, to obtain anionic and neutral (99m)Tc-labeled sulfonamide derivatives, respectively. The corresponding rhenium analogues were also prepared and showed good inhibitory activities against hCA IX (K(i) = 59-66 nM). In addition, a second generation bis AEBS was conjugated with MAG2 and labeled with (99m)Tc, and the obtained diastereomers were also evaluated in targeting CA IX. Biodistribution studies in mice bearing HT-29 colorectal xenografts revealed a maximum tumor uptake of <0.5% ID/g at 0.5 h p.i for all the tracers. In vivo radiometabolite analysis indicated that at 1 h p.i. MAG₂ tetradendate ligands were more stable in plasma (>50% intact) compared to the neutral complex (28% intact). This preliminary data suggest that negatively charged (99m)Tc-labeled sulfonamide derivatives with modest lipophilicity and longer circulation time could be promising markers to target CA IX.

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For the currently used (99m)Tc-labeled diphosphonates such as (99m)Tc-MDP and (99m)Tc-HDP, the required interval of 2.5 to 3 h between injection and the scintigraphic bone imaging is an inconvenience. The present study was set up in an attempt to develop a technetium-99m-labeled diphosphonate with efficient bone uptake and more rapid clearance from blood and soft tissue by renal extraction and excretion so that it would be possible to start imaging as early as 1 h after injection. A conjugate of the new renal tracer agent (99m)Tc-ethylene dicysteine ((99m)Tc-L,L-EC), covalently bound via one of its carboxylates with aminomethylenediphosphonic acid (AMDP), was synthesized in seven steps. EC-AMDP could be labeled easily and efficiently with (99m)Tc at pH > or = 12 and room temperature. Analysis using ion pair reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography showed the formation of a mixture of two main compounds with reproducible relative ratios, which were stable as a function of time. In a baboon, the scintigraphic images obtained with the new agent showed good quality bone scans, with clear visualization of the skeleton and low soft tissue activity at respectively 1 and 2 h after injection.