antagonist radioligands ͉ tumor targeting ͉ peptide hormones ͉ neuropeptides ͉ receptor internalization P eptide receptor targeting in vivo is a successful method to image and treat various types of cancers (1). The best example is somatostatin receptor targeting with 111 In-, 90 Y-, or 177 Lu-labeled somatostatin radioligands that are injected into the patients intravenously and accumulate in their somatostatin receptor-expressing tumors. For this purpose, agonists have been selected. The rationale is that agonists, after high-affinity binding to the receptor, usually trigger internalization of the ligandreceptor complex (2). This process of internalization is the basis for an efficient accumulation of the radioligand in a cell over time (1,(3)(4)(5), and it has been considered a crucial step in the process of in vivo receptor targeting with radiolabeled peptides (4-6). Recently, a highly significant correlation between the rate of ligand internalization in vitro into AR42J cells expressing somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (sst 2 ) and the in vivo uptake in the sst 2 -expressing rat tumor model has been reported

Background-Macrophages participate centrally in atherosclerosis, and macrophage markers (eg, CD68, correlate well with lesion severity and therapeutic modulation. On the basis of the avidity of lesional macrophages for polysaccharide-containing supramolecular structures such as nanoparticles, we have developed a new positron emission tomography (PET) agent with optimized pharmacokinetics to allow in vivo imaging at tracer concentrations. Methods and Results-A dextranated and DTPA-modified magnetofluorescent 20-nm nanoparticle was labeled with the PET tracer 64 Cu (1 mCi/0.1 mg nanoparticles) to yield a PET, magnetic resonance, and optically detectable imaging agent. Peak PET activity 24 hours after intravenous injection into mice deficient in apolipoprotein E with experimental atherosclerosis mapped to areas of high plaque load identified by computed tomography such as the aortic root and arch and correlated with magnetic resonance and optical imaging. Accumulated dose in apolipoprotein E-deficient aortas determined by gamma counting was 260% and in carotids 392% of respective wild-type organs (PϽ0.05 both). Autoradiography of aortas demonstrated uptake of the agent into macrophage-rich atheromata identified by Oil Red O staining of lipid deposits. The novel nanoagent accumulated predominantly in macrophages as determined by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry of cells dissociated from aortas. Conclusions-This report establishes the capability of a novel trimodality nanoparticle to directly detect macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques. Advantages include improved sensitivity; direct correlation of PET signal with an established biomarker (CD68); ability to readily quantify the PET signal, perform whole-body vascular surveys, and spatially localize and follow the trireporter by microscopy; and clinical translatability of the agent given similarities to magnetic resonance imaging probes in clinical trials. (Circulation. 2008;117:379-387.)

Purpose Gallium-68 is a metallic positron emitter with a half-life of 68 min that is ideal for the in vivo use of small molecules, such as [ 68 Ga-DOTA,Tyr 3 ]octreotide, in the diagnostic imaging of somatostatin receptor-positive tumours. In preclinical studies it has shown a striking superiority over its 111 In-labelled congener. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether third-generation somatostatin-based, radiogallium-labelled peptides show the same superiority. Methods Peptides were synthesised on solid phase. The receptor affinity was determined by in vitro receptor autoradiography. The internalisation rate was studied in AR4-2J and hsst-HEK-transfected cell lines. The pharmacokinetics was studied in a rat xenograft tumour model, AR4-2J. Results All peptides showed high affinities on hsst2, with the highest affinity for the Ga III -complexed peptides. On hsst3 the situation was reversed, with a trend towards lower affinity of the Ga III peptides. A significantly increased internalisation rate was found in sst2-expressing cells for all 67

Glucose and glutamine are the two principal nutrients that cancer cells use to proliferate and survive. Many cancers show altered glucose metabolism, which constitutes the basis for in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG). However, 18F-FDG is ineffective in evaluating gliomas due to high background uptake in the brain. Glutamine metabolism is also altered in many cancers, and we demonstrate that PET imaging in vivo with the glutamine analogue 4-18F-(2S,4R)-fluoroglutamine (18F-FGln) shows high uptake in gliomas but low background brain uptake, facilitating clear tumor delineation. Chemo/radiation therapy reduced 18F-FGln-tumor avidity, corresponding with decreased tumor burden. 18F-FGln uptake was not observed in animals with a permeable blood-brain barrier or neuroinflammation. We translated these findings to human subjects, where 18F-FGln showed high tumor/background ratios with minimal uptake in the surrounding brain in human glioma patients with progressive disease. These data suggest that 18F-FGln is avidly taken up by gliomas, can be used to assess metabolic nutrient uptake in gliomas in vivo, and may serve as a valuable tool in the clinical management of gliomas.

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A monoreactive NOTA (1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid) derived prochelator (1-(1-carboxy-3-carbo-tert-butoxypropyl)-4,7-(carbo-tert-butoxymethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (NODAGA(tBu)(3))) was synthesized in five steps with an overall yield of 21%. It is useful for the coupling to the N-terminus of peptides on solid phase and in solution; it was coupled to [Tyr3]-octreotide (TOC) on solid phase, and the resulting peptide, NODAGA-Tyr3-octreotide (NODAGATOC), was labeled with the radiometals 111In and 67Ga in high yields and good specific activities. [67Ga]- and [111In]-NODAGA-Tyr3-octreotide appear to be useful to visualize primary tumors and metastases which express somatostatin receptors subtype 2 (sstr2), such as neuroendocrine tumors, because of their high affinity to this receptor subtype with IC(50) = 3.5 +/- 1.6 nM and 1.7 +/- 0.2 nM, respectively. NODAGATOC could be used as a SPECT and PET tracer, when labeled with 111In, 67Ga, or 68Ga, and even for therapeutic applications. Surprisingly, [111In]-NODAGATOC shows 2 times higher binding affinity to sstr2, but also a factor of 4 higher affinity to sstr5 compared to [67Ga]-NODAGATOC. [67Ga]-NODAGATOC is very stable in serum and rat liver homogenate. There is no difference in the rate of internalization into AR4-2J rat pancreatic tumor cells; both radioligands are highly internalized, at 4 h a 3 times higher uptake compared to [111In]-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotide ([111In]-DOTATOC) was found. The biodistribution of [67Ga]-NODAGATOC in AR4-2J tumor bearing nude mice is very favorable at short times after injection; there is fast excretion from all nontarget organs except the kidneys and high uptake in sst receptor rich organs and in the AR4-2J tumor. Again it is superior to [111In]-DOTATOC in this respect. The results indicate an improved biological behavior which is likely due to the fact that an additional spacer group separates the chelate from the pharmacophoric part of the somatostatin analogue.

Objectives To iteratively develope and validate an 18F labeled small molecule VCAM-1 affinity ligand and demonstrate the feasibility of imaging VCAM-1 expression by PET-CT in murine arteries. Background Hybrid PET-CT imaging may allow simultaneous assessment of atherosclerotic lesion morphology (CT) and biology through the development of novel tracers (PET), thus facilitating early risk assessment in individual patients. Methods A cyclic, a linear, and an oligomer affinity peptide, internalized into endothelial cells by VCAM-1–mediated binding, were initially derivatized with DOTA to determine their binding profiles and pharmacokinetics. The lead compound was then 18F labeled and tested in apoE−/− mice as well as models of MI and heart transplant rejection. Results The tetrameric peptide had the highest affinity and specificity for VCAM-1 (97% inhibition with soluble VCAM-1). In vivo PET-CT imaging using 18F-4V showed 0.31±0.02 SUV in murine atheroma (ex vivo %IDGT 5.9±1.5). 18F-4V uptake colocalized with atherosclerotic plaques on Oil Red O staining, and correlated to mRNA levels of VCAM-1 measured by quantitative RT-PCR (R=0.79, p=0.03). Mice treated with atorvastatin had significantly lower lesional uptake (p<0.05). Furthermore, 18F-4V imaging in myocardial ischemia and in transplanted hearts showed good correlation with ex vivo measurement of VCAM-1 mRNA. Conclusion 18F-4V allows noninvasive PET-CT imaging of VCAM-1 in inflammatory atherosclerosis, has the dynamic range to quantify treatment effects and correlates with inflammatory gene expression.