Novel 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N',N' '-triacetic acid (NOTA) based octadentate ligands [2-(4,7-biscarboxymethyl[1,4,7]triazacyclononan-1-ylethyl)carbonylmethylamino]acetic acid tetrahydrochloride (1) and [3-(4,7-biscarboxymethyl[1,4,7]triazacyclononan-1-yl-propyl)carbonylmethylamino]acetic acid tetrahydrochloride (2) with pendent donor groups as potential yttrium chelators for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) have been prepared via a convenient and high-yield cyclization route. The complexation kinetics of the novel chelates with Y(III) was investigated and compared to that of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N' ',N" '-tetraacetic acid (DOTA), a macrocyclic chelating agent well recognized as forming very stable complexes with yttrium but also limited in usage because of slow Y(III) complex formation rates. The in vitro stability of the corresponding (88)Y-labeled complexes in human serum was assessed by measuring the release of (88)Y from the complexes over 14 days. The in vivo biodistribution of (86)Y-labeled 1 in mice was evaluated and compared to that of the (86)Y-DOTA complex. Formation of the Y complex of 1 was significantly more rapid than that of either 2 or DOTA. Serum stability of the (88)Y complex formed with 1 was equivalent to the DOTA complex, while the complex formed with 2 proved to be significantly unstable. The results obtained from a biodistribution study indicate that the (86)Y-1 complex possesses in vivo stability comparable to the analogous DOTA complex.

A new bifunctional ligand 3p-C-DEPA was synthesized and evaluated for use in targeted alpha radioimmunotherapy. 3p-C-DEPA was efficiently prepared via regiospecific ring opening of an aziridinium ion and conjugated with trastuzumab. The 3p-C-DEPA-trastuzumab conjugate was extremely rapid in binding 205/6Bi, and the corresponding 205/6Bi-3p-C-DEPA-trastuzumab complex was stable in human serum. Biodistribution studies were performed to evaluate in vivo stability and tumor targeting of 205/6Bi-3p-C-DEPA-trastuzumab conjugate in tumor bearing athymic mice. 205/6Bi-3p-C-DEPA-trastuzumab conjugate displayed excellent in vivo stability and targeting as evidenced by low organ uptake and high tumor uptake. The results of the in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that 3p-C-DEPA is a promising chelator for radioimmunotherapy of 212Bi and 213Bi.

We report a practical and high yield synthesis of a bimodal bifunctional ligand 3p-C-NETA-NCS containing the isothiocyanate group for conjugation to a tumor targeting antibody. 3p-C-NETA-NCS was conjugated to a tumor-targeting antibody, trastuzumab, and the corresponding 3p-C-NETA-trastuzumab conjugate was evaluated and compared to trastuzumab conjugates of the known bifunctional ligands C-DOTA, C-DTPA, C-NOTA, and 3p-C-DEPA for radiolabeling kinetics with 90Y and 177Lu. 3p-C-NETA-trastuzumab conjugate exhibited extremely rapid complexation kinetics with 90Y and 177Lu. 90Y-3p-C-NETA-trastuzumab and 177Lu-3p-C-NETA-trastuzumab conjugates were stable in human serum for 2 weeks. A pilot biodistribution study was conducted to evaluate in vivo stability and tumor targeting of 177Lu-radiolabeled trastuzumab conjugate using nude mice bearing ZR-75-1 human breast cancer. 177Lu-3p-C-NETA-trastuzumab conjugate displayed low radioactivity level at blood (1.6%), low organ uptake (<2.2%), and high tumor-to-blood ratio (6.4) at 120 h. 3p-C-NETA possesses favorable in vitro and in vivo profiles and is an excellent bifunctional chelator that can be used for targeted RIT applications using 90Y and 177Lu and has potential to replace DOTA and DTPA analogues in current clinical use.

The structurally novel bifunctional ligands C-NETA and C-NE3TA, each possessing both acyclic and macrocyclic moieties, were prepared and evaluated as potential chelates for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) and targeted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Heptadentate C-NE3TA was fortuitously discovered during the preparation of C-NETA. An optimized synthetic method to C-NETA and C-NE3TA including purification of the polar and tailing reaction intermediates, tert-butyl C-NETA (2) and tert-butyl C-NE3TA (3) using semiprep HPLC was developed. The new Gd(III) complexes of C-NETA and C-NE3TA were prepared as contrast enhancement agents for use in targeted MRI. The T 1 relaxivity data indicate that Gd(C-NETA) and Gd(C-NE3TA) possess higher relaxivity than Gd(C-DOTA), a bifunctional version of a commercially available MRI contrast agent; Gd(DOTA). C-NETA and C-NE3TA were radiolabeled with (177)Lu, (90)Y, (203)Pb, (205/6)Bi, and (153)Gd; and in vitro stability of the radiolabeled corresponding complexes was assessed in human serum. The in vitro studies indicate that the evaluated radiolabeled complexes were stable in serum for 11 days with the exception being the (203)Pb complexes of C-NETA and C-NE3TA, which dissociated in serum. C-NETA and C-NE3TA radiolabeled (177)Lu, (90)Y, or (153)Gd complexes were further evaluated for in vivo stability in athymic mice and possess excellent or acceptable in vivo biodistribution profile. (205/6)Bi- C-NE3TA exhibited extremely rapid blood clearance and low radioactivity level at the normal organs, while (205/6)Bi- C-NETA displayed low radioactivity level in the blood and all of the organs except for the kidney where relatively high renal uptake of radioactivity is observed. C-NETA and C-NE3TA were further modified for conjugation to the monoclonal antibody Trastuzumab.

A novel bifunctional ligand (3p-C-NETA) for antibody-targeted radioimmunotherapy (RIT) of β-emitting radioisotopes (90)Y and (177)Lu was efficiently synthesized via an unexpected regiospecific ring opening of an aziridinium ion. 3p-C-NETA instantly formed a very stable complex with (90)Y or (177)Lu. 3p-C-NETA is an excellent bifunctional ligand for RIT.

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Iron depletion, using iron chelators targeting transferrin receptor (TfR) and ribonucleotide reductase (RR), is proven to be effective in the treatment of cancer. We synthesized and evaluated novel polyaminocarboxylate-based chelators NETA, NE3TA, and NE3TA-Bn and their bifunctional versions C-NETA, C-NE3TA, and N-NE3TA for use in iron depletion tumor therapy. The cytotoxic activities of the novel polyaminocarboxylates were evaluated in the HeLa and HT29 colon cancer cell lines and compared to the clinically available iron depletion agent DFO and the frequently explored polyaminocarboxylate DTPA. All new chelators except C-NETA displayed enhanced cytotoxicities in both HeLa and HT29 cancer cells compared to DFO and DTPA. Incorporation of the nitro functional unit for conjugation to a targeting moiety into the two potent non-functionalized chelators NE3TA and NE3TA-Bn (C-NE3TA and N-NE3TA) was well-tolerated and resulted in a minimal decrease in cytotoxicity. Cellular uptake of C-NE3TA, examined using a confocal microscope, indicates that the chelator is taken up into HT29 cancer cells.