Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is expressed in normal human prostate epithelium and is highly upregulated in prostate cancer. We previously reported a series of novel small molecule inhibitors targeting PSMA. Two compounds, MIP-1072, (S)-2-(3-((S)-1-carboxy-5-(4–iodobenzylamino)pentyl)ureido)pentanedioic acid and MIP-1095, (S)-2-(3-((S)-1-carboxy-5-(3-(4-iodophenyl)ureido)pentyl)ureido)pentanedioic acid, were selected for further evaluation. MIP-1072 and MIP-1095 potently inhibited the glutamate carboxypeptidase activity of PSMA (Ki = 4.6 ± 1.6 and 0.24 ± 0.14 nM, respectively), and when radiolabeled with 123I exhibited high affinity for PSMA on human prostate cancer LNCaP cells (Kd = 3.8 ± 1.3 and 0.81 ± 0.39 nM, respectively). The association of [123I]MIP-1072 and [123I]MIP-1095 with PSMA was specific; there was no binding to human prostate cancer PC3 cells, which lack PSMA, and binding was abolished by co-incubation with a structurally unrelated NAALADase inhibitor, 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid (PMPA). [123I]MIP-1072 and [123I]MIP-1095 internalized into LNCaP cells at 37 °C. Tissue distribution studies in mice demonstrated 17.3 ± 6.3 (at 1 hr) and 34.3 ± 12.7 (at 4 hr) % injected dose per gram of tissue, for [123I]MIP-1072 and [123I]MIP-1095, respectively. [123I]MIP-1095 exhibited greater tumor uptake but slower washout from blood and non-target tissues compared to [123I]MIP-1072. Specific binding to PSMA in vivo was demonstrated by competition with PMPA in LNCaP xenografts, and the absence of uptake in PC3 xenografts. The uptake of [123I]MIP-1072 and [123I]MIP-1095 in tumor bearing mice was corroborated by SPECT/CT imaging. PSMA-specific radiopharmaceuticals should provide a novel molecular targeting option for the detection and staging of prostate cancer.

Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a validated molecular marker for prostate cancer. A series of glutamate-urea (Glu-urea-X) heterodimeric inhibitors of PSMA were designed and synthesized where X = epsilon-N-(o-I, m-I, p-I, p-Br, o-Cl, m-Cl, p-Cl, p-F, H)-benzyl-Lys and epsilon-(p-I, p-Br, p-Cl, p-F, H)-phenylureido-Lys. The affinities for PSMA were determined by screening in a competitive binding assay. PSMA binding of the benzyllysine series was significantly affected by the nature of the halogen substituent (IC(50) values, Cl < I = Br << F = H) and the ring position of the halogen atom (IC(50) values, p-I < o-I << m-I). The halogen atom had little affect on the binding affinity in the para substituted phenylureido-Lys series. Two lead iodine compounds were radiolabeled with (123)I and (131)I and demonstrated specific PSMA binding on human prostate cancer cells, warranting evaluation as radioligands for the detection, staging, and monitoring of prostate cancer.

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This work describes a 3D, paper-based assay that can isolate subpopulations of cells based on their invasiveness (i.e., distance migrated in a hydrogel) in a gradient of concentration of oxygen (O 2 ). Layers of paper impregnated with a cell-compatible hydrogel are stacked and placed in a plastic holder to form the invasion assay. Stacking the layers of paper assembles them into 3D tissue-like constructs of defined thickness and composition. The plastic holder ensures the layers of paper are in conformal contact; this geometry allows the cells to migrate between adjacent layers through the embedded hydrogel. In most assays, the stack comprises a single layer of paper containing mammalian cells suspended in a hydrogel, sandwiched between multiple layers of paper containing only hydrogel (into which the cells migrate). Cells in the stack consume and produce small molecules; these molecules diffuse throughout the stack to generate gradients both in the stack, and between the stack and the bulk culture medium. Placing the cell-containing layer in different positions of the stack, or modifying the permeability of the holder to oxygen or proteins, alters the profile of the gradients within the stack. Physically separating the layers after culture isolates subpopulations of cells that migrated different distances, and enables their subsequent analysis or culture. Using this system, three independent cell lines derived from A549 cancer cells are shown to produce distinguishable migration behavior in a gradient of oxygen. This result is the first experimental demonstration that oxygen acts as a chemoattractant for cancer cells. Page 3 of 35 Significance StatementThe invasion of cancerous cells from a tumor into surrounding tissues is one contribution to metastasis-a major contributor to death for patients with cancer. There is a strong link between the directed invasion of cancer cells and the gradients of molecules formed in the microenvironment of the tumor. Using a paper-based invasion assay, this work demonstrates that oxygen-a nutrient known to induce significant behavioral changes to cells within a tumor in a concentration-dependent manner-can also act as a chemoattractant, resulting in the migration of cancer cells towards higher concentrations of oxygen. This finding, and the invasion assay described, could lead to a better understanding of oxygen-based chemotaxis in cancer, and ultimately new strategies for managing metastasis.

Single amino acid chelate (SAAC) systems for the incorporation of the M(CO)(3) moiety (M = Tc/Re) have been successfully incorporated into novel synthetic strategies for radiopharmaceuticals and evaluated in a variety of biological applications. However, the lipophilicity of the first generation Tc(CO)(3)-dipyridyl complexes has resulted in substantial hepatobiliary uptake when either examined as lysine derivatives or integrated into biologically active small molecules and peptides. Here we designed, synthesized, and evaluated novel SAAC systems that have been chemically modified to promote overall Tc(CO)(3)L(3) complex hydrophilicity with the intent of enhancing renal clearance. A series of lysine derived SAAC systems containing functionalized polar imidazole rings and/or carboxylic acids were synthesized via reductive alkylation of the epsilon amino group of lysine. The SAAC systems were radiolabeled with (99m)Tc, purified, and evaluated for radiochemical stability, lipophilicity, and tissue distribution in rats. The log P values of the (99m)Tc complexes were determined experimentally and ranged from -0.91 to -2.33. The resulting complexes were stable (>90%) for at least 24 h. Tissue distribution in normal rats of the lead (99m)Tc complexes demonstrated decreased liver (<1 %ID/g) and gastrointestinal clearance (<1.5%ID/g) and increased kidney clearance (>15 %ID/g) at 2 h after injection compared to the dipyridyl lysine complex (DpK). One of the new SAAC ligands, [(99m)Tc]bis-carboxymethylimidazole lysine, was conjugated to the N-terminus of Tyr-3 octreotide and evaluated for localization in nude mice bearing AR42J xenografts to examine tissue distribution, tumor uptake and retention, clearance, and route of excretion for comparison to (111)In-DOTA-Tyr-3-octreotide and (99m)Tc-DpK-Tyr-3-octreotide. (99m)Tc-bis-(carboxymethylimidazole)-lysine-Tyr-3-octreotide exhibited significantly less liver uptake and gastrointestinal clearance compared to (99m)Tc-DpK-Tyr-3-octreotide while maintaining tumor uptake in the same mouse model. These novel chelators demonstrate that lipophilicity can be controlled and organ distribution significantly altered, opening up broad application of these novel SAAC systems for radiopharmaceutical design.

The persistence of genetic damage produced by alkylating agents 1 as well as the antagonism of essential biochemical processes such as transcription can have lethal consequences for malignant cells. 2 Both mechanisms have been identified in studies to uncover the reasons for the efficacy of cisplatin in the treatment of several cancers. 2a, 3 We describe a synthetic strategy to create bifunctional molecules that produce DNA adducts capable of binding the estrogen receptor (ER), which is aberrantly expressed in many breast cancer cells. 4 It is speculated that DNA adducts that form complexes with the ER will be poorly repaired in these cells because they are camouflaged from detection by DNA repair enzymes. Consequently, the DNA lesions persist. Furthermore, the DNA adducts would be expected to act as "molecular decoys" capable of displacing the ER from its natural targets and antagonizing its role in malignant growth. In healthy cells, where the abundance of the ER is minimal, no such ER-DNA adduct complexes will be present, and the cell should survive. 5 In this report we describe the design and synthesis of compound 1, a bifunctional agent that can form covalent DNA adducts capable of binding the ER with high affinity and specificity. We show that 1 has selective toxicity toward ER+ breast cancer cells compared to ER-cells in vitro.Compound 1 consists of a bis-chloroethyl aniline mustard as the DNA alkylating unit tethered to estradiol, the natural ligand for the ER. The site of substitution of estradiol in 1 was based on reports that relatively large alkyl groups can be attached at the 7α position with retention of high affinity for the ER 6 . The synthetic strategy for 1 is shown in Scheme 1. Compound 7, a key compound in the synthesis, was prepared by a modification of a published strategy. 7 Briefly, 3 was functionalized with a 6-carbon chain at the 7-position in α-stereochemistry to provide the alkenyl steroid 4. Efficient reduction of the 6-oxo group in 4 was achieved with Et 3 SiH/BF 3 .Et 2 O; however, this treatment also caused the loss of 3,17-tetrahydropyranoxy (THP) groups producing diol 5. The 3,17-OHs of 5 were reprotected with THP groups to afford 6, followed by oxidation of the alkene at the terminus of the linker to provide alcohol 7. Steroid alcohol 7 was converted to bromide 8, which was subsequently allowed to react with a protected ethanolamine to give 9. Compound 9 was desilylated with tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) and converted to a carbonate Next, the ability of 1 to modify DNA covalently was investigated. Plasmid DNA was incubated with 100 μM [ 14 C]-1 10 at 37 °C for up to 6 h. After unbound 1 was removed by phenol-CHCl 3 extraction and ethanol precipitation, the radioactivity associated with DNA was measured. The amount of radioactivity bound to DNA increased at a constant rate over the 6-h period indicating the formation of covalently bound 1 (see Supporting Information). Based on previous studies on DNA alkylation by nitrogen mustards, 11 it is likely that covalent adducts of...

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