Purpose: We recently identified CD46 as a novel therapeutic target in prostate cancer. In this study, we developed a CD46-targeted PET radiopharmaceutical, [89Zr]DFO-YS5, and evaluated its performance for immunoPET imaging in murine prostate cancer models. Experimental Design: [89Zr]DFO-YS5 was prepared and its in vitro binding affinity for CD46 was measured. ImmunoPET imaging was conducted in male athymic nu/nu mice bearing DU145 [AR−, CD46+, prostate-specific membrane antigen–negative (PSMA−)] or 22Rv1 (AR+, CD46+, PSMA+) tumors, and in NOD/SCID gamma mice bearing patient-derived adenocarcinoma xenograft, LTL-331, and neuroendocrine prostate cancers, LTL-331R and LTL-545. Results: [89Zr]DFO-YS5 binds specifically to the CD46-positive human prostate cancer DU145 and 22Rv1 xenografts. In biodistribution studies, the tumor uptake of [89Zr]DFO-YS5 was 13.3 ± 3.9 and 11.2 ± 2.5 %ID/g, respectively, in DU145 and 22Rv1 xenografts, 4 days postinjection. Notably, [89Zr]DFO-YS5 demonstrated specific uptake in the PSMA- and AR-negative DU145 model. [89Zr]DFO-YS5 also showed uptake in the patient-derived LTL-331 and -331R models, with particularly high uptake in the LTL-545 neuroendocrine prostate cancer tumors (18.8 ± 5.3, 12.5 ± 1.8, and 32 ± 5.3 %ID/g in LTL-331, LTL-331R, and LTL-545, respectively, at 4 days postinjection). Conclusions: [89Zr]DFO-YS5 is an excellent PET imaging agent across a panel of prostate cancer models, including in both adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine prostate cancer, both cell line- and patient-derived xenografts, and both PSMA-positive and -negative tumors. It demonstrates potential for clinical translation as an imaging agent, theranostic platform, and companion biomarker in prostate cancer.

Purpose: The recent emergence of radioligand therapies for cancer treatment has increased enthusiasm for developing new theranostic strategies coupling both imaging and cytotoxicity in the same entity. In this study, we evaluated whether CUB domain containing protein 1 (CDCP1), a single-pass transmembrane protein highly overexpressed in diverse human cancers, might be a target for cancer theranostics.Experimental Design: The ectodomain of CDCP1 was targeted using radiolabeled forms of 4A06, a potent and specific recombinant human antibody that we developed. Imaging and antitumor assessment studies were performed in animal models of pancreatic cancer, including two patient-derived xenograft models we developed for this study. For antitumor assessment studies, the endpoints were death due to tumor volume >3,000 mm 3 or ≥20% loss in body weight. Specific tracer binding or antitumor effects were assessed with an unpaired, two-tailed Student t test and survival advantages were assessed with a log rank (Mantel-Cox) test. Differences at the 95% confidence level were interpreted to be significant.Results: 89 Zr-4A06 detected a broad dynamic range of full length or cleaved CDCP1 expression on seven human pancreatic cancer tumors (n ¼ 4/tumor). Treating mice with single or fractionated doses of 177 Lu-4A06 significantly reduced pancreatic cancer tumor volume compared with mice receiving vehicle or unlabeled 4A06 (n ¼ 8; P < 0.01). A single dose of 225 Ac-4A06 also inhibited tumor growth, although the effect was less profound compared with 177 Lu-4A06 (n ¼ 8; P < 0.01). A significant survival advantage was imparted by 225 Ac-4A06 (HR ¼ 2.56; P < 0.05).Conclusions: These data establish that CDCP1 can be exploited for theranostics, a finding with widespread implications given its breadth of overexpression in cancer.

A reaction of acetonitrile-solvated AgOCF3 with 1 equiv. of Aryl-BIAN ligand in THF at room-temperature afforded the silver(i) complex (Aryl-BIAN)AgOCF3 (1) in 75% yield. The crystal structure of this silver(i) trifluoromethoxide was determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The molecular structure of 1 shows the metal centre bound to one molecule of BIAN, one trifluoromethoxide and one THF solvate, resulting in a distorted tetrahedral silver. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis were conducted to give insights into the electronic structure of 1 and the bonding characters of the OCF3 group. The reactivity of 1 towards trifluoromethoxylation of organic halides was also examined; a reaction with benzyl bromides gave the desired products of benzyl trifluoromethyl ethers in good to excellent yields.

The biology of human granzymes remains enigmatic in part due to our inability to probe their functions outside of in vitro assays or animal models with divergent granzyme species. We hypothesize that the biology of human granzymes could be better elaborated with a translational imaging technology to reveal the contexts in which granzymes are secreted and biochemically active in vivo. Here, we advance toward this goal by engineering a G ranzyme targeting R estricted I nteraction P eptide specific to family member B (GRIP B) to measure secreted granzyme B (GZMB) biochemistry with positron emission tomography. A proteolytic cleavage of 64 Cu-labeled GRIP B liberates a radiolabeled form of Temporin L, which sequesters the radioisotope by binding to adjacent phospholipid bilayers. Thus, at extended time points postinjection (i.e., hours, not seconds), tissue biodistribution of the radioisotope in vivo reflects relative units of the GZMB activity. As a proof of concept, we show in three syngeneic mouse cancer models that 64 Cu-GRIP B detects GZMB from T cells activated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPI). Remarkably, the radiotracer detects the proteolysis within tumors but also in lymphoid tissue, where immune cells are activated by a systemic CPI. Control experiments with an uncleavable analogue of 64 Cu-GRIP B and tumor imaging studies in germline GZMB knockout mice were applied to show that 64 Cu-GRIP B is specific for GZMB proteolysis. Furthermore, we explored a potential noncytotoxic function for GZMB by applying 64 Cu-GRIP B to a model of pulmonary inflammation. In summary, we demonstrate that granzyme biochemistry can be assessed in vivo using an imaging modality that can be scaled vertically into human subjects.

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A copper(I)-catalyzed interrupted click reaction in the presence of trifluoroacetic anhydride has been developed, wherein an N-trifluoroacetyl group is used to accelerate the ring-opening of the putative 5-copper(I) triazolide intermediate. Under the optimized reaction conditions, a broad range of azides and alkynes were found to participate in this transformation, thus affording 3-trifluoromethyl-substituted 1,2,4-triazinones in moderate to excellent yields. The reaction has proven to be compatible with a variety of electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups, halogens, and nitrogen- and sulfur-containing heterocycles, as well as pharmaceutically relevant molecules.

Redox cycling of iron powers various enzyme functions crucial for life, making the study of iron acquisition, storage, and disposition in the whole organism a worthy topic of inquiry. However, despite its important role in biology and disease, imaging iron in animals with oxidation-state specificity remains an outstanding problem in biology and medicine. Here we report a first-generation reactivity-based probe of labile ferrous iron suitable for positron emission tomography studies in live animals. The responses of this reagent to systemic changes in labile iron disposition were revealed using iron supplementation and sequestration treatments in mice, while the potential of this approach for in vivo imaging of cancer was demonstrated using genetically and pathologically diverse mouse models, including spontaneous tumors arising in a genetically engineered model of prostate cancer driven by loss of PTEN.

The CF3S-substituted moiety serves as an important structural element in many bioactive molecules. A versatile copper catalyst that allowed for trifluoromethylthiolation of primary and secondary α-bromoketones is described. The reaction with readily available elemental sulfur and CF3SiMe3 afforded a broad scope and moderate to good yields of α-trifluoromethylthio-substituted ketones. This procedure represents a very operationally simple yet powerful strategy for the synthesis of α-trifluoromethylthio-substituted ketones, a useful and versatile class of synthetic synthons.