Two Novel [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-Labeled Radiotracers Based on Metabolically Stable [Sar¹¹]RM26 Antagonistic Peptide for Diagnostic Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of GRPR-Positive Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Gastrin releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is overexpressed in prostate cancer (PC-3) and can be used for diagnostic purposes. We herein present the design and preclinical evaluation of two novel NOTA/NODAGA-containing peptides suitable for labeling with the positron emission tomography (PET) radionuclide Ga-68. These analogs are based on the previously reported GRPR-antagonist DOTAGA-PEG2-[Sar 11 ]RM26, developed for targeted radiotheraostic applications. Both NOTA-PEG2-[Sar 11 ]RM26 and NODAGA-PEG2-[Sar 11 ]RM26 were successfully labeled with Ga-68 and evaluated in vitro and in vivo using PC-3 cell models. Both, [ 68 Ga]Ga-NOTA-PEG2-[Sar 11 ]RM26 and [ 68 Ga]Ga-NODAGA-PEG2-[Sar 11 ]RM26 displayed high metalchelate stability in phosphate buffered saline and against the EDTA-challenge. The two [ 68 Ga]Ga-labeled conjugates demonstrated highly GRPR-mediated uptake in vitro and in vivo and exhibited a slow internalization over time, typical for radioantagonistis. The [ nat Ga]Ga-loaded peptides displayed affinity in the low nanomole range for GRPR in competition binding experiments. The new radiotracers demonstrated biodistribution profiles suitable for diagnostic imaging shortly after administration with fast background clearance. Their high tumor uptake (13 ± 1 and 15 ± 3% IA/g for NOTA and NODAGA conjugates, respectively) and high tumor-to-blood ratios (60 ± 10 and 220 ± 70, respectively) 3 h pi renders them promising PET tracers for use in patients. Tumor-to-normal organ ratios were higher for [ 68 Ga]Ga-NODAGA-PEG2- [Sar 11 ]RM26 than for the NOTA-containing counterpart. The performance of the two radiopeptides was further supported with the PET/CT images. In conclusion, [ 68 Ga]Ga-NODAGA-PEG2-[Sar 11 ]RM26 is a promising PET imaging tracer for visualization of GRPR-expressing lesions with high imaging contrast shortly after administration.