Development of a 99Mtc-Labeled Lactam Bridge-Cyclized Alpha-Msh Derivative Peptide As a Possible Single Photon Imaging Agent for Melanoma Tumors Publisher Pubmed



Shamshirian D¹ ; Erfani M² ; Beiki D³ ; Fallahi B³ ; Shafiei M²
Source: Annals of Nuclear Medicine Published:2015

Abstract

Objective: Melanocortin-1 (MC1) receptor is an attractive melanoma-specific target which has been used for melanoma imaging and therapy. In this work, a new lactam bridge α-MSH analog was labeled with 99mTc via HYNIC and EDDA/tricine as coligands including gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) as a three carbon chain spacer between HYNIC and the N-terminus of the cyclic peptide. Also, stability in human serum, receptor bound internalization, in vivo tumor uptake, and tissue biodistribution were thoroughly investigated. Methods: HYNIC-GABA-Nle-CycMSHhept was synthesized using a standard Fmoc strategy. Labeling was performed at 95 °C and analysis involved instant thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography methods. The receptor bound internalization rate was studied in MC1 receptor expressing B16/F10 cells. Biodistribution of radiopeptide was studied in nude mice bearing B16/F10 tumor. Results: Labeling yield of >98 % (n = 3) was obtained corresponding to a specific activity of 81 MBq/nmol. Peptide conjugate showed efficient stability in the presence of human serum. The radioligand showed specific internalization into B16/F10 cells (12.45 ± 1.1 % at 4 h). In biodistribution studies, a receptor-specific uptake was observed in MC1 receptor-positive organs so that after 2 h the uptake in mouse tumor was 5.10 ± 0.08 % ID/g, while low accumulation in the kidney uptake was observed (4.58 ± 0.68 % ID/g at 2 h after injection). Conclusions: The obtained results show that the presented new designed labeled peptide conjugate may be a suitable candidate for diagnosis of malignant tumors. © 2015, The Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine.