Purpose
Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a membrane-bound protease that has limited expression in normal adult tissues but is highly expressed in the tumor microenvironment of many solid cancers. FAP-2286 is a FAP-binding peptide coupled to a radionuclide chelator that is currently being investigated in patients as an imaging and therapeutic agent. The potency, selectivity, and efficacy of FAP-2286 were evaluated in preclinical studies.
Methods
FAP expression analysis was performed by immunohistochemistry and autoradiography on primary human cancer specimens. FAP-2286 was assessed in biochemical and cellular assays and in in vivo imaging and efficacy studies, and was further evaluated against FAPI-46, a small molecule–based FAP-targeting agent.
Results
Immunohistochemistry confirmed elevated levels of FAP expression in multiple tumor types including pancreatic, breast, and sarcoma, which correlated with FAP binding by FAP-2286 autoradiography. FAP-2286 and its metal complexes demonstrated high affinity to FAP recombinant protein and cell surface FAP expressed on fibroblasts. Biodistribution studies in mice showed rapid and persistent uptake of 68Ga-FAP-2286, 111In-FAP-2286, and 177Lu-FAP-2286 in FAP-positive tumors, with renal clearance and minimal uptake in normal tissues. 177Lu-FAP-2286 exhibited antitumor activity in FAP-expressing HEK293 tumors and sarcoma patient-derived xenografts, with no significant weight loss. In addition, FAP-2286 maintained longer tumor retention and suppression in comparison to FAPI-46.
Conclusion
In preclinical models, radiolabeled FAP-2286 demonstrated high tumor uptake and retention, as well as potent efficacy in FAP-positive tumors. These results support clinical development of 68Ga-FAP-2286 for imaging and 177Lu-FAP-2286 for therapeutic use in a broad spectrum of FAP-positive tumors.
Aim Aim of the study was to establish parameters for 99mTc-MAG3 SPECT renal uptake kinetics in healthy SCID mice as a function of mouse strain and sex and to evaluate the feasibility of this method for detecting 177Lu-somatostatin receptor ligand (177Lu-SRL) treatment effects on kidney function.
Materials and Methods Dynamic semi-stationary SPECT acquisitions (68 frames, total duration 35 min) was started prior to i. v. injection of 99mTc-MAG3 in 12 female and 12 male SCID mice. Additionally, 6 female SCID mice with neuroendocrine tumors were imaged 1–5 months after 177Lu-SRL (5 DOTATOC, 1 DOTA-JR11) treatment. Kidney function is expressed as maximum time to peak (Tmax), T50 and T25 in minutes (median [interquartile range]). Differences between groups were tested using the Mann-Whitney-U test, and SCID mouse parameters were compared with data for C57BL/6N mice from a recent publication.
Results Significant sex-based differences in Tmax between strains were observed (females: C57BL/6N 1.6 [1.4–1.7], SCID 1.4 [1.3–1.5], p = 0.05; males: C57BL/6N 1.4 [1.3–1.4], SCID 1.6 [1.4–1.7], p = 0.04). In C57BL/6N mice, females showed a later Tmax (p < 0.01) than males. SCID mice showed no difference (p = 0.14). Treated SCID mice showed no significant delay in Tmax (2.0 [1.4–2.7], p = 0.15) but a significant delay in T50 (p = 0.02) and T25 (p = 0.01) compared to healthy untreated mice.
Conclusion This study demonstrated significant sex-related differences between SCID and C57BL/6N mouse strains in kidney function. Establishment of normal values for different strains and sexes therefore is important for experimental therapy studies. Renal SPECT imaging with 99mTc-MAG3 was sufficiently sensitive to detect 177Lu-SRL treatment toxic effects on kidney function in SCID mice.
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