3.

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP), which promotes tumor growth and progression, is overexpressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts of many human epithelial cancers. Because of its low expression in normal organs, FAP is an excellent target for theranostics. In this study, we used radionuclides with relatively long half-lives, 64 Cu (half-life, 12.7 h) and 225 Ac (half-life, 10 d), to label FAP inhibitors (FAPIs) in mice with human pancreatic cancer xenografts. Methods: Male nude mice (body weight, 22.5 ± 1.2 g) were subcutaneously injected with human pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1, n 5 12; MIA PaCa-2, n 5 8). Tumor xenograft mice were investigated after the intravenous injection of 64 Cu-FAPI-04 (7.21 ± 0.46 MBq) by dynamic and delayed PET scans (2.5 h after injection). Static scans 1 h after the injection of 68 Ga-FAPI-04 (3.6 ± 1.4 MBq) were also acquired for comparisons using the same cohort of mice (n 5 8). Immunohistochemical staining was performed to confirm FAP expression in tumor xenografts using an FAP-α-antibody. For radioligand therapy, 225 Ac-FAPI-04 (34 kBq) was injected into PANC-1 xenograft mice (n 5 6). Tumor size was monitored and compared with that of control mice (n 5 6). Results: Dynamic imaging of 64 Cu-FAPI-04 showed rapid clearance through the kidneys and slow washout from tumors. Delayed PET imaging of 64 Cu-FAPI-04 showed mild uptake in tumors and relatively high uptake in the liver and intestine. Accumulation levels in the tumor or normal organs were significantly higher for 64 Cu-FAPI-04 than for 68 Ga-FAPI-04, except in the heart, and excretion in the urine was higher for 68 Ga-FAPI-04 than for 64 Cu-FAPI-04. Immunohistochemical staining revealed abundant FAP expression in the stroma of xenografts. 225 Ac-FAPI-04 injection showed significant tumor growth suppression in the PANC-1 xenograft mice, compared with the control mice, without a significant change in body weight. Conclusion: This proof-of-concept study showed that 64 Cu-FAPI-04 and 225 Ac-FAPI-04 could be used in theranostics for the treatment of FAP-expressing pancreatic cancer. α-therapy targeting FAP in the cancer stroma is effective and will contribute to the development of a new treatment strategy.

ABSTRACT:Schisandra fruit, a Schisandraceae family herb, is used as a component in Kampo medicines (developed from Chinese medicines, but established in Japan). It can act as a sedative and antitussive, improve hepatic function, and give a general tonic effect. An extract of Schisandra fruit has been shown with a potent inhibitory effect on human liver microsomal erythromycin N-demethylation activity mediated by cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). The present study was conducted to identify Schisandra fruit components having inhibitory effects on CYP3A4 by surveying the effect on human liver microsomal erythromycin N-demethylation activity. Known components of Schisandra fruit, gomisins B, C, G, and N and ␥-shizandrin, showed inhibitory effects on N-demethylation activity. Among these components, gomisin C displayed the most potent and competitive inhibitory effect, with a K i value of 0.049 M. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of gomisin C was stronger than that of ketoconazole (K i ‫؍‬ 0.070 M), a known potent CYP3A4 inhibitor. Gomisin C, however, inhibited CYP1A2-, CYP2C9-, CYP2C19-, and CYP2D6-dependent activities only to a limited extent (IC 50 values >10 M). Moreover, gomisin C inactivated human liver microsomal erythromycin N-demethylation activity in a timeand concentration-dependent manner. The inactivation kinetic parameters k inact and K I were 0.092 min ؊1 and 0.399 M, respectively.The human liver microsomal erythromycin N-demethylation activity inactivated by gomisin C did not recover on dialysis of the microsomes. Spectral scanning of CYP3A4 with gomisin C yielded an absorbance at 455 nm, suggesting that gomisin C inactivated the cytochrome P450 via the formation of a metabolite intermediate complex. This pattern is consistent with the metabolism of the methylenedioxy substituent in gomisin C. These results indicate that gomisin C is a mechanism-based inhibitor that not only competitively inhibits but irreversibly inactivates CYP3A4.

Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-ligand PET/CT is performed in patients with prostate cancer to stage the disease initially or to identify sites of recurrence after definitive therapy. 18 F-PSMA-1007 is a promising PSMA-PET tracer based on clinical results, but detailed histologic confirmation has been lacking.

211At is an α-emitter that has similar chemical properties to iodine and is used in targeted α-therapy. In the present study, we added ascorbic acid (AA) to 211At solution to increase the radiochemical purity of astatide and evaluated its efficacy against differentiated thyroid cancer, which is characterized by the expression of sodium/iodide symporter (NIS). Methods: Crude 211At solution (AA(−)) and 211At solution treated with AA (AA(+)) were prepared. Uptake by the thyroid was compared between the 2 solutions in normal male Wistar rats (n = 6). Cellular uptake in K1-NIS cells was analyzed under the AA(+) and AA(−) conditions. AA(+) was injected at 3 doses into K1-NIS xenograft mice: 1 MBq (n = 6), 0.4 MBq (n = 6), and 0.1 MBq (n = 6), and vehicle was injected into control mice (n = 6). The treatment effects were compared among the 4 groups. Results: Uptake by the thyroid was significantly enhanced in rats injected with the AA(+) as compared with those injected with AA(−). Cellular uptake analysis showed significantly increased uptake of 211At by the K1-NIS cells under the AA(+) condition as compared with the AA(−) condition. In the mouse xenograft model, the K1-NIS tumors showed significant accumulation of 211At at 3 and 24 h after administration (22.5 ± 10.4 and 12.9 ± 6.8 percentage injected dose, respectively). Tumor growth was immediately inhibited in a dose-dependent manner after administration of 211At. In the survival analysis, the 211At groups (0.1, 0.4, and 1 MBq) showed significantly better survival than the control group. Conclusion: Uptake of 211At was enhanced in differentiated thyroid cancer cells as well as the normal thyroid using 211At solution treated with AA. The method also showed dose-dependent efficacy against the K1-NIS xenografts, suggesting its potential applicability to targeted α-therapy.