PURPOSE
Both 131I- and 123I-labeled meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) have been widely used in the clinic for targeted imaging of the norepinephrine transporter (NET). The human NET (hNET) gene has been imaged successfully with 124I-MIBG PET at time points of >24 h post-injection. [18F]Fluorine-labeled MIBG analogs may be ideal to image hNET expression at time points of <8 h post-injection. We developed improved methods for the synthesis of known MIBG analogs, [18F]MFBG and [18F]PFBG and evaluated them in hNET reporter gene-transduced C6 rat glioma cells and xenografts.
METHODS
[18F]MFBG and [18F]PFBG were synthesized manually using a 3-step synthetic scheme. Wild-type and hNET reporter gene-transduced C6 rat glioma cells and xenografts were used to comparatively evaluate the 18F-labeled analogs with 123I/[124I]MIBG.
RESULTS
The fluorination efficacy on benzonitrile was predominantly determined by the position of the trimethylammonium group. The para-isomer afforded higher yields (75±7%) than meta-isomer (21±5%). The reaction of [18F]fluorobenzylamine with 1H–pyrazole-1-carboximidamide was more efficient than with 2-methyl-2-thiopseudourea. The overall radiochemical yields (decay-corrected) were 11±2% (n = 12) for [18F]MFBG, and 41±12% (n = 5) for [18F]PFBG, respectively. The specific uptakes of [18F]MFBG and [18F]PFBG were similar in C6-hNET cells, but 4-fold less than that of 123I/[124I]MIBG. However, in vivo [18F]MFBG accumulation in C6-hNET tumors was 1.6-fold higher than that of [18F]PFBG at 1 h p.i., whereas their uptakes were similar at 4 h. Despite [18F]MFBG having a 2.8-fold lower affinity to hNET and approximately 4-fold lower cell uptake in vitro compared to 123I/[124I]MIBG, PET imaging demonstrated that [18F]MFBG was able to visualize C6-hNET xenografts better than [124I]MIBG. Biodistribution studies showed [18F]MFBG and 123I-MIBG had a similar tumor accumulation, which was lower than that of no-carrier-added [124I]MIBG; but [18F]MFBG showed a significantly more rapid body clearance and lower uptake in most non-targeting organs.
CONCLUSION
[18F]MFBG and [18F]PFBG were synthesized in reasonable radiochemical yields under milder conditions. [18F]MFBG is a better PET ligand to image hNET expression in vivo at 1 to 4 h post injection, than both [18F]PFBG and 123I/[124I]MIBG.