Synthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of Novel ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RBB as Potential PET Radiotracer for Imaging CDK4/6 in Tumors

Abstract

Many malignant tumors, including breast cancer, exhibit amplification and overexpression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6). Ribociclib, approved and used in clinical treatment, acts as a highly selective CDK4/6 inhibitor for ER+/HER2- breast cancer. By modifying ribociclib with the chelator DOTA, we designed and synthesized a novel CDK4/6-positive PET imaging agent, which was radiolabeled by 68Ga for radioactive tagging. The radiotracer demonstrates high radiochemical purity, excellent stability in vitro and in vivo, and favorable pharmacokinetic characteristics. Cell uptake experiments using MCF-7 cells indicate that an excess of ribociclib (RBB) can inhibit cellular uptake of 68Ga-DOTA-RBB. Imaging and biodistribution experiments in MCF-7 tumor-bearing nude mice show significant radioactive accumulation in the tumor. However, preadministration of excess ribociclib results in a substantial reduction in radioactive accumulation within the tumor. On the basis of our explorations, 68Ga-DOTA-RBB, as a targeted imaging agent for CDK4/6-positive tumors, holds significant potential application values.