RM2 and DB15 analogues bearing [177Lu]Lu-DOTAGA via different linkers, as radiotherapeutics: a head-to-head comparative study

Abstract Background Bombesin analogues are gaining popularity as GRPR-targeting theranostic agents aiming to provide molecular tools for a patient-tailored management. We previously reported on two series of DOTAGA-bearing GRPR-antagonists, based on either [NMe-Gly11]RM26 (DOTAGA-X-DPhe-Gln-Trp-Ala-...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Panagiotis Kanellopoulos, Athanasios Bitzios, Ivan Zelepukin, Ekaterina Bezverkhniaia, Theodosia Maina, Berthold A. Nock, Vladimir Tolmachev, Anna Orlova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-07-01
Series:EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41181-025-00374-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849332455490715648
author Panagiotis Kanellopoulos
Athanasios Bitzios
Ivan Zelepukin
Ekaterina Bezverkhniaia
Theodosia Maina
Berthold A. Nock
Vladimir Tolmachev
Anna Orlova
author_facet Panagiotis Kanellopoulos
Athanasios Bitzios
Ivan Zelepukin
Ekaterina Bezverkhniaia
Theodosia Maina
Berthold A. Nock
Vladimir Tolmachev
Anna Orlova
author_sort Panagiotis Kanellopoulos
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Bombesin analogues are gaining popularity as GRPR-targeting theranostic agents aiming to provide molecular tools for a patient-tailored management. We previously reported on two series of DOTAGA-bearing GRPR-antagonists, based on either [NMe-Gly11]RM26 (DOTAGA-X-DPhe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-NMe-Gly-His-Sta-Leu-NH2) or on DB15 (DOTAGA-X-SAR; SAR: DPhe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-NMe-Gly-His-Leu-NHEt) motifs, which were preclinically screened after labelling with In-111. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate in vitro and in vivo the four best-performing agents, AU-RM26-M2 (X: PEG2-Pip; Pip: 4-amino-1-carboxymethyl-piperidine), AU-RM26-M4 (X: Arg-Arg-Pip), AU-SAR-M1 (X: AMA-DIG; AMA: p-amino methylaniline, DIG: diglycolate) and AU-SAR-M2 (Arg-AMA-DIG), this time labelled with the therapeutic radionuclide Lu-177. Results All four [177Lu]Lu-peptide radioligands displayed highly GRPR-mediated cellular uptake, showing the typical profile of radioantagonists, with the bulk of cell-associated radioactivity being membrane-bound. The analogues demonstrated good in vivo stability, which was however further improved by in situ stabilization induced by pretreatment of animals with Entresto as the source of the potent neprilysin (NEP)-inhibitor sacubitrilat. The biodistribution profile of the four radiopeptides was determined in prostate cancer PC-3 xenograft-bearing mice at 4 h and 23 h pi, after Entresto pre-treatment. All peptide radioligands had a rapid clearance from the background tissues, with the highest activity uptake found in the implanted tumours, the kidneys and to a lesser extent the GRPR-rich pancreas. The activity in the pancreas and, on a smaller scale, in the kidneys was washed out by 23 h pi, while being highly retained in the tumours. Among the tested analogues, [177Lu]Lu-AU-SAR-M1 displayed the overall most favourable properties, combining the lowest retention in the kidneys with high and prolonged activity accumulation in the tumours. As a result, [177Lu]Lu-AU-SAR-M1 provided the best area under the curve (AUC) ratio between tumour and kidneys (5.4), in comparison with [177Lu]Lu-AU-SAR-M2 (3.8), [177Lu]Lu-AU-RM26-M4 (3.4), and [177Lu]Lu-AU-RM26-M2 (1.1). Conclusions In conclusion, these results qualify [177Lu]Lu-AU-SAR-M1 as the candidate of choice for further evaluation in a dedicated preclinical radiotherapy study.
format Article
id doaj-art-2aaa216fb9e745e082c090c0a3ad17db
institution Kabale University
issn 2365-421X
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry
spelling doaj-art-2aaa216fb9e745e082c090c0a3ad17db2025-08-20T03:46:12ZengSpringerOpenEJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry2365-421X2025-07-0110111810.1186/s41181-025-00374-3RM2 and DB15 analogues bearing [177Lu]Lu-DOTAGA via different linkers, as radiotherapeutics: a head-to-head comparative studyPanagiotis Kanellopoulos0Athanasios Bitzios1Ivan Zelepukin2Ekaterina Bezverkhniaia3Theodosia Maina4Berthold A. Nock5Vladimir Tolmachev6Anna Orlova7Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala UniversityMolecular Radiopharmacy, INRaSTES, NCSR “Demokritos”Molecular Radiopharmacy, INRaSTES, NCSR “Demokritos”Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala UniversityAbstract Background Bombesin analogues are gaining popularity as GRPR-targeting theranostic agents aiming to provide molecular tools for a patient-tailored management. We previously reported on two series of DOTAGA-bearing GRPR-antagonists, based on either [NMe-Gly11]RM26 (DOTAGA-X-DPhe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-NMe-Gly-His-Sta-Leu-NH2) or on DB15 (DOTAGA-X-SAR; SAR: DPhe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-NMe-Gly-His-Leu-NHEt) motifs, which were preclinically screened after labelling with In-111. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate in vitro and in vivo the four best-performing agents, AU-RM26-M2 (X: PEG2-Pip; Pip: 4-amino-1-carboxymethyl-piperidine), AU-RM26-M4 (X: Arg-Arg-Pip), AU-SAR-M1 (X: AMA-DIG; AMA: p-amino methylaniline, DIG: diglycolate) and AU-SAR-M2 (Arg-AMA-DIG), this time labelled with the therapeutic radionuclide Lu-177. Results All four [177Lu]Lu-peptide radioligands displayed highly GRPR-mediated cellular uptake, showing the typical profile of radioantagonists, with the bulk of cell-associated radioactivity being membrane-bound. The analogues demonstrated good in vivo stability, which was however further improved by in situ stabilization induced by pretreatment of animals with Entresto as the source of the potent neprilysin (NEP)-inhibitor sacubitrilat. The biodistribution profile of the four radiopeptides was determined in prostate cancer PC-3 xenograft-bearing mice at 4 h and 23 h pi, after Entresto pre-treatment. All peptide radioligands had a rapid clearance from the background tissues, with the highest activity uptake found in the implanted tumours, the kidneys and to a lesser extent the GRPR-rich pancreas. The activity in the pancreas and, on a smaller scale, in the kidneys was washed out by 23 h pi, while being highly retained in the tumours. Among the tested analogues, [177Lu]Lu-AU-SAR-M1 displayed the overall most favourable properties, combining the lowest retention in the kidneys with high and prolonged activity accumulation in the tumours. As a result, [177Lu]Lu-AU-SAR-M1 provided the best area under the curve (AUC) ratio between tumour and kidneys (5.4), in comparison with [177Lu]Lu-AU-SAR-M2 (3.8), [177Lu]Lu-AU-RM26-M4 (3.4), and [177Lu]Lu-AU-RM26-M2 (1.1). Conclusions In conclusion, these results qualify [177Lu]Lu-AU-SAR-M1 as the candidate of choice for further evaluation in a dedicated preclinical radiotherapy study.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41181-025-00374-3GRPRBombesinLu-177RadiotherapyPRRTPharmacokinetics
spellingShingle Panagiotis Kanellopoulos
Athanasios Bitzios
Ivan Zelepukin
Ekaterina Bezverkhniaia
Theodosia Maina
Berthold A. Nock
Vladimir Tolmachev
Anna Orlova
RM2 and DB15 analogues bearing [177Lu]Lu-DOTAGA via different linkers, as radiotherapeutics: a head-to-head comparative study
EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry
GRPR
Bombesin
Lu-177
Radiotherapy
PRRT
Pharmacokinetics
title RM2 and DB15 analogues bearing [177Lu]Lu-DOTAGA via different linkers, as radiotherapeutics: a head-to-head comparative study
title_full RM2 and DB15 analogues bearing [177Lu]Lu-DOTAGA via different linkers, as radiotherapeutics: a head-to-head comparative study
title_fullStr RM2 and DB15 analogues bearing [177Lu]Lu-DOTAGA via different linkers, as radiotherapeutics: a head-to-head comparative study
title_full_unstemmed RM2 and DB15 analogues bearing [177Lu]Lu-DOTAGA via different linkers, as radiotherapeutics: a head-to-head comparative study
title_short RM2 and DB15 analogues bearing [177Lu]Lu-DOTAGA via different linkers, as radiotherapeutics: a head-to-head comparative study
title_sort rm2 and db15 analogues bearing 177lu lu dotaga via different linkers as radiotherapeutics a head to head comparative study
topic GRPR
Bombesin
Lu-177
Radiotherapy
PRRT
Pharmacokinetics
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41181-025-00374-3
work_keys_str_mv AT panagiotiskanellopoulos rm2anddb15analoguesbearing177luludotagaviadifferentlinkersasradiotherapeuticsaheadtoheadcomparativestudy
AT athanasiosbitzios rm2anddb15analoguesbearing177luludotagaviadifferentlinkersasradiotherapeuticsaheadtoheadcomparativestudy
AT ivanzelepukin rm2anddb15analoguesbearing177luludotagaviadifferentlinkersasradiotherapeuticsaheadtoheadcomparativestudy
AT ekaterinabezverkhniaia rm2anddb15analoguesbearing177luludotagaviadifferentlinkersasradiotherapeuticsaheadtoheadcomparativestudy
AT theodosiamaina rm2anddb15analoguesbearing177luludotagaviadifferentlinkersasradiotherapeuticsaheadtoheadcomparativestudy
AT bertholdanock rm2anddb15analoguesbearing177luludotagaviadifferentlinkersasradiotherapeuticsaheadtoheadcomparativestudy
AT vladimirtolmachev rm2anddb15analoguesbearing177luludotagaviadifferentlinkersasradiotherapeuticsaheadtoheadcomparativestudy
AT annaorlova rm2anddb15analoguesbearing177luludotagaviadifferentlinkersasradiotherapeuticsaheadtoheadcomparativestudy