68Ga-labeled oligonucleotides for in vivo imaging with PET

Abstract

The biologic evaluation in living rats of (68)Ga-labeled oligonucleotides as imaging agents for PET is reported.

Methods: (68)Ga, a positron-emitting radionuclide (half-life, 68 min), along with a macrocyclic chelating agent, 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N",N"'-tetraacetic acid (DOTA), was used for labeling of antisense oligonucleotides targeting activated human K-ras oncogene. The biologic properties of 3 different forms of the oligonucleotides-that is, 2'-deoxyphosphodiester (PO), 2'-deoxyphosphorothioate (PS), and 2'-O-methyl phosphodiester (OMe)-were studied first. The biodistribution and biokinetics were evaluated in vivo in athymic rats, each bearing a tumor of A549 cells, containing K-ras point mutation in codon 12, and a tumor of BxPC-3 cells, containing wild-type K-ras. Dynamic PET imaging lasting up to 2 h was performed immediately after intravenous injection of (68)Ga-oligonucleotide. Blank studies were performed using (68)GaCl(3) or (68)Ga-DOTA alone without oligonucleotide. The (68)Ga-antisense oligonucleotide uptake in tumors was also compared with the (18)F-FDG and (68)Ga-sense oligonucleotide uptakes. In addition, oligonucleotide binding to human plasma proteins and to human albumin was examined by means of ultrafiltration.

Results: The oligonucleotides can be stably labeled with (68)Ga and DOTA chelate. Intravenously injected (68)Ga-oligonucleotides of 17-mer length revealed high-quality PET images, allowing quantification of the biokinetics in major organs and in tumors. The biodistribution and biokinetics of intravenously administered (68)Ga-oligonucleotide varied considerably with the nature of the oligonucleotide backbone.

Conclusion: We conclude that (68)Ga labeling of oligonucleotides is a convenient approach for in vivo imaging and quantification of oligonucleotide biokinetics in living animals with PET.