68 Ga-labeled HER2 affibody with C-terminal cysteine and its PET imaging

Abstract

Objective To label the modified human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) affibody with 68Ga at cysteine position of carboxyl-terminal Gly-Gly-Gly-Cys (GGGC) sequence,and to image the mice model bearing HER2-expressed breast cancer with microPET.Methods The HER2 affibody with carboxyl-terminal cysteine was produced by gene engineering.The 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-tris-aceticacid (DOTA) was conjugated to the thiol (SH)-group of cysteine by DOTA-10-maleimidoethylacetamide (MMA-DOTA).The newly eluted 68Ga was labeled to DOTA-HER2 affibody at 90 ℃.The labeled mixture was purified by C18 cartridge and eluted with anhydrous alcohol.The purified 68Ga-labeled affibody was prepared for cell binding analysis and microPET imaging.The HER2-expressed breast cancer cells MBA-MD-361 were used to analyze cell binding and establish cancer model with BALB/c nude mice.68Ga-labeled affibody (3.7 MBq) was administered to 4 nude mice with breast cancer via tail vein for microPET imaging at 20 and 60 min post injection.The mice were sacrificed immediately after imaging in unconscious state and their tissue/organs (tumor,muscle,bone and heart) were removed for weighing and radioactivity counting by γ counter.The tumor to normal organ ratios of radioactivity (tumor to liver,muscle,bone and heart)were calculated.Results The purity of HER2 affibody was more than 95％.The radiochemical purity of 68Ga-labeled HER2 affibody was 97％.The KD value (affinity) of 68Ga-labeled HER2 affibody was 1.5 nmol/L in HER2positive cells.MicroPET imaging showed that 68Ga-labeled HER2 affibody could bind HER2-positive cancer rapidly and excreted mainly through urinary system.The radioactivity ratios of tumor to liver,muscle,bone and heart were 17.4±1.0,35.1±10.9,20.7±6.2 and 20.9±4.0,respectively.Conclusions 68Ga could be labeled to HER2 affibody.The 68Ga-labeled HER2 affibody may be useful for PET imaging of HER2-positive tumor. Key words: Breast neoplasms ; Receptors, epidemal growth factor-urogastrone ; Affibody ; Cysteine; Gallium radioisotopes; Radionuclide imaging; Mice, nude