Speaker
Description
Monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) is an integral plasma membrane protein that bi-directionally transports lactate and ketone bodies and is highly expressed in non-hypoxic regions of human colon, brain, breast, lung and other tumors. Accordingly, MCT1 inhibitors are regarded to be of potential clinical use. In the current study we developed a new 18F-labeled radioligand for in vivo imaging of MCT1-overexpressing brain tumors by PET.
A new fluorinated analogue of α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (RM231) was synthesized from m-anisidine via alkylation, ortho formylation and Knoevenagel condensation in 50% overall yield. Its MCT1 inhibition activity was evaluated via [14C]lactate uptake assay on rat brain endothelial 4 cells. The mesylated precursor was similarly prepared in 52% overall yield. Radiosynthesis of [18F]RM231 was achieved by a two-step reaction, starting with the radiofluorination using [18F]-K2CO3-K222 complex followed by protective group removal via hydrolysis under optimized reaction conditions.
RM231 showed relatively high MCT1 inhibition activity (IC50 = 12 nM). The radiolabeled intermediate was obtained by an optimized procedure (acetonitrile, 5.5 mg of K222, 0.7 mg of K2CO3, 12-15 GBq of K18F, 100 ̊C, 8 min) with 44-50% yield determined by radio-HPLC analysis (N=3, non-isolated). The final product was obtained by hydrolysis with TFA in dry dichloromethane at room temperature for 10 minutes with 29% yield (radio-HPLC, non-isolated).[18F]RM231 could be obtained after separation using semi-preparative HPLC (RP C18 column; 30% ACN, 20 mM NH4CO2H). Currently, attempts are made to stabilize and formulate the final product appropriately for biological investigation. The newly developed MCT1 radioligand is anticipated to be a useful agent for imaging of the tumors with PET. Accordingly, animal studies on the new radiotracer are currently under investigation.
Acknowledgement: This work was supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation through postdoctoral fellowship for young researcher.
