Research & Teaching Faculty

Glypican-3–Targeted 227Th α-Therapy Reduces Tumor Burden in an Orthotopic Xenograft Murine Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

TitleGlypican-3–Targeted 227Th α-Therapy Reduces Tumor Burden in an Orthotopic Xenograft Murine Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsLabadie, KP, Hamlin, DK, Kenoyer, A, Daniel, SK, Utria, AF, Ludwig, AD, Kenerson, HL, LI, LILY, Sham, JG, Chen, DL, Orozco, JJ, Yeung, RS, Orvig, C, Li, Y, D. Wilbur, S, Park, JO
JournalJ. Nucl. Med.
Volume63
Pagination1033–1038
Date Published12/2021
ISSN0161-5505
Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with limited therapeutic options for advanced disease. Targeted α-therapy is an emerging class of targeted cancer therapy in which α-particle–emitting radionuclides, such as 227Th, are delivered specifically to cancer tissue. Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a cell surface glycoprotein highly expressed on HCC. In this study, we describe the development and in vivo efficacy of a 227Th-labeled GPC3-targeting antibody conjugate (227Th-octapa-αGPC3) for treatment of HCC in an orthotopic murine model. Methods: The chelator p-SCN-Bn-H4octapa-NCS (octapa) was conjugated to a GPC3-targeting antibody (αGPC3) for subsequent 227Th radiolabeling (octapa-αGPC3). Conditions were varied to optimize radiolabeling of 227Th. In vitro stability was evaluated by measuring the percentage of protein-bound 227Th by γ-ray spectroscopy. An orthotopic athymic Nu/J murine model using HepG2-Red-FLuc cells was developed. Biodistribution and blood clearance of 227Th-octapa-αGPC3 were evaluated in tumor-bearing mice. The efficacy of 227Th-octapa-αGPC3 was assessed in tumor-bearing animals with serial measurement of serum α-fetoprotein at 23 d after injection. Results: Octapa-conjugated αGPC3 provided up to 70% 227Th labeling yield in 2 h at room temperature. In the presence of ascorbate, at least 97.8% of 227Th was bound to αGPC3-octapa after 14 d in phosphate-buffered saline. In HepG2-Red-FLuc tumor-bearing mice, highly specific GPC3 targeting was observed, with significant 227Th-octapa-αGPC3 accumulation in the tumor over time and minimal accumulation in normal tissue. Twenty-three days after treatment, a significant reduction in tumor burden was observed in mice receiving a 500 kBq/kg dose of 227Th-octapa-αGPC3 by tail-vein injection. No acute off-target toxicity was observed, and no animals died before termination of the study. Conclusion: 227Th-octapa-αGPC3 was observed to be stable in vitro; maintain high specificity for GPC3, with favorable biodistribution in vivo; and result in significant antitumor activity without significant acute off-target toxicity in an orthotopic murine model of HCC.

URLhttps://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/63/7/1033
DOI10.2967/jnumed.121.262562
Refereed DesignationRefereed