3′-Deoxy-3′-[18F]-Fluorothymidine PET Imaging Reflects PI3K-mTOR-Mediated Pro-Survival Response to Targeted Therapy in Colorectal Cancer

Biomarkers that predict response to targeted therapy in oncology are an essential component of personalized medicine. In preclinical treatment response studies that featured models of wild-type KRAS or mutant BRAF colorectal cancer treated with either cetuximab or vemurafenib, respectively, we illustrate that [¹⁸F]-FLT PET, a non-invasive molecular imaging readout of thymidine salvage, closely reflects pro-survival responses to targeted therapy that are mediated by PI3K-mTOR activity. Activation of pro-survival mechanisms forms the basis of numerous modes of resistance. Therefore, we conclude that [¹⁸F]-FLT PET may serve a novel and potentially critical role to predict tumors that exhibit molecular features that tend to reflect recalcitrance to MAPK-targeted therapy. Though these studies focused on colorectal cancer, we envision that the results may be applicable to other solid tumors as well.     

Synthesis and preclinical characterization of 1-(6′-deoxy-6′-[18F]fluoro-β-d-allofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (β-6′-[18F]FAZAL) as a positron emission tomography radiotracer to assess tumor hypoxia

Positron emission tomography (PET) using fluorine-18 (¹⁸F)-labeled 2-nitroimidazole radiotracers has proven useful for assessment of tumor oxygenation. However, the passive diffusion-driven cellular uptake of currently available radiotracers results in slow kinetics and low tumor-to-background ratios. With the aim to develop a compound that is actively transported into cells, 1-(6′-deoxy-6′-[¹⁸F]fluoro-β-d-allofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (β-[¹⁸F]1), a putative nucleoside transporter substrate, was synthetized by nucleophilic [¹⁸F]fluoride substitution of an acetyl protected labeling precursor with a tosylate leaving group (β-6) in a final radiochemical yield of 12 ± 8% (n = 10, based on [¹⁸F]fluoride starting activity) in a total synthesis time of 60 min with a specific activity at end of synthesis of 218 ± 58 GBq/μmol (n = 10). Both radiolabeling precursor β-6 and unlabeled reference compound β-1 were prepared in multistep syntheses starting from 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-allofuranose. In vitro experiments demonstrated an interaction of β-1 with SLC29A1 and SLC28A1/2/3 nucleoside transporter as well as hypoxia specific retention of β-[¹⁸F]1 in tumor cell lines. In biodistribution studies in healthy mice β-[¹⁸F]1 showed homogenous tissue distribution and excellent metabolic stability, which was unaffected by tissue oxygenation. PET studies in tumor bearing mice showed tumor-to-muscle ratios of 2.13 ± 0.22 (n = 4) at 2 h after administration of β-[¹⁸F]1. In ex vivo autoradiography experiments β-[¹⁸F]1 distribution closely matched staining with the hypoxia marker pimonidazole. In conclusion, β-[¹⁸F]1 shows potential as PET hypoxia radiotracer which merits further investigation.     

Synthesis and radiopharmacological investigation of 3-[4′-[18F]fluorobenzylidene]indolin-2-one as possible tyrosine kinase inhibitor

The radiosynthesis and radiopharmacological evaluation of 3-[4′-[¹⁸F]fluorobenzylidene]indolin-2-one, a derivative of tyrosine kinase inhibitor SU5416, is described. The radiosynthesis was accomplished by Knoevenagel condensation of 4-[¹⁸F]fluorobenzaldehyde with oxindole in a remotely controlled synthesis module. The reaction conditions were optimized through screening the influence of different bases on the radiochemical yield. The radiotracer was obtained after a two-step labelling procedure in 4% decay-corrected radiochemical yield at a specific activity of 48–61 GBq/μmol within 90 min. The radiochemical purity after semi-preparative HPLC purification exceeded 98%.The biodistribution was studied in Wistar rats. After distribution the radiotracer was rapidly accumulated in the adrenals, liver and kidneys, however, it was cleared from these and the most other organs. Only the adipose tissue remained the activity over 60 min. Unexpected high transient uptake was observed in the brain, pancreas, heart and lung. The fast clearance of 3-[4′-[¹⁸F]fluorobenzylidene]indolin-2-one was caused by excretion, approximately one half each was renal and biliary excreted and the other part cleared by metabolic processes. In arterial blood plasma two more polar metabolites were found by radio-HPLC. After 20 min post-injection, only 12% of intact radiotracer has been detected. Consequently, in small animal PET studies with FaDu tumour bearing mice no specific uptake in the tumours could be observed.     

Combined Injection of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose and 3′-Deoxy-3′-[18F]fluorothymidine PET Achieves More Complete Identification of Viable Lung Cancer Cells in Mice and Patients than Individual Radiopharmaceutical: A Proof-of-Concept Study

PURPOSE: The objective is to validate the combination of 3′-deoxy-3′-[¹⁸F]fluorothymidine (¹⁸F-FLT) and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) as a “novel” positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for better visualization of cancer cell components in solid cancers than individual radiopharmaceutical. METHODS: Nude mice with subcutaneous xenografts of human non-small cell lung cancer A549 and HTB177 cells and patients with lung cancer were included. In ex vivo study, intratumoral radioactivity of ¹⁸F-FDG, ¹⁸F-FLT, and the cocktail of ¹⁸F-FDG and ¹⁸F-FLT detected by autoradiography was compared with hypoxia (by pimonidazole) and proliferation (by bromodeoxyuridine) in tumor section. In in vivo study, first, ¹⁸F-FDG PET and ¹⁸F-FLT PET were conducted in the same subjects (mice and patients) 10 to 14 hours apart. Second, PET scan was also performed 1 hour after one tracer injection; subsequently, the other was administered and followed the second PET scan in the mouse. Finally, ¹⁸F-FDG and ¹⁸F-FLT cocktail PET scan was also performed in the mouse. RESULTS: When injected individually, ¹⁸F-FDG highly accumulated in hypoxic zones and high ¹⁸F-FLT in proliferative cancer cells. In case of cocktail injection, high radioactivity correlated with hypoxic regions and highly proliferative and normoxic regions. PET detected that intratumoral distribution of ¹⁸F-FDG and ¹⁸F-FLT was generally mismatched in both rodents and patients. Combination of ¹⁸F-FLT and ¹⁸F-FDG appeared to map more cancer tissue than single-tracer PET. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of ¹⁸F-FDG and ¹⁸F-FLT PET imaging would give a more accurate representation of total viable tumor tissue than either tracer alone and would be a powerful imaging strategy for cancer management.     

Stereocontrolled Facile Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of (3′S) and (3′R)-3′-Amino (and Azido)-3′-Deoxy Pyranonucleosides

This article describes the synthesis of (3 ′S) and (3 ′R)-3 ′-amino-3 ′-deoxy pyranonucleosides and their precursors (3 ′S) and (3 ′R)-3 ′-azido-3 ′-deoxy pyranonucleosides. Azidation of 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-O-toluenesulfonyl-α-D-allofuranose followed by hydrolysis and subsequent acetylation afforded 3-azido-3-deoxy-1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-D-glucopyranose, which upon coupling with the proper silylated bases, deacetylation, and catalytic hydrogenation, obtained the target 3 ′-amino-3 ′-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranonucleosides. The desired 1-(3 ′-amino-3 ′-deoxy-β-D-allopyranosyl)5-fluorouracil was readily prepared from the suitable imidazylate sugar after azidation followed by a protection/deprotection sequence and reduction of the unprotected azido precursor. No antiviral activity was observed for the novel nucleosides. Moderate cytostatic activity was recorded for the 5-fluorouracil derivatives.     

高丛蓝莓类黄酮3′-羟化酶基因F3′H的克隆及表达特性分析

以高丛蓝莓(Highbush blueberry)"喜来(Sierra)"和"日出(Sunrise)"为研究材料,通过RACE(rapid amplification of c DNA end,RACE)技术获得蓝莓(Vaccinium ssp.)F3′H基因的全长c DNA序列,并使用生物信息学工具对该基因编码蛋白的氨基酸组成及理化性质、二级和三级结构,以及氨基酸序列的相似性等进行了预测和分析。利用荧光定量PCR(RT-q PCR)手段来检测其在蓝莓果实不同发育时期表达情况。结果表明:Vs F3′H全长c DNA为1 871 bp,编码530个氨基酸,蛋白相对分子质量为58.33 k D,理论p I值为7.32;蛋白疏水性指数为0.004,属于疏水性蛋白,二三级结构预测可知其富含α-螺旋和无规则卷曲。RT-q PCR发现Vs F3′H主要在果实发育前期表达量较高,蓝果期表达量明显下调,且在不同品种中以蓝果期的表达量差异显著。这些研究结果为解析蓝莓果实色泽发育及果树分子育种奠定了理论基础。     

Synthesis of 3′-N-Substituted 3′-Amino-3′-Deoxythymidine Derivatives

Abstract

A series of 3′-N-substituted 3′-amino-3′-deoxythymidine derivatives with alkyl, alkenyl and alkylaryl substituents was synthesized by two methods. The first method involved the reaction of 1-(2,3-dideoxy-3-0-mesyl-5-0-trityl-β-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)thymine with an appropriate amine. In the second method, 3′-amino-5′-0-trityl-3′-deoxy-thymidine served as a synthetic precursor which was reacted with an appropiate aldehyde or ketone followed by sodium borohydride reduction. An improved synthesis of 3′-amino-3′-deoxythymidine from 3′ -azido-5′-0-trityl-3′-deoxythymidine using sodium borohydride was also described.     

矮牵牛编码F3′5′H的蓝色基因表达载体构建及转化

类黄酮3',5'羟基化酶(Flavonoid-3',5'hydroxylase,F3'5'H)是花色苷代谢途径中的一个关键酶,能使花色素合成趋向于形成蓝色的飞燕草色素,从而使花色向蓝紫色偏移.本研究从蓝紫色矮牵牛(Petunia hybrida)花瓣中克隆了编码F3'5,H的蓝色基因Hf1,并通过PCR技术获得百合花特异表达启动子(PchsA),将百合PchsA与Hf1基因融合,构建了百合花特异表达启动子调控的Hf1基因植物表达载体,通过农杆菌介导的叶盘法转化粉红色矮牵牛.抗性筛选和PCR检测鉴定转基因植株,结果表明,成功地获得了转基因阳性植株.     

Oligomerization of 3′-amino-3′-deoxyguanosine-5′-phosphorimidazolidate on a d(CpCpCpCpC) template

Summary 3-Amino-3-deoxyguanosine-5-phosphorimidazolidate (ImpGnh ₂) oligomerizes more rapidly and regiospecifically than related nucleotide derivatives on a d(CpCpCpCpC) template. The greater nucleophilicity of the amino group leads to efficient oligomerization even when the structure of the double-helical complex formed by the template and the substrate is not optimal for reaction. The use of amine-containing analogues should permit us to develop models of potentially prebiotic polymerization reactions that cannot be studied easily using natural nucleotides.     

¹⁸F]GE-180: a novel fluorine-18 labelled PET tracer for imaging Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO)

A series of tricyclic compounds have been synthesised and evaluated in vitro for affinity against Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) and for preferred imaging properties. The most promising of the compounds were radiolabelled and evaluated in vivo to determine biodistribution and specificity for high expressing TSPO regions. Metabolite profiling in brain and plasma was also investigated. Evaluation in an autoradiography model of neuroinflammation was also carried out for the best compound, 12a ([(18)F]GE-180).     

蝴蝶兰F3′5′H基因转化OT杂种百合Robina的研究

为了定向育种获得蓝色百合,该研究以百合Robina为蓝色基因最佳受体,以其花丝诱导产生的胚性愈伤组织和再生小植株小鳞片作为转化材料,利用农杆菌介导法,将蝴蝶兰F3′5′H基因导入百合Robina中。结果表明:以小鳞片为转化材料,预培养3d,OD_(600)为0.8,侵染10min,共培养3d,加入100μmol/L AS稳定转化率最高为12.78%;而以胚性愈伤为转化材料,预培养2d,OD_(600)为0.8,侵染10min,共培养3d,加入100μmol/L AS稳定转化率最高为12.22%。2种转化材料的最适潮霉素筛选浓度均为20mg/L。对抗性植株分别进行PCR和反转录PCR检测,获得9个阳性株系,Southern印记分析进一步确定了6株转基因百合中携带蓝色基因F3′5′H,为后续进一步获得蓝色百合奠定了基础。     

1′, 2′-Seco-2′,3′-Dideoxynucleoside Analogues: Synthesis and Antiviral Evaluation of Racemic Trans-[1′, 5′-Dihydroxy 3′, 4′-methylenylpent-2′-oxy)methyl] Nucleosides

Abstract

Reaction of (±)but-3-en-1,2-diol (3) with ethyl diazoacetate afforded two cyclopropyl compounds (5) and (6). Their relative trans stereochemistry at C-2 and C-3 has been determined by high-field and computational NMR spectroscopy. (±)Trans-1-(1′,5′-dihydroxy-3′,4′-methylenyl-pent-2′-oxy)methyl]thymine (1d) or -cytosine (1b) and (±)trans-9-(1′,5′-dihydroxy-3′,4′-methylenylpent-2′-oxy)-methyl]adenine (la) or -guanine (1c) have been obtained through a regiospecific alkylation procedure and their antiviral evaluation is reported.     

Synthesis of 3′-Amino-3′-deoxyguanosine 5′-Triphosphate

Abstract

Phosphorylation of 2′-0-acetyl-3′-trifluoroacetamido-3′-deoxy-N²-palmitoylguanosine with N-morpholino-O, O-bis(1-benzotriazolyl)phos-phate gives a 5′-phosphotriester. Removal of the benzotriazolyl group and addition of pyrophosphoric acid gave, after deblocking all protecting groups, GTP(3′NH₂).     

蓖麻蚕18S rRNA基因3′末端的顺序特征

本文测定了蓖麻蚕18S rRNA基因(rDNA) 3′末端及其外侧的DNA顺序。将这一顺序与家蚕、果蝇、大鼠 18S rDNA 3′末端顺序以及大肠杆菌16 S rDNA 3′末端顺序作了比较,发现它们间有惊人的同源性。不仅如此,这些基因的3′末端所形成的茎环结构也十分相似,在3′末端还有保守的EcoRI切点。这些研究结果对了解18S rRNA 3′末端在蛋白质合成中的功能及在rRNA前体加工成熟中的作用;对于了解rRNA基因的进化打下了基础。     

[18F]标记表皮生长因子受体抑制剂显像剂全自动合成方法

目的:[18F]标记表皮生长因子受体酪氨酸激酶抑制剂(EGFR-TKI)正电子显像剂在指导肿瘤分子靶向治疗中具有非常重要的作用.本文目的是找到一种全自动、适合日常使用的[18F]标记EGFR-TKI正电子显像剂的全自动合成方法.方法:采用一步法合成[18F]EGFR-TKI PET显像剂.首先合成4-[18F]氟苯胺基,然后合成4-[18F]氟苯胺基-6,7-二甲氧基喹唑啉.结果:整个合成过程大约60分钟,产率25％-35％(未校正),放化纯度＞95％.结论:本文建立了一种适合临床日常应用的[18F]EGFR-TKI PET显像剂的全自动合成方法.该方法对于进一步开发新型[18F]标记的表皮生长因子受体抑制剂PET显像具有重要价值.     

Resistance Profiles of (+) 2′-Deoxy-3′-oxa-4′-thiocytidine and (-) 2′-Deoxy-3′-oxa-4′-thio-5-fluorocytidine

Abstract

Resistant variants were selected in vitro against two novel nucleoside analogues, (+) dOTC and (-) dOTFC using the HIV-1 molecular clone HXB2D. The variants obtained displayed 6.5-fold and 10-fold resistance to these compounds, respectively. Cloning and sequencing of the RT genes of the selected viruses identified two mutations, M184I for (+) dOTC and M184V for (-) dOTFC. Results with mutated recombinant clones of HXB2D confirmed the importance of these mutations in MT-4 cells. The resistance profiles of clinical samples with wild-type or 3TC-resistant phenotypes were also studied; low to moderate levels of cross-resistance were observed against the novel compounds.