High Cytotoxic Effect by Combining Copper-64 with a NOTA-Terpyridine Platinum Conjugate

J Med Chem. 2021 May 27;64(10):6765-6776. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00039. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Abstract

Terpyridine platinum (TP)-based chemotherapeutic agents target three-dimensional structures on DNA known as G-quadruplexes. We report the rational design and synthesis of a TP conjugate combined with copper-64 (64Cu), the decay characteristics of which include emission of β- and Auger electrons for radiotherapy and β+ particles for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The present experimental studies show that the novel [64Cu]Cu-1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (NOTA)-TP is stable, permitting selective killing of cancer cells. The antitumor activity of [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-TP at high apparent molar activity is in the low nanomolar range and 27,800-fold greater than that of natCu-NOTA-TP at 24 h post treatment. These results suggest that this combination of a cytotoxic TP agent with 64Cu has considerable potential for cancer treatment and PET imaging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry*
  • Coordination Complexes / metabolism
  • Coordination Complexes / pharmacology
  • Copper Radioisotopes / chemistry
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Drug Stability
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Platinum / chemistry*
  • Pyridines / chemistry*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / chemistry
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / metabolism
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Copper Radioisotopes
  • Copper-64
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring
  • Pyridines
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Platinum
  • 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N',N''-triacetic acid
  • pyridine

Grants and funding