AB001, a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted small molecule labeled with the in vivo-generating α-emitter 212Pb, was investigated in a phase 0 trial in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The primary objective was to explore the feasibility of γ-camera imaging to assess biodistribution and uptake in metastatic lesions. Methods: Three patients with progressive mCRPC and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 1 were included, having prostate-specific antigen levels of 0.44, 0.75, and 15 µg/L. All had at least 3 PSMA-expressing metastatic lesions, with an SUVmax range of 10.1-77.4 on PSMA PET. Each patient received a microdose of 9.4 ± 0.3 MBq of AB001 intravenously. Planar γ-camera and SPECT/CT imaging was scheduled 1-3 h and 16-24 h after administration. Whole-body clearance was assessed with NaI probe measurements. Activity of 212Pb in whole blood and plasma was measured to investigate clearance from blood and in vivo stability of the ligand. Safety, tolerability, and efficacy biomarkers (prostate-specific antigen, alkaline phosphatase) were followed for 28 d. Results: AB001 uptake in the lesion with the highest PSMA expression, a retrocaval lymph node metastasis with a short-axis diameter of 11 mm, was visualized on SPECT. Uptake of AB001 was not clearly demonstrated for other metastatic lesions, possibly because of the lower PSMA expression of these metastases on PSMA PET, combined with the administered AB001 microdose and imaging system limitations. Kidney, urinary bladder with contents, and liver uptake of AB001 were clearly distinguishable from adjacent tissue, and the blood pool content was seen. Salivary glands were not visualized. Blood analyses indicated stability of AB001 after injection, and whole-body probe measurements demonstrated an effective half-life of 8 h. There were no complications related to injection of AB001 or adverse reactions during follow-up. As expected for a phase 0 study, there was no indication of therapeutic effects as assessed by prostate-specific antigen and alkaline phosphatase. Conclusion: The 212Pb-based radioligand AB001 was safely administered to mCRPC patients. γ-camera imaging of AB001 was feasible, even at a microdose, and demonstrated metastatic targeting, albeit for only 1 lesion. The promising biodistribution and clearance encourage further clinical investigation.
Keywords: 212Pb; PSMA; imaging; mCRPC; targeted α-therapy; α-radioligand therapy.
© 2025 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.