Radiolabeling and Preclinical Evaluation of Therapeutic Efficacy of 225 Ac-ch806 in Glioblastoma and Colorectal Cancer Xenograft Models

• Published in: Journal of Nuclear Medicine Vol. 65; no. 9; pp. 1456 - 1462
• Main Authors: Wichmann, Christian W, Morgan, Katherine A, Cao, Zhipeng, Osellame, Laura D, Guo, Nancy, Gan, Hui, Reilly, Edward, Burvenich, Ingrid J G, O'Keefe, Graeme J, Donnelly, Paul S, Scott, Andrew M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2024
• Subjects: radioimmunotherapy; H2macropa; EGFR; α-particle therapy; 225Ac
• ISSN: 0161-5505; 1535-5667; 2159-662X
• DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.123.266894

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein is highly expressed in a range of malignancies. Although therapeutic interventions directed toward EGFR have yielded therapeutic responses in cancer patients, side effects are common because of normal-tissue expression of wild-type EGFR. We developed a novel tumor-specific anti-EGFR chimeric antibody ch806 labeled with Ac and evaluated its in vitro properties and therapeutic efficacy in murine models of glioblastoma and colorectal cancer. Ac-ch806 was prepared using different chelators, yielding [ Ac]Ac-macropa-tzPEG Sq-ch806 and [ Ac]Ac-DOTA-dhPzPEG -ch806. Radiochemical yield, purity, apparent specific activity, and serum stability of Ac-ch806 were quantified. In vitro cell killing effect was examined. The biodistribution and therapeutic efficacy of Ac-ch806 were investigated in mice with U87MG.de2-7 and DiFi tumors. Pharmacodynamic analysis of tumors after therapy was performed, including DNA double-strand break immunofluorescence of γH2AX, as well as immunohistochemistry for proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. [ Ac]Ac-macropa-tzPEG Sq-ch806 surpassed [ Ac]Ac-DOTA-dhPzPEG -ch806 in radiochemical yield, purity, apparent specific activity, and serum stability. [ Ac]Ac-macropa-tzPEG Sq-ch806 was therefore used for both in vitro and in vivo studies. It displayed a significant, specific, and dose-dependent in vitro cell-killing effect in U87MG.de2-7 cells. Ac-ch806 also displayed high tumor uptake and minimal uptake in normal tissues. Ac-ch806 significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival in both U87MG.de2-7 and DiFi models. Enhanced γH2AX staining was observed in Ac-ch806-treated tumors compared with controls. Reduced Ki-67 expression was evident in all Ac-ch806-treated tumors. Increased expression of p21 and cleaved caspase 3 was shown in U87MG.de2-7 and DiFi tumors treated with Ac-ch806. In glioblastoma and colorectal tumor models, Ac-ch806 significantly inhibited tumor growth via induction of double-strand breaks, thereby constraining cancer cell proliferation while inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. These findings underscore the potential clinical applicability of Ac-ch806 as a potential therapy for EGFR-expressing solid tumors.