Radiosynthesis and biological evaluation of L and D S-(3-[18F]Fluoropropyl)-homocysteine for tumor imaging using positron emission tomography

Abstract

Interest in radiolabeled amino acids for metabolic imaging of cancer and limitations with [11C]methionine has prompted the development of a new 18F-labeled methionine derivative S-(3-[18F]fluoropropyl)homocysteine ([18F]FPHCys). The L and D enantiomers of [18F]FPHCys were prepared from their respective protected S-(3-tosyloxypropyl)homocysteine precursors 1 by [18F]fluoride substitution using K2.2.2 and potassium oxalate, followed by acid hydrolysis on a Tracerlab FXFN synthesis module. [18F]-L-FPHCys and [18F]-D-FPHCys were isolated in 20 ( 5% radiochemical yield and >98% radiochemical and enantiomeric purity in 65 min. Competitive uptake studies in A375 and HT29 tumor cells suggest that L- and D-[18F]FPHCys are taken up by the L-transporter system. [18F]-L-FPHCys and [18F]-D-FPHCys displayed good stability In Vivo without incorporation into protein at least 2 h postinjection. Biodistribution studies demonstrate good uptake in A375 tumor-bearing rodents with tumor to blood ratios of 3.5 and 5.0 for [18F]-L-FPHCys and [18F]-D-FPHCys, respectively, at 2 h postinjection. © 2011, American Chemical Society.