Synthesis, Radiolabeling and Gastrin Releasing Peptide Receptor Binding Affinity of a Novel Bombesin Antagonist-Based Peptide, DOTA-Ala(SO₃H)-Aminooctanoyl-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-N methyl Gly-His-Statine-Leu-NH₂

Bombesin receptors are overexpressed in many kinds of human tumors. In particular, the gastrin releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) which is also called bombesin receptor subtype 2, has been identified in prostate cancer. In the present study, we developed a bombesin antagonist-based $^{177}Lu$-labeled peptide, $^{177}Lu$-DOTA-$Ala(SO_3H)$-Aminooctanoyl-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-N methyl Gly-His-Statine-Leu-$NH_2$ (DOTA-sBBNA). DOTA-sBBNA was prepared using a solid phase synthesis method. It was labeled with $^{177}Lu$ by a high radiolabeling yield (>98%), and its Log P value was -2.05. The radiolabeled peptide was highly stable in serum incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ for 48 hr. A competitive displacement of $^{125}I-[Tyr^4]$-Bombesin on the PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells revealed that the $IC_{50}$ value of the peptide was 6.76 nM indicating a highly nanomolar binding affinity for GRPR. These results suggest that $^{177}Lu$-DOTA-sBBNA can be a potential candidate for targeting prostate cancer, and further studies to evaluate its biological characteristics are needed.