Synthesis and biological evaluation of diagnostic reagent for prostate cancer using copper-64 radioisotope

Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a cell surface membrane protein, which is overexpressed in most prostate cancer. Recently, PET imaging with $[^{68}Ga]$PSMA-HBED-CC has been widely used for the diagnosis of recurrent prostate cancer and the studies on the diagnostic potential of $^{64}Cu$-labeled PSMA ligands reported actively. In this study, we monitored with biological evaluation in vivo and PET imaging of $^{64}Cu$-labeled PSMA ligand ($[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617). The radiolabelling efficiency and stability of $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617 were confirmed by radio-thin layer chromatography. The radiolabeling efficiency of $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617 showed over 95%, and stabilities of intact remained over 98% in both human and mouse serum for 48 h. In normal male mice, in vivo uptake of $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617 in several organs was measured at 2, 4, 6, 24, 48 h after injection. Rapid blood clearance was observed for $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617. The high uptake was observed in the lung, liver, intestines and kidneys at 2 h postinjection, but was low in the other organs (1-2 %ID/g) at 4 h. The dynamic PET/CT images of 22RV1 tumor-bearing nude mice were acquired during 60 min and additionally acquired 24 h and 48 h after injection. In dynamic PET images, $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617 uptake ratio in tumors versus muscle was increased as time elaplsed until 60 minutes and remained in tumors at 48 h. In these results, the PET/CT imaging using $[^{64}Cu]$PSMA-617 in prostate cancer is expected to be useful for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer patients.