“Precision on Two Wheels”─Structural Refinement of64Cu- and68Ga-Labeled Bicyclic Peptides Targeting Nectin-4 for Improved Tumor Imaging: From Preclinical Development to First-in-Human Application

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Tobias Krönke - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Johanna Trommer - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Martin Ullrich - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Markus Laube - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Reik Löser - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Jérôme Kretzschmar - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Marie Urbanova - , University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (Author)
  • Sven Stadlbauer - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Florian Brandt - , Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Ivan Platzek - , Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Sebastian Hoberück - , Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Jörg Kotzerke - , Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Christian Thomas - , Department of Urology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Matthias Miederer - , National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Ralph A. Bundschuh - , Department of Nuclear Medicine, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Klaus Kopka - , National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Jens Pietzsch - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Robert Wodtke - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)

Abstract

The cell adhesion protein nectin-4 emerged as a valid therapeutic target for antibody- and peptide-drug conjugates in cancer. To support patient stratification for such targeted therapies, there is a clinical need for molecular imaging agents capable of quantifying nectin-4 levels noninvasively in vivo. For this purpose, we developed64Cu- and68Ga-labeled ligands derived from bicyclic peptide-drug conjugate BT8009. A library of peptides was prepared with a major focus on the bioisosteric replacement of the original methionine residue due to its susceptibility to oxidation. The peptides were characterized for their binding behavior to nectin-4, and radiopharmacological characterization of selected radioligands was performed using urothelial carcinoma cell lines and tumor xenograft models derived thereof. The suitability of the most promising ligand from the preclinical studies, NECT-224, for PET imaging purposes was also demonstrated in a first-in-human application using [68Ga]Ga-NECT-224. The results suggest its further clinical development, but also that of [64Cu]Cu-NECT-224.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)21962-21987
Number of pages26
JournalJournal of medicinal chemistry
Volume68
Issue number20
Publication statusPublished - 23 Oct 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 41081542

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas