PURPOSE - [(68)Ga]DKFZ-PSMA-11 has proved to be an important diagnostic radiotracer for targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) overexpression in both recurrent prostate cancer (PC) and relevant metastatic sites.
However, the widespread, routine clinical use of such a potential radiopharmaceutical demands availability of a ready-to-use kit formulation to enable convenient radiopharmaceutical preparation. Herein, we report the development of a freeze-dried kit vial for the formulation of [(68)Ga]DKFZ-PSMA-11 and its clinical use in patients using a "shake-bake-inject" methodology.
PROCEDURES - The freeze-dried kit vial was developed after optimization of ligand content (PSMA-11) and pH conditions. The kit was formulated using (68)Ga from two different commercially available generators. Positron emission tomography/X-ray computed tomography (PET/CT) images of PC patients were obtained using the kit-formulated radiotracer.
RESULTS - [(68)Ga]DKFZ-PSMA-11 was prepared in >98 % radiochemical yield and purity using the freeze-dried kit vials. Kits were optimized for the preparation of four patient doses. The clinical utility was evaluated in patients with histologically confirmed prostate cancer, and the images were of good quality as well as conforming to tumor marker and clinical expectations.
CONCLUSIONS - The development of a simple and ready-to-use freeze-dried DKFZ-PSMA-11 kit for the preparation of Ga-68-based radiotracers constitutes a major step towards the expedition of the widespread and economical screening of PC patients.
Molecular imaging and biology : MIB : the official publication of the Academy of Molecular Imaging. 2016 Mar 16 [Epub ahead of print]
Drishty Satpati, Ajit Shinto, K K Kamaleshwaran, Surekha Sane, Sharmila Banerjee
Radiopharmaceuticals Chemistry Section, Radiochemistry & Isotope Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India. Nuclear Medicine Department, Kovai Medical Center and Hospital, Coimbatore, India., Nuclear Medicine Department, Kovai Medical Center and Hospital, Coimbatore, India., Radiopharmaceuticals Chemistry Section, Radiochemistry & Isotope Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India., Radiopharmaceuticals Chemistry Section, Radiochemistry & Isotope Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India.