Synthesis of 1-(p-isothiocyanatobenzyl) derivatives of DTPA and EDTA. Antibody labeling and tumor-imaging studies

To investigate the 111In labeling of tumor-localizing monoclonal antibodies (MoAb), the chelate 1-(p-isothiocyanatobenzyl)diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (p-SCN-Bz-DPTA) (1) and its EDTA analogue (2) have been synthesized. By the use of a MoAb (B72.3) specific for a high molecular weight antigen (TAG-72) on cells of a colorectal carcinoma grown in nude mice, optimal chemical conditions for MoAb conjugation of those ligands and of the dicyclic and isobutylcarboxy carbonic anhydrides of DTPA and subsequent 111In labeling were determined. All conjugates were shown by a competitive binding assay to retain their specificity and activity in vitro when less than one ligand is protein coupled both prior to and after 111In labeling. Chemical methods for purification of the MoAb were systematically investigated by injection of purified immunoprotein into athymic mice bearing LS-174T tumors that express the TAG-72 antigen. Tissue distribution studies revealed that simple addition of EDTA to labeled immunoglobulins was ineffective at complexing indium not linked to protein by chelates. Similarly, gel chromatography (Sephadex G-50) was not sufficient; rather, size exclusion HPLC had to be employed to remove unreacted 111In and aggregated antibody. To compare the relative utility of the four chelates for 111In diagnostic radioimmunoimaging, scintigraphic images of tumor-bearing mice were obtained and evaluated along with tissue distributions. Results showed that clear images of these solid tissue tumors free of extraneous radiation could be obtained only by using p-SCN-Bz-DTPA purified by HPLC. Methods developed are now being employed in clinical trials for diagnosis of human colorectal cancer. 71 references, 5 figures, 1 table