Background: 1-α-D-(5-Deoxy-5-[18F]fluoroarabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole ([18F]FAZA) is manufactured by nucleophilic radiofluorination of 1-α-D-(2’,3’-di-O-acetyl-5’-O-toluenesulfonylarabinofuranosyl)- 2-nitroimidazole (DiAcTosAZA) and alkaline deprotection to afford [18F]FAZA. High yields (>60%) under optimized conditions frequently revert to low yields (<20%) in large scale, automated syntheses. Competing side reactions and concomitant complex reaction mixtures contribute to substantial loss of product during HPLC clean-up. Objective: To develop alternative precursors for facile routine clinical manufacture of [18F]FAZA that are compatible with current equipment and automated procedures. Methods: Two new precursors, 1-α-D-(2’,3’-di-O-acetyl-5’-O-(4-nitrobenzene)sulfonyl-arabinofuranosyl)-2- nitroimidazole (DiAcNosAZA) and 1-α-D-(2’,3’-di-O-acetyl-5’-iodo-arabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (DiAcIAZA), were synthesized from commercially-available 1-α-D-arabinofuranosyl-2-nitroimidazole (AZA). A commercial automated synthesis unit (ASU) was used to condition F-18 for anhydrous radiofluorination, and to radiofluorinate DiAcNosAZA and DiAcIAZA using the local standardized protocol to manufacture [18F]FAZA from AcTosAZA. Results: DiAcNosAZA was synthesized via two pathways, in recovered yields of 29% and 40%, respectively. The nosylation of 1-α-D-(2’,3’-di-O-acetyl-arabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (DiAcAZA) featured a strong competing reaction that afforded 1-α-D-(2’,3’-di-O-acetyl-5’-chloro-arabinofuranosyl)-2- nitroimidazole (DiAcClAZA) in 55% yield. Radiofluorination yields were better from DiAcNosAZA and DiAcIAZA than from DiAcTosAZA, and the presence of fewer side products afforded higher purity [18F]FAZA preparations. Several radioactive and non-radioactive by products of radiofluorination were assigned tentative chemical structures based on co-chromatography with authentic reference compounds. Conclusion: DiAcClAZA, a major side-product in the preparation of DiAcNosAZA, and its deprotected analogue (ClAZA), are unproven hypoxic tissue radiosensitizers. DiAcNosAZA and DiAcIAZA provided good radiofluorination yields in comparison to AcTosAZA and could become preferred [18F]FAZA precursors if the cleaner reactions can be exploited to bypass HPLC purification.

Background: 1-alpha- D-(5-Deoxy-5-[F-18] fluoroarabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole([F-18] FAZA) is a PET radiotracer that demonstrates excellent potential in imaging regional hypoxia, and is clinically used in diagnosing a wide range of solid tumors in cancer patients. [F-18] FAZA, however, is radiofluorinated in only moderate recovered radiochemical yield (rRCY, similar to 12%). It is postulated that the relative stability of the C1' beta-anomeric bond at C5' will make 1-beta-D-(5-fluoro-5-deoxyarabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (beta-FAZA), the beta-conformer of FAZA, an attractive candidate for clinical hypoxia imaging. Objectives: The principle goals were to synthesize beta-FAZA and beta-Ac(2)TsAZA, the radiofluorination precursor, to establish the radiofluorination chemistry leading to beta-[F-18] FAZA, and to investigate the biodistribution of beta-[F-18] FAZA in an animal tumor-bearing model using PET imaging. Methods: The appropriately-protected furanose sugar was coupled with 2-nitroimidazole to afford 1-beta-D-(2,3-di-O-acetylarabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (beta-Ac(2)AZA). Fluorination of beta-Ac(2)AZA with DAST, followed by alkaline hydrolysis, afforded beta-FAZA (21%). The radiolabeling synthon, 1-beta-D-(5-O-toluenesulfonyl-2,3-di-O-acetylarabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (beta-Ac(2)TsAZA), on radiofluorination using the F-18/K-222 complex under various reaction conditions, followed by base-catalyzed deacetylation, afforded beta-[F-18] FAZA. beta-[F-18] FAZA was radiochemically stable for at least 8 h when stored in aqueous ethanol (8%) at 22 degrees C. A preliminary PET imaging-based biodistribution study of beta-[F-18] FAZA was performed in A431 tumor-bearing nude mice. Results: beta-FAZA and beta-Ac(2)TsAZA were synthesized in satisfactory yield. Radiochemistry of [F-18] FAZA was established. PET images showed strong uptake in hypoxic regions of the tumor. Conclusion: The synthesis of beta-FAZA and -beta[F-18] FAZA are reported. Radiofluorination of beta-Ac(2)TsAZA and the deprotection of -beta Ac-2[F-18] FAZA were facile, but led to a more complex mixture of radiofluorinated by-products than observed with the corresponding precursor of beta-[F-18] FAZA. PET images were indicative of hypoxia-selective accumulation of beta-[F-18] FAZA in tumor.

BACKGROUND:1-α-D-(5-Deoxy-5-[18F]fluoroarabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole([18F] FAZA) is a PET radiotracer that demonstrates excellent potential in imaging regional hypoxia, and is clinically used in diagnosing a wide range of solid tumors in cancer patients. [18F]FAZA, however, is radiofluorinated in only moderate recovered radiochemical yield (rRCY, ~12%). It is postulated that the relative stability of the C1' β-anomeric bond at C5' will make 1-β-D-(5-fluoro-5-deoxyarabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (β-FAZA), the β-conformer of FAZA, an attractive candidate for clinical hypoxia imaging.OBJECTIVES:The principle goals were to synthesize β-FAZA and β-Ac2TsAZA, the radiofluorination precursor, to establish the radiofluorination chemistry leading to β-[18F]FAZA, and to investigate the biodistribution of β-[18F]FAZA in an animal tumor-bearing model using PET imaging.METHODS:The appropriately-protected furanose sugar was coupled with 2-nitroimidazole to afford 1-β-D-(2,3-di-O-acetylarabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (β-Ac2AZA). Fluorination of β-Ac2AZA with DAST, followed by alkaline hydrolysis, afforded β-FAZA (21%). The radiolabeling synthon, 1-β-D-(5-O-toluenesulfonyl-2,3-di-O-acetylarabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (β-Ac2TsAZA), on radiofluorination using the 18F/K222 complex under various reaction conditions, followed by base-catalyzed deacetylation, afforded β-[18F]FAZA. β-[18F]FAZA was radiochemically stable for at least 8 h when stored in aqueous ethanol (8%) at 22 °C. A preliminary PET imaging-based biodistribution study of β-[18F]FAZA was performed in A431 tumor-bearing nude mice.RESULTS:β-FAZA and β-Ac2TsAZA were synthesized in satisfactory yield. Radiochemistry of [18F]FAZA was established. PET images showed strong uptake in hypoxic regions of the tumor.CONCLUSION:The synthesis of β-FAZA and β-[18F]FAZA are reported. Radiofluorination of β-Ac2TsAZA and the deprotection of β-Ac2[18F]FAZA were facile, but led to a more complex mixture of radiofluorinated by-products than observed with the corresponding precursor of α-[18F]FAZA. PET images were indicative of hypoxia-selective accumulation of β-[18F]FAZA in tumor.

The current work evaluates 1-alpha-d-(2-deoxy-2-fluororibofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (FRAZ), a novel azomycin nucleoside that is a potential radiosensitizer of tumor hypoxia. FRAZ is a ribose analogue of 1-alpha-d-(2-deoxy-2-fluoroarabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole ([(18)F]-FAZA), a clinically used hypoxia marker. Preliminary assessment of the cytotoxicity and hypoxia-specific in vitro binding in HCT-110 colorectal cancer cells indicate that the radiosensitization properties of FRAZ are similar to that of FAZA, with a sensitizer enhancement ratio (SER) of approximately 1.8. An automated radiosynthesis of [(18)F]-FRAZ using a commercial automated synthesis unit (ASU) was established (synthesis time approximately 32 min; radiochemical yield (decay uncorrecetd) approximately 22%) to facilitate its application in PET-based diagnosis of hypoxic tumors.

Substrates for monitoring HSV1-tk gene expression include uracil and acycloguanosine derivatives.The most commonly used uracil derivative to monitor HSV1-tk gene transfer is 1-(2-fluoro-2-deoxy-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-[*I]iodouracil (fialuridine; I*-FIAU), where the asterisk denotes any of the radioactive iodine isotopes that can be used. We have previously studied other nucleosides with imaging properties as good as or better than FIAU, including 1-(2-fluoro-2-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-5-[*I]iodouracil (FIRU). The first aim of this study was to extend the biodistribution data of 123I-labelled FIRU. Secondly, we assessed the feasibility of detecting differences in HSV1-tk gene expression levels following adenoviral gene transfer in vivo with 123I-FIRU. 9L rat gliosarcoma cells were stably transfected with the HSV1-tk gene (9L-tk+). 123I-FIRU was prepared by radioiodination of 1-(2-fluoro-2-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-5-tributylstannyl uracil (FTMRSU; precursor compound) and purified using an activated Sep-Pak column. Incubation of 9L-tk+ cells and the parental 9L cells with 123I-FIRU resulted in a 100-fold higher accumulation of radioactivity in the 9L-tk+ cells after an optimum incubation time of 4 h. NIH-bg-nu-xid mice were then inoculated subcutaneously with HSV1-tk (–) 9L cells or HSV1-tk (+) 9L-tk+ cells into both flanks. Biodistribution studies and gamma camera imaging were performed at 15 min and 1, 2, 4 and 24 h p.i. At 15 min, the tumour/muscle, tumour/blood and tumour/brain ratios were 5.2, 1.0 and 30.3 respectively. Rapid renal clearance of the tracer from the body resulted in increasing tumour/muscle, tumour/blood and tumour/brain ratios, reaching values of 32.2, 12.5 and 171.6 at 4 h p.i. A maximum specific activity of 22%ID/g tissue was reached in the 9L-tk+ tumours 4 h after 123I-FIRU injection. Two Ad5-based adenoviral vectors containing the HSV1-tk gene were constructed: a replication-incompetent vector with the transgene in the former E1 region, driven by a modified CMV promoter, and a novel replication-competent vector with the HSV1-tk gene in E3 driven by the natural E3 promoter. The human glioma cell lines U87MG and T98G were infected with a multiplicity of infection (m.o.i.) of 10. Forty-eight hours later the cells were incubated with 123I-FIRU and radioactivity was measured in a gamma counter. We found significantly higher levels of radioactivity in both cell lines following infection with the replication-competent vector (P<0.001). NIH-bg-nu-xid mice were then inoculated subcutaneously with U87MG cells. Tumours (approximately 1,000 mm3) were injected with 108 and 109 Infectious Units (I.U.) of either vector. After 48 h, the tracer was injected, followed by gamma camera imaging and direct measurement of radioactivity in the tumours at 4 h p.i. Images and direct measurements indicated increased uptake of tracer with higher I.U. and also demonstrated increased accumulation of tracer in the tumours treated with the replication-competent adenoviral vector (P=0.03). These results demonstrate that 123I-FIRU in combination with HSV1-tk is a valuable tracer for in vivo monitoring of adenoviral gene transfer.

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