Radiosynthesis and Biological Evaluation of l- and d-S-(3-[18F]Fluoropropyl)homocysteine for Tumor Imaging Using Positron Emission Tomography

Interest in radiolabeled amino acids for metabolic imaging of cancer and limitations with [11C]methionine has prompted the development of a new 18F-labeled methionine derivative S-(3-[18F]fluoropropyl)homocysteine ([18F]FPHCys). The l and d enantiomers of [18F]FPHCys were prepared from their respective protected S-(3-tosyloxypropyl)homocysteine precursors 1 by [18F]fluoride substitution using K2.2.2 and potassium oxalate, followed by acid hydrolysis on a Tracerlab FXFN synthesis module. [18F]-l-FPHCys and [18F]-d-FPHCys were isolated in 20 ± 5% radiochemical yield and >98% radiochemical and enantiomeric purity in 65 min. Competitive uptake studies in A375 and HT29 tumor cells suggest that l- and d-[18F]FPHCys are taken up by the l-transporter system. [18F]-l-FPHCys and [18F]-d-FPHCys displayed good stability In Vivo without incorporation into protein at least 2 h postinjection. Biodistribution studies demonstrate good uptake in A375 tumor-bearing rodents with tumor to blood ratios of 3.5 and 5.0 for [18F]-l-FPHCys and [18F]-d-FPHCys, respectively, at 2 h postinjection.