Development of a Rhenium-186-labeled MAG3-conjugated bisphosphonate for the palliation of metastatic bone pain based on the concept of bifunctional radiopharmaceuticals

Ogawa, Kazuma*; Mukai, Takahiro*; Arano, Yasushi*; Ono, Masahiro*; Hanaoka, Hirofumi*; Ishino, Seigo*; Hashimoto, Kazuyuki; Nishimura, Hiroshi*; Saji, Hideo*

Rhenium-186-1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonate (Re-HEDP) has been used for the palliation of metastatic bone pain. Delayed blood clearance and high gastric uptake of radioactivity have been observed upon injection, due to the instability of Re-HEDP in vivo. In this study, on the basis of the concept of bifunctional radiopharmaceuticals, we designed a stable Re-mercaptoacetylglycylglycylglycine (MAG3) complex-conjugated bisphosphonate (Re-MAG3-HBP). After purification by HPLC, Re-MAG3-HBP was synthesized with a radiochemical purity of over 95%. In biodistribution experiments, the radioactivity level ofRe-MAG3-HBP in bone was significantly higher than that of Re-HEDP. Blood clearance of Re-MAG3-HBP was faster than that of Re-HEDP. In addition, the gastric accumulation of Re-MAG3-HBP radioactivity was lower than that of Re-HEDP. In conclusion, Re-MAG3-HBP is expected to be a useful radiopharmaceutical for the palliation of metastatic bone pain.