Abstract P5-01-03: HER2 imaging by SPECT-CT using 111In radiolabeled pertuzumab-fab DOTAGA-conjugate: A proof of concept study in a preclinical model of breast cancer
Authors: Oudot A , Bellaye P-S , Vrigneaud J-M , Raguin O , Bernhard C , Dumont L , Brunotte F , Savina A , Bouquet F , Fumoleau P , Collin B 
Published: February 2018

Introduction: HER2 is positive in approximately 20-30% of all breast cancer and is associated with poor prognosis, higher mortality and higher metastatic incidence. Current diagnosis of HER2 expression relies on invasive methods requiring tissue biopsy which can lead to variable results due to inter/intra-metastatic and intratumoral heterogeneity in breast cancers. It has been recently demonstrated that HER2 molecular imaging based on pertuzumab, an antibody targeting HER2, could represent a more accurate non-invasive method to assess HER2 expression and evaluate its spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Aim: In the present study, we aimed at developing radiolabeled pertuzumab Fab fragments for HER2 imaging. Tumor uptake of radiolabeled Fab was evaluated in an animal model of HER2 breast cancer by SPECT-CT, and the impact of trastuzumab on HER2 imaging was assessed. The objective of this study was to validate the feasibility of HER2 imaging with a pertuzumab-derived probe and to evaluate the possible translation of such a probe for clinical use in patients treated or not with anti-HER2 therapy. Methods: Fab fragments of pertuzumab have been generated by papain digestion and bioconjugated with the bifunctional chelating agent DOTAGA for incorporation of Indium 111 to generate an HER2-specific probe for SPECT (111In-DOTAGA-pertuzumab-Fab). The functionality of both radiolabeled Fab and whole pertuzumab was evaluated by in vitro assays using HER2-overexpressing human breast cancer cell line (HCC1954). Tumor uptake of pertuzumab-Fab and whole pertuzumab (111In-DOTAGA-Pertuzumab) has been evaluated in Balb/c nude mice bearing BT-474 tumors with or without pre-treatment with trastuzumab for 24h. Results: In the current study we demonstrate that Fab fragments of pertuzumab keep similar HER2 binding properties than whole pertuzumab and can therefore be a suitable HER2-targeted probe. In vivo, 111In-DOTAGA-pertuzumab-Fab showed better pharmacokinetics than whole pertuzumab with faster tumor uptake and blood clearance allowing faster imaging with better tumor/blood ratio. In addition, tumor uptake of 111In-DOTAGA-pertuzumab-Fab is not modified by pre-treatment with trastuzumab. Conclusion: We assume that radiolabeled pertuzumab-Fab should be of great interest if the intention to treat is based on anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies-based therapies rather than small molecules (e.g. lapatinib). Interestingly, pertuzumab has been shown to be also beneficial in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy in non-metastatic patients through its approval for the neoadjuvant treatment and very recently in the APHINITY clinical trial aiming for an approval in the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer. These data suggest that pertuzumab will be extensively used in various HER-2 positive breast cancers underlining the interest to perform molecular imaging of HER2 expression as a predictive biomarker of efficacy.

Citation Format: Oudot A, Bellaye P-S, Vrigneaud J-M, Raguin O, Bernhard C, Dumont L, Brunotte F, Savina A, Bouquet F, Fumoleau P, Collin B. HER2 imaging by SPECT-CT using 111In radiolabeled pertuzumab-fab DOTAGA-conjugate: A proof of concept study in a preclinical model of breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-01-03.