Technetium-99m radiolabeling using a phage-derived single-chain Fv with a C-terminal cysteine.

Abstract

Single-chain Fv (scFv) antibody fragments have potential for clinical imaging because of their rapid tumor penetration and high tumor-to-tissue ratios at early time points. ScFvs clear rapidly from the circulation so radiolabels such as 99mTc which have short half-lives are desirable, but the free thiol groups necessary for labeling with 99mTc are not normally found on these molecules. We constructed a vector which enabled a free cysteine to be linked to the C-terminus of scFvs. MFE-23, a scFv directed against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), was cloned into this vector and cys-tagged MFE-23 was labeled with 99mTc using a D-glucarate transfer method. The radiolabeled product was stable in vivo and in vitro and showed favorable tumor-to-blood ratios in vivo at early time points (4:1 at 24 hr and 8:1 at 48 hr), although high kidney levels were also detected. Our study demonstrates an effective method to enable scFvs radiolabeling with 99mTc and also shows the potential of using a 99mTc-labeled scFv for clinical imaging studies.