Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cancer-associated fibroblasts have become a new target for therapy. Fibroblasts present within malignancies express the fibroblast activation protein (FAP). Inhibitors to FAP (FAPI) are small molecules recently developed as a theranostic agents for imaging and radiotherapy. All currently used FAPI rely on a linker-chelator complex attached to the 'inhibitor'. We describe a new automated method of the direct attachment of the radioisotope to the inhibitor, resulting in a >50% MW reduction with the hope of an improved tumor-to-background ratio and tumor uptake. METHODS: [(18)F]FluroFAPI was developed from a Sn precursor. This allowed for subsequent automated radioflourination. We obtained the biodistribution of [(18)F]FluroFAPI in rats, performed estimated human radiation dosimetry, and performed a 100× expected single dose toxicology analysis for eventual first-in-human experiments. RESULTS: The synthesis of the Sn precursor for FluorFAPI and the automated synthesis of [(18)F]FluroFAPI was demonstrated. [(18)F]FluroFAPI had favorable estimated human radiation dosimetry, and demonstrated no adverse effects when injected at a dose of 100× that planned for [(18)F]FluroFAPI. CONCLUSIONS: With the successful development of an automated synthesis of [(18)F]FluroFAPI, first-in-human testing can be planned with the hope of an improved tumor-to-background performance compared to other FAPI agents.