Preclinical evaluation and pilot clinical study of [ 68 Ga]Ga-THP-APN09, a novel PD-L1 targeted nanobody radiotracer for rapid one-step radiolabeling and PET imaging

Purpose Programmed cell death protein-1/ligand-1 (PD-1/L1) blockade has been a breakthrough in the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but there is still a lack of effective methods to screen patients. Here we report a novel 68 Ga-labeled nanobody [ 68 Ga]Ga-THP-APN09 for PET imaging of PD-L1 status in mouse models and a first-in-human study in NSCLC patients. Methods [ 68 Ga]Ga-THP-APN09 was prepared by site-specific radiolabeling, with no further purification. Cell uptake assays were completed in the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549, NSCLC cell line H1975 and human PD-L1 gene-transfected A549 cells (A549 PD−L1 ). The imaging to image PD-L1 status and biodistribution were investigated in tumor-bearing mice of these three tumor cell types. The first-in-human clinical translational trial was registered as NCT05156515. The safety, radiation dosimetry, biodistribution, and correlations of tracer uptake with immunohistochemical staining and major pathologic response (MPR) were evaluated in NSCLC patients who underwent adjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. Results Radiosynthesis of [ 68 Ga]Ga-THP-APN09 was achieved at room temperature and a pH of 6.0–6.5 in 10 min with a high radiochemical yield (> 99%) and 13.9–27.8 GBq/ μ mol molar activity. The results of the cell uptake study reflected variable levels of surface PD-L1 expression observed by flow cytometry in the order A549 PD−L1 > H1975 > A549. In small-animal PET/CT imaging, H1975 and A549 PD−L1 tumors were clearly visualized in an 8.3:1 and 2.2:1 ratios over PD-L1-negative A549 tumors. Ex vivo biodistribution studies showed that tumor uptake was consistent with the PET results, with the highest A549 PD−L1 being taken up the most (8.20 ± 0.87%ID/g), followed by H1975 (3.69 ± 0.50%ID/g) and A549 (0.90 ± 0.16%ID/g). Nine resectable NSCLC patients were enrolled in the clinical study. Uptake of [ 68 Ga]Ga-THP-APN09 was mainly observed in the kidneys and spleen, followed by low uptake in bone marrow. The radiation dose is within a reliable range. Tumor uptake was positively correlated with PD-L1 expression TPS ( r s = 0.8763, P = 0.019). Tumor uptake of [ 68 Ga]Ga-THP-APN09 (SUV max ) in MPR patients was higher than that in non-MPR patients (median SUV max 2.73 vs. 2.10, P = 0.036, determined with Mann–Whitney U -test). Conclusion [ 68 Ga]Ga-THP-APN09 has the potential to be transformed into a kit-based radiotracer for rapid, simple, one-step, room temperature radiolabeling. The tracer can detect PD-L1 expression levels in tumors, and it may make it possibility to predict the response of PD-1 immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. Confirmation in a large number of cases is needed. Trial registration Clinical Trial (NCT05156515). Registered 12 December 2021. Graphical abstract