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Simple and fast method for radiolabelling antibodies against breast cancer



Findings from the study are published in the journal iScience.


Radioactive antibodies are used in nuclear medicine as imaging agents for positron emission tomography (PET) - an imaging technique that improves cancer diagnosis and monitoring of chemotherapy.

Radioactive drugs can also be designed to kill tumours by delivering a radioactive payload specifically to the cancer cells.

This treatment is called targeted radioimmunotherapy.

Photoradiolabelling: Radiochemistry in a flash



The team of Jason P. Holland, professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Zurich (UZH), has now established a new innovative method using UV light to synthesise radioactive drugs and diagnostic agents.

"By combining photochemistry with radiochemistry, we are now able to make radiolabelled proteins much more quickly and easily - literally in a flash of light," Holland says.

Metal-ion-binding and photoactivatable molecules


Second, the molecules have a special chemical group that becomes activated by shining UV light on the sample. "The UV light causes the small metal complex to react extremely quickly and efficiently with certain amino acids found in proteins like antibodies," Holland adds.

One-pot process in less than 20 minutes


Remarkably, the photochemical conjugation was also successful using the prepared drug that is injected into the patient without pre-purification of the antibody. "The efficient one-pot route simplifies the production of radiolabelled proteins. It has the unique advantage of avoiding the need to isolate and characterise the conjugated intermediate antibody. And the process can be fully automated," Holland stresses.

Radiolabelled antibodies for PET imaging


Since gallium, which is used frequently in nuclear medicine, decays rapidly, Holland's team further developed their method using zirconium to radiolabel trastuzumab.

They managed to synthesise the radiolabelled breast cancer antibody in high yield and purity in less than 15 minutes.


Patent application submitted

"Automated photoradiochemical synthesis has the potential to revolutionise the way in which radiolabelled antibodies and other proteins are used in science and medicine," Jason P. Holland says.



Source: University of Zurich





Founding partners

European Cancer Organisation European Institute of Oncology

Founding Charities

Foundazione Umberto Veronesi Fondazione IEO Swiss Bridge

Published by

ecancer Global Foundation