Technetium-99m- or Cy7-Labeled Rituximab as an Imaging Agent for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Rituximab was the first monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) expressing CD20 antigen. This antibody has also the potential to be used as a specific fluorescent and radiolabel agent for targeting NHL.

To radiolabel rituximab with technetium-99m (99mTc) or Cy7 and evaluate both probes as potential imaging agents for NHL.

Rituximab was derivatized with the trifluoroacetyl hydrazino protected form of succinimidyl ester of HYNIC and radiolabeled with 99mTc. Radiochemical stability and in vitro cell assays were evaluated. Biodistribution and single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) were performed. Raji cells were transfected with luciferase for bioluminescent NHL imaging up to 21 days. Rituximab was labeled with Cy7 for in vivo noninvasive fluorescence imaging up to 96 h.

Radiolabeling was carried out in a fast, reproducible, easy, and stable way with high radiochemical purity and did not interfere with epitope recognition. Biodistribution and SPECT/CT studies showed high liver and discrete tumor uptake. Bioluminescence and fluorescence studies helped us evaluate rituximab-Cy7 in Raji subcutaneous engraftment in BALB/c nude mice.

Our results support the potential use of rituximab labeled either with 99mTc or Cy7 as a molecular imaging tool for staging, restaging, and guiding surgical excision of tumors, which merits further evaluation.