MIB guides: [⁸⁹Zr]Zr-DFO-trastuzumab and [⁶⁴Cu]Cu-NOTA-Trastuzumab for Preclinical Cancer Imaging

Radiopharmaceuticals based on antibody biomolecules are widely used in oncology for positron emission tomography (PET). Trastuzumab, an antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), has been extensively studied for both preclinical and clinical cancer imaging. This MIB guide specifically focuses on the radiolabeling of the antibody trastuzumab with zirconium-89 (⁸⁹Zr) and copper-64 (⁶⁴Cu) for PET imaging. The guide describes the steps for conjugating trastuzumab with p-SCN-Bn-deferoxamine (DFO) or 2,2',2''-(1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triyl)triacetic acid (p-SCN-Bn-NOTA) chelators through conjugation between the isothiocyanate (-SCN) functional group on the chelator with lysines on the trastuzumab. We also describe subsequent radiolabeling steps with ⁸⁹Zr or ⁶⁴Cu. The steps described here can be adapted to the radiolabeling of other antibodies upon protocol optimization.