Synthesis and Feasibility Evaluation of a new Trastuzumab Conjugate Integrated with Paclitaxel and 89Zr for Theranostic Application Against HER2-Expressing Breast Cancers

Graphical Conjugate for double duty : A new antibody-drug conjugate composed of paclitaxel (PTX), deferoxamine (DFO) and trastuzumab (DFO-trastuzumab-PTX) was prepared using simple conjugation chemistry. The new conjugate displayed instant complexation kinetics with 89 Zr and showed feasible cytotoxic effect and binding property on HER2-positive MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell showing promising potential as a theranostic agent utilizing chemo-drug and positron emission tomography (PET). The preparation and in vitro evaluation of a theranostic conjugate composed of trastuzumab, paclitaxel (PTX), and deferoxamine (DFO)-chelated 89 Zr have been reported. These comounds have potential applications against HER2 receptor positive breast cancers. We conjugated DFO and PTX to trastuzumab by exploiting simple conjugation chemistry. The conjugate (DFO-trastuzumab-PTX) showed excellent radiolabeling efficiency with 89 Zr and the labeled conjugate had high in vitro stability in human serum. Furthermore, DFO-trastuzumab-PTX displayed comparable cytotoxicity with PTX and 89 Zr-DFO-trastuzumab-PTX exhibited HER2 receptor-mediated binding on HER2-positive MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The results of our in vitro study indicate high potential of 89 Zr-DFO-trastuzumab-PTX to be utilized in the theranostic application against HER2-postive breast cancers.