Pharmacological characterization of alpha-MSH-derivatives

The melanocortin-1 receptor is known to be overexpressed in melanoma. Thus, it is a potential target for novel ?-MSH peptide derivatives aiming at diagnosis and therapy of melanoma. In this study, NOTA-NCS was conjugated with two peptides: NAP-NS1, a linear peptide with 9 amino acids (Ahx-?Ala-Nle-Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-NH2) and NAP-NS2, a lactam bridge-cyclized peptide with 12 amino acids (?-Ahx-?-Ala-cyclo(Lys-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Glu)-Arg-Pro-Val-NH2) each with the sequence His-Phe-Arg-Trp for biological activity. Four ?-MSH derivatives were investigated in competition assays in murine B16-F10 and human MeWo melanoma cells. (S)-p-NH2-Bn-NOTA (NOTA-NAP-NS1) labeled with 64Cu and 68Ga, showing no transchelation in the cysteine and histidine challenge, was applied in saturation assays. Determination of octanol/water partition coefficients suggested that [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-NAP-NS1 had high hydrophilicity, and in buffer and serum it was stable after 1 h and 24 h. NAP-NS1 and NOTA-NAP-NS1 showed higher affinity than the cyclic derivatives. Linking the chelate unit at the peptide was accompanied by some loss of affinity. Saturation studies with the labeled peptide resulted in Kd values in the lower nanomolar range for [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-NAP-NS1 and [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-NAP-NS1, respectively. Thus, both radiolabeled peptides appear to be promising for further investigations in animal melanoma models. This research was supported by MIUR (PRIN 2008F5A3AF_002).