*Article* **Preliminary Study of a 1,5-Benzodiazepine-Derivative Labelled with Indium-111 for CCK-2 Receptor Targeting**

**Marco Verona <sup>1</sup> , Sara Rubagotti <sup>2</sup> , Stefania Croci <sup>3</sup> , Sophia Sarpaki <sup>4</sup> , Francesca Borgna <sup>1</sup> , Marianna Tosato <sup>5</sup> , Elisa Vettorato <sup>1</sup> , Giovanni Marzaro 1,6 , Francesca Mastrotto 1,6 and Mattia Asti 2,\***


**Abstract:** The cholecystokinin-2 receptor (CCK-2R) is overexpressed in several human cancers but displays limited expression in normal tissues. For this reason, it is a suitable target for developing specific radiotracers. In this study, a nastorazepide-based ligand functionalized with a 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) chelator (IP-001) was synthesized and labelled with indium-111. The radiolabeling process yielded >95% with a molar activity of 10 MBq/nmol and a radiochemical purity of >98%. Stability studies have shown a remarkable resistance to degradation (>93%) within 120 h of incubation in human blood. The in vitro uptake of [111In]In-IP-001 was assessed for up to 24 h on a high CCK-2R-expressing tumor cell line (A549) showing maximal accumulation after 4 h of incubation. Biodistribution and single photon emission tomography (SPECT)/CT imaging were evaluated on BALB/c nude mice bearing A549 xenograft tumors. Implanted tumors could be clearly visualized after only 4 h post injection (2.36 ± 0.26% ID/cc), although a high amount of radiotracer was also found in the liver, kidneys, and spleen (8.25 ± 2.21%, 6.99 ± 0.97%, and 3.88 ± 0.36% ID/cc, respectively). Clearance was slow by both hepatobiliary and renal excretion. Tumor retention persisted for up to 24 h, with the tumor to organs ratio increasing over-time and ending with a tumor uptake (1.52 ± 0.71% ID/cc) comparable to liver and kidneys.

**Keywords:** cholecystokinin-2 receptor; indium-111 labelling; nastorazepide; radiopharmaceuticals
