Scandium-44: History
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Contributor:
György Trencsényi
,
Zita Képes

Angiogenesis-related cell-surface molecules, including integrins, aminopeptidase N, vascular endothelial growth factor, and gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), play a crucial role in tumour formation. Radiolabelled imaging probes targeting angiogenic biomarkers serve as valuable vectors in tumour identification. Nowadays, there is a growing interest in novel radionuclides other than gallium-68 (68Ga) or copper-64 (64Cu) to establish selective radiotracers for the imaging of tumour-associated neo-angiogenesis. Given its ideal decay characteristics (Eβ+average: 632 KeV) and a half-life (T1/2 = 3.97 h) that is well matched to the pharmacokinetic profile of small molecules targeting angiogenesis, scandium-44 (44Sc) has gained meaningful attention as a promising radiometal for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. 

  • positron emission tomography (PET)
  • Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)
  • scandium-44 (44Sc)

1. Tumour-Related Angiogenesis

The formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones—denoted as angiogenesis—is required for tumour maintenance and development as well as for metastasis formation [1][2]. Angiogenesis is regulated by a delicate balance between a host of pro-angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors [3]. Hence, intensive attention has been placed on the assessment of cancer-associated neovascularization [4][5]. Producing various angiogenic factors, proteases, heparanase, digestive enzymes, and chemotactic and stimulatory factors, tumour cells exert a direct effect on capillary endothelial cells, induce the assembly of activated immune cells, and trigger the activity of stromal cells; thus, they create a pro-angiogenic niche in the tumour microenvironment [2][6].
Given that angiogenesis/neo-angiogenesis has crucial role in tumour development, propagation, and metastatic spread, angiogenic biomarkers are recorded as promising candidates for tumour imaging [7]. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), ephrins, αvβ3 integrins, aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13), fibronectin, nitroimidazole, matrix metalloproteinases, gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), and E-selectin represent the most important angiogenic molecules [8]. The detection of angiogenesis-related markers makes timely tumour identification possible, and these biomolecules also serve as potential targets for anti-tumour treatment and patient follow-up [1][9]. Anti-angiogenic drugs can inhibit tumour expansion and decelerate, delay, or even inhibit tumour augmentation and metastasis formation [10][11]. Therefore, angiogenesis-directed molecular probes may lay the basis of personalised cancer diagnostics and treatment.
Non-invasive positron emission tomography (PET) or positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) are regarded as the mainstay diagnostic tools in the detection of primary tumours and pertinent metastases. Furthermore, PET can be a useful means of angiogenesis-targeted drug development, authorization, and dose estimation [8][12]. Several PET radionuclides have been used in angiogenesis-directed diagnostical settings, including fluoride-18 (18F), gallium-68 (68Ga), copper-64 (64Cu), and even the gamma emitter indium-111 (111In). Although scandium (Sc) radioisotopes were already recognized as valuable radiometals for isotope diagnostic use in the late 1990s, they have been set aside for almost 20 years [13].

2. Scandium-44 (44Sc)

The following three radionuclides of Sc are well suited for either diagnostic or therapeutic applications: scandium-43 (43Sc), scandium-44 (44Sc), and scandium-47 (47Sc) [14]. Positron emitters 43Sc and 44Sc are relevant diagnostic radiometals, whereas β−-emitting 47Sc is the therapeutic sister with accompanying γ rays for imaging purposes [15][16].
There are two major ways to produce 44Sc. Via the proton irradiation of natural calcium or enriched 44Ca targets (through a 44Ca(p,n)44Sc nuclear reaction), the production of 44Sc can be easily obtained by applying low-energy cyclotrons [17][18][19]. Cyclotron-based production provides outstanding radiochemical yield (RCY) and radiochemical purity (RCP) for clinical applications [18][20]. Of note, 44Sc production via applying a cyclotron has been confirmed to be economically viable [17]. Although 44Sc can also be eluated from titanum-44/scandium-44 (44Ti/44Sc) generator systems, the radioactive-waste handling of long-lived 44Ti (62 ± 2 years) makes this approach challenging [21][22][23]. In addition, the demanding production of 44Ti implies another obstacle regarding the routine usage of 44Ti/44Sc generators [17][24]. Difficulties around the production of 44Sc may underpin why this radiometal came to the focus of exhaustive investigation as a potential labelling isotope so late.
44Sc, with physical properties of T1/2: 3.97 h (lately reported as 4.04 h), Eβ+average: 632 KeV, Eβ+mean: 0.63 MeV, and I:94.3%, has begun to emerge as a radiometal of particular interest in imaging, dosimetry, and treatment follow-up [20][25][26]. Positron emitter 44Sc also has a gamma co-emission of 1157 keV (99.9%), which may limit the radioactive dose that can be injected into patients [26]. However, this high-energy gamma radiation made the radiometal a precious candidate for the novel β + γ coincidence PET imaging [27]. Since the positron energy of the applied PET radionuclide is inversely proportional to the resolution of the reconstructed image, better spatial-image resolution and better quality could be obtained with 44Sc relative to other radiometals—for example, 68Ga (68Ga: Eβ+max: 1.9 MeV and Eβ+mean: 0.89 MeV vs. 44Sc: Eβ+max: 1474 KeV and Eβ+mean: 0.63 MeV) [28][29][30]. These advantageous physical characteristics together with its decay to nontoxic Ca make 44Sc widely feasible in PET and PET/CT imaging [13][31]. Given its small ionic radius, the chemistry of 44Sc is comparable to that of 68Ga; thus, 44Sc could be applied in several fields, including dosimetry investigations in theranostic settings and in trafficking ligands with longer pharmacokinetics and subsequent requirements for longer imaging times (even 24 h post administration) [32][33].
Prior studies have already dealt with the investigation of the feasibility of 44Sc in pre-therapeutic dosimetry [34][35]. Khawar et al. published a paper indicating that the pharmacokinetics of [44Sc]Sc-PSMA-617-based (PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen)) PET/CT imaging serves as a useful tool for the calculation of normal organ-absorbed doses and the maximum allowable activity in prostate-cancer patients prior to lutetium-177 (177Lu)-labelled PSMA-617 ([177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617) radiotherapy [36]. Pioneering clinical studies further strengthened the efficacy of 44Sc-labelled somatostatin analogue [44Sc]Sc-DOTATOC and [44Sc]Sc-PSMA-617 as valuable radiotracers in dosimetry settings [35]. Delayed acquisition granted by the longer half-life of 44Sc enables better pre-therapeutic dosimetry for [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 radiotherapy [34][37]. Clinical successes in the treatment of leukaemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, malignant melanoma, urinary bladder cancer, glioma, neuroendocrine tumours, and prostate cancer with alpha emitter bismuth-213 (213Bi)- and actinium-225 (225Ac)-linked radiopharmaceuticals project that these isotopes could also benefit from dosimetry estimations based on 44Sc [38]. Moreover, in the long run, other radionuclides, such as yttrium-90 (90Y), ioide-131 (131I), strontium-90 (90Sr), and phosphorus-32 (32P) may be potential candidates for theranostic applications. Although preclinical research findings are available on radiation-absorbed doses from 47Sc, the limited availability of the radiometal hampers its usage as a potential radiotherapeutic agent [39].
Similar to 68Ga, 44Sc is also able to form thermodynamically stable complexes with chelator DOTA (1,4,7,10-teraazacyclododecane-N,N′,N″,N″′-teraacetic acid) [40][41]. In addition to this, 44Sc seems superior to 68Ga in several facets. Given its longer half-life (T1/2 44Sc: 3.97 h vs. T1/2 68Ga: 68 min) and cyclotron-dependent extensive synthesis, 44Sc can be easily shipped to remote nuclear medical facilities. This contributes not only to the wider distribution of the radioisotope but also to the accomplishment of protein- or antibody-based PET studies with lengthened examination times [42]. Furthermore, radiopharmaceuticals with longer pharmacokinetic characteristics can also be proposed due to the longer half-life of the radiometal [17]. Moreover, the pharmacokinetic properties of 44Sc-appended imaging probes are largely comparable to those of the 68Ga-labelled counterparts [43]. The nearly four-hour half-life of 44Sc could be easily fitted to the pharmacokinetics of several targeting molecules, including peptides, antibodies, or their fragments, as well as oligonuclides, which makes facile radiopharmaceutical synthesis possible [13][17]. Additionally, long-lived 44Sc favours delayed imaging and the achievement of appropriate tumour-to-background (T/M) ratios. The time of imaging is of critical importance from the point of view of patient management and the scheduling of examinations. Therefore, the use of 44Sc-labelled radiopharmaceuticals would contribute to the establishment of a fluent workflow.
44Sc-labelled PET radiopharmaceuticals could even be appropriate for intraoperative radio-guided surgery, including the detection of lymphatic metastases at later time points post injection [32]. Consequently, 44Sc-based PET probes could stand out as valuable imaging agents. 47Sc (T1/2 = 3.35 days)—the therapeutic match of 44Sc—emits a β− radiation of a maximum energy of 0.600 MeV (31.6%) and 0.439 MeV (68.4%), which could be exploited in targeted radiotherapy [33][44]. Therefore, 44Sc/47Sc has exquisite potential as a radiotheranostic pair in PET diagnostics and in therapeutic settings [33][45]. Besides 44Sc and 47Sc, scandium-43 (43Sc) is another significant member of the group of Sc isotopes. Investigating the quantitative capabilities of 43Sc/44Sc and comparing it to 18F and 68Ga, Lima et al. published a paper indicating that the application of radiotracers labelled with the mixture of 43Sc/44Sc may be beneficial in clinical fields [46]. The findings of their phantom study proved that precise, quantitative PET/CT could be obtained by applying commercial PET systems [46]. Given that 43Sc does not have high-energy gamma emission, the use of 43Sc/44Sc could be especially important in terms of overcoming the limitation of 44Sc derived from gamma radiation. These favourable features propelled both preclinical and clinical investigations with 44Sc down new lines. Some experiments have been spawned to focus on the evaluation of the clinical feasibility of 44Sc-labelled molecules at a translational level as well as the comparison of 44Sc with other widely used radionuclides, such as 68Ga and 64Cu [47].

3. PET Radioisotopes Other Than Scandium-44 (44Sc)

The optimal short half-life (109.8 min) and the high positron abundance (β ≥ 97%) of 18F made it the most commonly used radioisotope for the labelling of PET biomolecules [48]. Positron emitter 18F possesses a relatively low positron energy (Emax =  0.635 MeV and Emean =  0.250 MeV) and a short positron range within the tissue (maximum of 2.3 mm) [49][50]. These nuclear properties ensure ideal image quality and high spatial resolution obtained with 18F-labelled tracers [51]. The 109.8 min-long half-life is beneficial for synthesis procedures as well as for the performance of examinations of a few hours [51]. Owing to the short longevity, 18F-labelled radiopharmaceuticals can be safely administered without an increased risk of excess radiation. Moreover, another advantage is the facile cyclotron-based production, which provides immense quantities of the isotope at high specific activity [51]. Although a cyclotron is required to produce the radiometal, its decay characteristics make the distribution of 18F- and 18F-labelled radiotracers to distant nuclear medical laboratories without an on-site cyclotron possible. Even though 18F is well suited for the labelling of a wide range of small and medium-sized molecules, the radiolabelling of peptides with 18F is still cumbersome [51]. Hence, different isotopes have come into focus that address some of the difficulties associated with 18F-based radiotracers.
Up to now, the favourable physical characteristics of 68Ga and 64Cu made them attractive for the radiolabelling of a broad set of molecules. Currently, 68Ga-labelled PET radiopharmaceuticals are applied most frequently for labelling purposes of radiometal-based PET tracers. The short-lived positron emitter 68Ga (T1/2: 67.71 min ≈ 68 min, Eβ+average: 830 KeV, maximum β+ energy: 1.92 MeV, Iβ+: 89%, Eγ: 1077 KeV, Iγ: 3.2%) can be obtained from a germanium-68/gallium-68 (68Ge/68Ga)-generator system [52][53]. With such physical properties, decay characteristics, and easy accessibility from an on-site 68Ge/68Ga generator, 68Ga has emerged as the mainstay PET-imaging radiometal [32][52][54]. Since the radiosynthesis of peptides—complexed with different macrocyclic ligands—with 68Ga is easy to perform, the use of 68Ga is effective in imaging settings [55]. 68Ga-labelled DOTA-conjugated somatostatin analogues (SSTR), including DOTATOC, DOTATATE, and DOTANOC, meant a substantial step forward in the imaging of SSTR-positive neuroendocrine tumours [33].
The short half-life and related transport challenges, however, may limit the widespread implementation of 68Ga into clinical and preclinical settings. Owing to the short longevity of the radiometal, radiolabelling procedures are only possible in laboratories equipped with in-house 68Ge/68Ga-generator systems. In addition, due to its short half-life, 68Ga-labelling can be applied solely in case of small molecules and peptides featured with a rapid pharmacokinetic profile [17][56]. Furthermore, 68Ga-labelling is only suitable for PET examinations of relatively short duration. Because of the breakthrough of 68Ge and sorbent material, the purification and concentration of 68Ga is warranted following elution, which could also restrict its applicability in routine diagnostic usage [57]. Image noise associated with the elevated positron energy of the radionuclide constitutes another shortcoming of 68Ga imaging [32]. These facts render 68Ga-labelled radiotracers of limited attractiveness for centralized distribution.
The application of 64Cu may bridge the limitations derived from 68Ga-associated imaging. Given its longer half-life (T1/2: 12.7 h) and generator-independent production, the use of 64Cu (β+ emission, Eaverage = 278 keV, abundance: 19%) seems to be economically more viable for PET imaging [58][59]. Due to its longer-lived nature, the easy transport to distant laboratories without an on-site cyclotron facilitates the integration of 64Cu-appended radiopharmaceuticals into diagnostics. Moreover, the 12.7 h half-life of the radiometal can be easily tailored to biomarker-targeting small and large molecules, peptides, antibodies, and nanomolecules with prolonged elimination kinetics [60]. Additionally, its longer half-life makes 64Cu-based radiochemical procedures facile [60]. The coordination chemistry of the radiometal enables complexation with various chelating agents, which further supports the frictionless performance of radiolabelling [60]. Therefore, 64Cu is extremely useful in the establishment of a broad set of radiotracers for diagnostic purposes. However, the use of 64Cu is not without shortcomings. Its concomitant β− emission (β− = 39.0%, E = 190.2 keV) and relatively low positron-branching ratio (17.6%) mean a meaningful extra radiation danger for patients [58][61][62]. Furthermore, in case of complexation, chelators must be customized to the complex redox chemistry of 64Cu [54].
Beyond 44Sc, the use of zirconium-89 (89Zr) has also been exhaustively investigated in PET imaging [63]. Given its favourable decay half-life (T1/2 = 3.3 days; 78.4 h), appropriate radiochemistry, and the accessibility of different chelating agents for complexation with the radioisotope, 89Zr is welcomed for the radiolabelling of PET-based imaging molecules [63]. The relatively long half-life of the radiometal could be easily adjusted to the pharmacokinetic profile of monoclonal antibodies (mABs); therefore, 89Zr seems to be well suited for the radiolabelling of mABs and for PET immunoimaging applications [63][64][65]. Several mAbs, including anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) trastuzumab, anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mAb cetuximab, anti-PSMA mAb J591, and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) bevacizumab, were successfully labelled with 89Zr for the PET imaging of breast cancer, squamous-cell carcinoma, prostate tumours, and ovarian tumours, respectively, at both preclinical and clinical levels [66][67][68][69].
Due to their decay characteristics (positron emission: Emax and Eaverage, 897 keV and 396.9 keV, respectively), PET images obtained with 89Zr-labelled compounds are of adequate spatial resolution [70][71][72]. However, similar to 44Sc, 89Zr has spontaneous high-energy gamma radiation of 908.97 keV, which accounts for a major drawback of its usage [70]. Although the concomitant gamma radiation does not influence either the quality or the quantification of the PET scans, it needs to be taken into account when patient doses are determined [73][74]. Another potential disadvantage could be the limited availability of the radiometal [63].
Taking the abovementioned facts into account, 44Sc may therefore be a valuable substitute for the currently applied 68Ga and 64Cu in the establishment of peptide-based targeted PET radiopharmaceuticals. Researchers provide a comprehensive overview of the role of 44Sc-labelled peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals in the molecular imaging of cancer-related angiogenesis (Figure 1). Table 1 summarises the preclinical studies with 44Sc-labelled PET radiotracers that selectively target angiogenic biomarkers. In Table 2 the most important physical characteristics of the discussed PET radioisotopes are displayed.
Ijms 24 07400 g001 550
Figure 1. Sc44- and Sc47-labelled peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals in the molecular imaging and therapy of cancer-related angiogenesis.
Table 1. Preclinical studies with 44Sc-labelled PET radiotracers.
Investigated Object Investigated Phenomenon Target Molecule (Radio) Labelled Vector Imaging Technique Reference
PCa PC-3 and HaCaT cell lines In vitro receptor-binding affinity utilizing in vitro blocking studies with BBN GRPR [44Sc]Sc-NODAGA-AMBA and [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-AMBA, In vitro gamma counter measurements %ID/million cells units [75]
PCa PC-3 tumor-bearing CB17 SCID mice and healthy control In vitro and in vivo biodistribution pattern, tumor-targeting capability based on blocking experiments GRPR [44Sc]Sc-NODAGA-AMBA and [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-AMBA In vivo miniPET imaging, ex vivo radioactivity determination by gamma counter (%ID/g), in vivo and ex vivo blocking studies with BBN [75]
PC-3 cell line In vitro receptor-binding affinity with blocking studies applying [125I-Tyr4]-BN GRPR natSc-DOTA-BN[2-14]NH2 and natGa-DOTA-BN[2-14]NH2 Competitive displacement cell-binding assay [33]
Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, male Copenhagen rats bearing androgen-independent Dunning R-3327-AT-1 prostate cancer tumour In vivo and ex vivo organ distribution, GRPR-targeting ability applying blocking studies with BBN GRPR 44Sc-DOTA-BN[2-14]NH2 and 68Ga-DOTA-BN[2-14]NH2 In vivo dynamic microPET imaging (in tumourous rats), ex vivo (in healthy rats) radioactivity calculations with a dose calibrator (% ID/g) [33]
U87MG and AR42J tumour-bearing female athymic nude mice (CD-1 nude) Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo behaviour, in vivo and ex vivo biodistribution αvβ3 integrin [44Sc]Sc-DOTA-RGD, [44Sc]Sc-NODAGA-RGD, [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-RGD, [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-RGD In vivo PET/CT acquisition, ex vivo gamma counting (%IA/g) [76]
4T1 tumor-bearing BALB/c mice and healthy control applicability of chelator AAZTA, in vivo biodistribution αvβ3 integrin 44Sc3+, and 44Sc(AAZTA)− and 44Sc(CNAAZTA-c(RGDfK) in vivo PET/MRI examinations [77]
U87MG cells In vitro receptor-binding affinity and specificity with blocking studies using 125I-Echistatin αvβ3 integrin cRGD, (cRGD)2, and DOTA-(cRGD)2 In vitro competitive cell-binding assay, gamma counter-based detection of the tracer concentration [17]
U87MG glioblastoma-bearing female athymic nude mice Tumour-targeting competence, specificity applying in vivo and ex vivo receptor blocking with c(RGD)2, in vivo and ex vivo biodistribution αvβ3 integrin [44Sc]Sc-DOTA-c(RGD)2 In vivo microPET/microCT imaging, ex vivo radioactivity determination (%ID/g) [17]
CB17 SCID adult male mice bearing KB tumours and healthy control mice Synthesis procedure, comparison of 44Sc- and 68Ga-labelled derivatives, in vivo and ex vivo biodistribution Hypoxia [44Sc]Sc-DO3AM-NI and [68Ga]Ga- DO3AM-NI In vivo PET/MRI studies, ex vivo radiopharmaceutical uptake measurement %ID/g [78]
Pro-angiogenic VEGF-A165/NRP-1 complex formation Investigation of physicochemical properties and affinity for NRP-1 NRP-1 44Sc-radiocompounds (44Sc-1, 44Sc-1bis, 44Sc-2, 44Sc-3):Sc-DOTA-Ahx-A7R (Sc-1), Lys(DOTA-Sc)-A7R (Sc-1bis), Lys(hArg)-Dab(Ahx-DOTA-Sc)-Pro-Arg (Sc-2) and DR7A-DLys(DOTA-Sc) (Sc-3) Competitive ELISA test [79]
Table 2. Physical characteristics of commonly used PET radionuclides.
  18F 68Ga 64Cu 43Sc 44Sc 89Zr
Half-life (h) 1.83 1.13 12.7 3.89 3.97 78.41
Decay method (%) EC (3)
ß+ (97)		 EC (11.1)
ß+ (88.9)		 EC (43.9)
ß+ (17.6)
ß− (38.5)		 EC (12)
ß+ (88)		 EC (5.7)
ß+ (94.3)		 EC (77.3)
ß+ (22.7)
β+ endpoint energy, keV (%) 633.5 (96.7%) 1899 (87.7)
822 (1.2)		 653 (17.6) 1200 (70.9)
826 (17.2)		 1474 (94.3) 902 (22.8)
Principal γ energies, keV (Abs.%) 511 (194) 511 (177.8)
1077 (3.2)
1261 (0.1)
1883 (0.1)		 511 (35.2)
1346 (0.5)		 372.8 (23) 511 (188.5)
1157 (99.9)
1499 (0.9)		 511 (45.5)
909 (99.0)
1713 (0.7)
1745 (0.1)
EC: electron capture.
AMBA: aminobenzoyl–bombesin analogue; APN/CD13: aminopeptidase N; BBN: bombesin; GRPR: gastrin-releasing peptide receptor; NGR: asparagine–glycine–arginine; PET: positron emission tomography; RGD: Arg-Gly-Asp; 44Sc: scandium-44; 47Sc: scandium-47.
AAZTA: (1,4-bis(carboxymethyl)-6-[bis(carboxymethyl)]amino-6-methylperhydro-1,4-diazepine) AMBA: aminobenzoyl–bombesin analogue; AR42J: rat exocrine pancreatic tumour; BBN: bombesin; BN: bombesin; c(RGD)2: dimeric cyclic arginine–glycine–aspartic acid; c(RGDfK): cyclo(-Arg-Gly-Asp-d-Phe-Lys); DOTA: 1,4,7,10-teraazacyclododecane-N,N′,N″,N″′-teraacetic acid; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; 68Ga: gallium-68; GRPR: gastrin-releasing peptide receptor; HaCaT: human immortal keratinocyte; 125I: iodine-125; KB: human epidermal carcinoma; NI: nitroimidazole; NODAGA: 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1-glutaric acid-4,7-diacetic acid; NRP-1: neuropilin-1 co-receptor; PCa PC-3: prostate cancer; PET/CT: positron emission tomography/computed tomography; PET/MRI: positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging; RGD: Arg-Gly-Asp; 44Sc: scandium-44; SCID: severe combined immunodeficient; 4T1: mouse breast cancer; U87MG: human glioblastoma; VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor.

This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/ijms24087400

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