Radiobromination of anti-HER2/neu/ErbB-2 monoclonal antibody using the p-isothiocyanatobenzene derivative of the [76Br]undecahydro-bromo-7,8-dicarba-nido-undecaborate(1-) ion.

The monoclonal humanized anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab was radiolabeled with the positron emitter (76)Br (T(1/2) =16.2 h). Indirect labeling was performed using the p-isothiocyanatobenzene derivative of the [(76)Br]undecahydro-bromo-7,8-dicarba-nido-undecaborate(1-) ((76)Br-NBI) as a precursor molecule. (76)Br-NBI was prepared by bromination of the 7-(p-isothiocyanato-phenyl)dodecahydro-7,8-dicarba-nido-undecaborate(1-) ion (NBI) with a yield of 93-95% using Chloramine-T (CAT) as an oxidant. Coupling of radiobrominated NBI to antibody was performed without intermediate purification, in an "one pot" reaction. An overall labeling yield of 55.7 +/- 4.8% (mean +/- maximum error) was achieved when 300 microg of antibody was labeled. The label was stable in vitro in physiological and denaturing conditions. In a cell binding test, trastuzumab remained immunoreactive after labeling.