Investigation of the Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2R) Expression and Preliminary In Vitro Evaluation of the CB2R Specific PET Radioligand [18F]JHU94620-d8 in Different Breast Cancer Models

Introduction The cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) is involved in inflammatory processes [1], whereby an increased expression correlates with malignancy in various cancer types like human epidermal growth receptor 2 positive (HER2+) or triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) [2]. Hence, the CB2R is suggested as a pharmacological target and prognostic marker for stratification and staging of patients [3]. In the present in vitro studies, we investigated the expression of the CB2R in HER2+ and TNBC models, as well as the potential of our novel radioligand [18F]JHU94620-d8 to assess the CB2R availability in TNBC models. Methods The colocalisation of CB2R with Iba1 (macrophages) and CD31 (blood vessels) in cryosections of mouse TNBC 4T1 tumours heterotopically implanted in both NMRI-nude and Balb/c mice was investigated by immunofluorescence staining (IF). The CB2R expression in 4T1, the human HER2+ cell lines HCC1954 (HCC and LCC2) and human TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-231 (MDA and BrM2) was determined by IF. Competitive radioligand binding assays with the CB2R-specific ligands [3H]WIN55,212-2 and [3H]A-836339 were performed vs. 10 µM JHU94620-d8, GW405833 and WIN55,212-2, and A 836339 as competitor (n=1). Autoradiography with the CB2R-specific [18F]JHU94620-d8 vs. 10 µM competitor was performed with cryosections obtained from 4T1 tumours (n=3) as well as rat brains harbouring a local overexpression of the human CB2R (AAV-hCB2R, n=1) [4]. Results A high correlation between the heterogeneously distributed CB2R and Iba1, and a weak correlation between CB2R and CD31 was found in 4T1 tumours. Colocalisation of CB2R and Iba1 (Balb/c: Pearson’s coefficient r=0.69±0.03, Manders’ coefficient M1: 0.7±0.12; NMRI-nude: r=0.7±0.12, M1=0.71±0.15) or CD31 (Balb/c: r=0.35±0.09, M1=0.15±0.02; NMRI-nude: r=0.35±0.11; M1=0.19±0.09) was independent of the mouse breed (CB2R/Iba1: pr=0.9, pM1=0.972; CB2R/CD31: pr=0.41, pM1=0.52). By IF the expression of CB2R and HER2 was confirmed in HCC and LCC2, but