An automated apparatus and method for producing a 68Ga radiopharmaceutical is provided. The apparatus can direct fluid flow through a radiopharmaceutical generator, a vessel in a temperature controlled reactor, and a solid phase extraction cartridge to produce a final radiopharmaceutical product without human intervention under a clean environment.

Described herein are prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) binding conjugates that are useful for delivering therapeutic, diagnostic and imaging agents. Also described herein are pharmaceutical composition containing them and methods of using the conjugates and compositions. Also described are processes for manufacture of the conjugates and the compositions containing them.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of preparing radiofluorinated substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and alkenyl compounds. In a preferred embodiment, potassium fluoride-18 is used. Another aspect of the invention relates to piperazine compounds containing fluorine-18 that are useful as imaging agents. In certain embodiments, the piperazine compounds contain a quaternary amine. Another aspect of the invention relates to arylphosphonium compounds containing fluorine-18 that are useful as imaging agents. In certain embodiments, the phosphonium compound is a tetraaryl phosphonium salt. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of obtaining a positron emission image of a mammal, comprising the steps of administering to a mammal a compound of the invention, and acquiring a positron emission spectrum of the mammal.

The present invention provides novel bisphosphonate conjugates, pharmaceutical compositions comprising bisphosphonate conjugates and methods of using such analogs in the treatment of bone cancer, bone-related diseases, bone infection, bone inflammation, and diseases of the soft tissues surrounding bones.

Compounds as defined herein are provided which are useful in (1) diagnostic methods for detecting and/or identifying cells presenting PSMA; (2) compositions comprising a compound of the invention together with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent; and (3) methods for imaging prostate cancer cells.

##STR00001##

Methods and compositions utilizing ether and alkyl phospholipid ether analog compounds for treating cancer and imaging, monitoring, and detecting cancer stem cells in humans.

Compounds as defined herein are provided which are useful in (1) diagnostic methods for detecting and/or identifying cells presenting PSMA; (2) compositions comprising a compound of the invention together with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent; and (3) methods for imaging prostate cancer cells. ##STR00001##

The disclosed method of treating a malignant solid tumor in a subject includes the steps of administering to the subject an immunomodulatory dose of a radioactive phospholipid ether metal chelate, a radiohalogenated phospholipid ether, or other targeted radiotherapy (TRT) agent that is differentially retained within malignant solid tumor tissue, and either (a) performing in situ tumor vaccination in the subject by introducing into at least one of the malignant solid tumors one or more agents capable of stimulating specific immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, or (b) performing immunotherapy in the subject by systemically administering to the subject an immunostimulatory agent, such as an immune checkpoint inhibitor. In a non-limiting example, the radioactive phospholipid ether metal chelate or radiohalogenated phospholipid ether has the formula:

##STR00001##

wherein R.sub.1 comprises a chelating agent that is chelated to a metal atom, wherein the metal atom is an alpha, beta or Auger emitting metal isotope with a half-life of greater than 6 hours and less than 30 days, or wherein R.sub.1 comprises a radioactive halogen isotope. In one such embodiment, a is 1, n is 18, m is 0, b is 1, and R.sub.2 is N.sup.+(CH.sub.3).sub.3.

It is disclosed herein that that certain alkylphosphocholine analogs are preferentially taken up by multiple myeloma tumor cells. The alkylphophocholine analogs are compounds having the formula: ##STR00001##
or salts thereof, wherein n is an integer from 12 to 24; and R.sub.2 is N.sup.+H.sub.3, N.sup.+H.sub.2X, N.sup.+HX.sub.2, or N.sup.+HX.sub.3, wherein each X is independently CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2H.sub.5. The compounds can be used to treat multiple myeloma or to detect multiple myeloma. In therapeutic treatment, R.sub.1 includes a radionuclide that locally delivers therapeutic dosages of radiation to the multiple myeloma tumors cells that preferentially take up the compound. In detection/imaging applications, R.sub.1 includes a detection moiety, such as a fluorophore or a radiolabel.

Alkylphosphocholine analogs incorporating a chelating moiety that chelates a radioactive metal isotope are disclosed herein. The alkylphophocholine analogs, which can be used to treat or detect solid tumors, have the formula:

##STR00001##

R.sub.1 includes a chelating agent that is chelated to a metal atom, wherein the metal atom is a positron or single photon emitting metal isotope with a half life of greater than or equal to 4 hours, or an alpha, beta or Auger emitting metal isotope with a half life of greater than 6 hours and less than 30 days; a is 0 or 1; n is an integer from 12 to 30; m is 0 or 1; Y is H, OH, COOH, COOX, OCOX, or OX, wherein X is an alkyl or an arylalkyl; R.sub.2 is N.sup.+H.sub.3, N.sup.+H.sub.2Z, N.sup.+HZ.sub.2, or N.sup.+Z.sub.3, wherein each Z is independently an alkyl or an aroalkyl; and b is 1 or 2.