There is a need for in vivo diagnostic imaging probes that can noninvasively measure tumor infiltrating CD8+ leukocytes. Such imaging probes could be used to predict early response to cancer immunotherapy, help select effective single or combination immunotherapies, and facilitate the development of new immunotherapies or immunotherapy combinations. This study was designed to optimize conditions for performing CD8 PET imaging with 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C and determine if CD8 PET imaging could provide a safe and effective non-invasive method of visualizing the whole body biodistribution of CD8+ leukocytes. Methods: We conducted a phase 1 first-in-human PET imaging study using an anti-CD8 radiolabeled minibody, 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C, to detect whole body and tumor CD8+ leukocyte distribution in patients with metastatic solid tumors. Patients received 111 MBq of 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C followed by serial PET scans over a 5-7-day period. A two-stage design included a dose-escalation phase and a dose-expansion phase. Biodistribution, radiation dosimetry, and semi-quantitative evaluation of 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C uptake were performed in all patients. Results: 15 subjects with metastatic melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma were enrolled. No drug-related adverse events or abnormal laboratory results were noted except for a transient increase in anti-drug antibodies in 1 subject. 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C accumulated in tumors and CD8-rich tissues (e.g. spleen, bone marrow, nodes) with maximum uptake at 24-48 hours post injection and low background activity in CD8-poor tissues (e.g. muscle and lung). Radiotracer uptake in tumors was noted in 10/15 subjects, including 7/8 subjects on immunotherapy, 1/2 subjects on targeted therapy, and 2/5 treatment naïve subjects. In three patients with advanced melanoma or hepatocellular carcinoma on immunotherapy, post-treatment CD8 PET/CT scans demonstrated increased 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C uptake in tumor lesions, which correlated with response. Conclusion: CD8 PET imaging with 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C is safe and has the potential to visualize the whole-body biodistribution of CD8+ leukocytes in tumors and reference tissues, and may predict early response to immunotherapy
