211At- and 131I-labeled bisphosphonates with high in vivo stability and bone accumulation. (1/53)

Bisphosphonates were synthesized for use as carriers for astatine and iodine radioisotopes to target bone neoplasms. METHODS: Radiohalogenated activated esters were coupled to the amino group in the side chain of the bisphosphonate. The bisphosphonate 3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene bisphosphonate was combined with four different acylation agents: N-succinimidyl 3-[211At]astatobenzoate, N-succinimidyl 3-[131I]iodobenzoate, N-succinimidyl-5-[211At]astato-3-pyridinecarboxylate and N-succinimidyl-5-[131I]iodo-5-pyridinecarboxylate. The products, 3-[131I]iodobenzamide-N-3-hydroxypropylidene-3,3-bisphosphonate (IBPB), 3-[211At]astato-benzamide-N-3-hydroxypropylidene-3,3-bisphosphonat e (ABPB), 5-[131I]iodopyridine-3-amide-N-3-hydroxypropylidene-3,3-bisphospho nate (IPPB) and 5-[211At]astatopyridine-3-amide-N-3-hydroxypropylidene-3,3-bisphos phonate (APPB), were injected intravenously into Balb/c mice. MIRD and Monte Carlo methods were used on the basis of cumulated activity calculated from biodistribution data to estimate dose to organs and bone segments. RESULTS: All 131I- and 211At-labeled analogs were strongly incorporated into osseous tissue and retained there at stable levels, while a rapid clearance from blood was observed. The bone uptake was found to be similar for 211At- and 131I-labeled bisphosphonate when compared in paired label experiments. Bone uptake and bone-to-tissue ratios were better for IBPB compared with IPPB, and ABPB compared with APPB. All four compounds appeared to be highly resistant to in vivo dehalogenation as indicated by low uptake of 131I/211At in the thyroid gland and stomach. According to dosimetric estimates, the bone surface-to-bone marrow ratio was three times higher with 211At than with 131I. CONCLUSION: Both the beta-particle- and alpha-particle-emitting compounds showed high in vivo stability and excellent affinity for osseous tissue. Further preclinical evaluation is therefore warranted.  (+info)

Demonstration of highly specific toxicity of the alpha-emitting radioimmunoconjugate(211)At-rituximab against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cells. (2/53)

The ability of an alpha-emitter conjugated to a chimaeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody to kill selectively human B-lymphoma cells in vitro is reported. Two B-lymphoma cell lines RAEL and K422, and normal haematopoietic progenitor cells from human bone marrow aspirates were incubated with(211)At-rituximab (Rituxan(R) or MabTheratrade mark) and plated in clonogenic assays for survival analyses. Following 1 h incubation with(211)At-rituximab, in concentrations which gave an initial activity of 50 kBq ml(-1), a high tumour cell to normal bone marrow cell toxicity ratio was obtained; 4.1 to 1.0 log cell kill. Biodistribution studies of(211)At-rituximab in Balb/c mice showed similar stability as that of the iodinated analogue. The data indicate that testing of(211)At-rituximab in human patients is warranted.  (+info)

High-level production of alpha-particle-emitting (211)At and preparation of (211)At-labeled antibodies for clinical use. (3/53)

In vitro and in vivo studies in human glioma models suggest that the antitenascin monoclonal antibody 81C6 labeled with the 7.2-h-half-life alpha-particle emitter (211)At might be a valuable endoradiotherapeutic agent for the treatment of brain tumors. The purpose of this study was to develop methods for the production of high levels of (211)At and the radiosynthesis of clinically useful amounts of (211)At-labeled human/mouse chimeric 81C6 antibody. METHODS: (211)At was produced through the (209)Bi(alpha, 2n)(211)At reaction using an internal target system and purified by a dry distillation process. Antibody labeling was accomplished by first synthesizing N-succinimidyl 3-[(211)At]astatobenzoate from the corresponding tri-n-butyl tin precursor and reacting it with the antibody in pH 8.5 borate buffer. Quality control procedures consisted of methanol precipitation, size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and pyrogen and sterility assays, as well as determination of the immunoreactive fraction by a rapid procedure using a recombinant tenascin fragment coupled to magnetic beads. RESULTS: A total of 16 antibody labeling runs were performed. Using beam currents of 50-60 microA alpha-particles and irradiation times of 1.5-4.5 h, the mean (211)At production yield was 27.75 +/- 2.59 MBq/microA.h, and the maximum level of (211)At produced was 6.59 GBq after a 4-h irradiation at 55 microA. The decay-corrected distillation yield was 67% +/- 16%. The yield for the coupling of the (211)At-labeled active ester to the antibody was 76% +/- 8%. The fraction of (211)At activity that eluted with a retention time corresponding to intact IgG on HPLC was 96.0% +/- 2.5%. All preparations had a pyrogen level of <0.125 EU/mL and were determined to be sterile. The mean immunoreactive fraction for these 16 preparations was 83.3% +/- 5.3%. Radiolysis did not interfere with labeling chemistry or the quality of the labeled antibody product. CONCLUSION: These results show that it is feasible to produce clinically relevant activities of (211)At-labeled antibodies and have permitted the initiation of a phase I trial of (211)At-labeled chimeric 81C6 administered directly into the tumor resection cavities of brain tumor patients.  (+info)

Comparative cellular catabolism and retention of astatine-, bismuth-, and lead-radiolabeled internalizing monoclonal antibody. (4/53)

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) labeled with alpha-emitting radionuclides such as (211)At, (212)Bi, (213)Bi, and (212)Pb (which decays by beta-emission to its alpha-emitting daughter, (212)Bi) are being evaluated for their potential applications for cancer therapy. The fate of these radionuclides after cells are targeted with mAbs is important in terms of dosimetry and tumor detection. METHODS: In this study, we attached various radionuclides that result in alpha-emissions to T101, a rapidly internalizing anti-CD5 mAb. We then evaluated the catabolism and cellular retention and compared them with those of (125)I- and (111)In-labeled T101. T101 was labeled with (211)At, (125)I, (205,6)Bi, (111)In, and (203)Pb. CD5 antigen-positive cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC), and MOLT-4 leukemia cells were used. The labeled T101 was incubated with the cells for 1 h at 4 degrees C for surface labeling. Unbound activity was removed and 1 mL medium added. The cells were then incubated at 37 degrees C for 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 h. The activity on the cell surface that internalized and the activity on the cell surface remaining in the supernatant were determined. The protein in the supernatant was further precipitated by methanol for determining protein-bound and non-protein-bound radioactivity. Sites of internal cellular localization of radioactivity were determined by Percoll gradient centrifugation. RESULTS: All radiolabeled antibodies bound to the cells were internalized rapidly. After internalization, (205,6)Bi, (203)Pb, and (111)In radiolabels were retained in the cell, with little decrease of cell-associated radioactivity. However, (211)At and (125)I were released from cells rapidly ((211)At < (125)I) and most of the radioactivity in the supernatant was in a non-protein-bound form. Intracellular distribution of radioactivity revealed a transit of the radiolabel from the cell surface to the lysosome. The catabolism patterns of MOLT-4 cells and PBMNC were similar. CONCLUSION: (211)At catabolism and release from cells were somewhat similar to that of (125)I, whereas (205,6)Bi and (203)Pb showed prolonged cell retention similar to that of (111)In. These catabolism differences may be important in the selection of alpha-radionuclides for radioimmunotherapy.  (+info)

Microdosimetric analysis of alpha-particle-emitting targeted radiotherapeutics using histological images. (5/53)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and limitations of alpha-particle-emitting radiolabeled compounds by means of 2-dimensional histological images and distribution of activity on a microscopic level. METHODS: A microdosimetric approach based on histological images is used to analyze the therapeutic effectiveness of alpha-particle-emitting (211)At and (213)Bi conjugated to 201B monoclonal antibody (mAb), which is reactive with murine lung blood vessels for the treatment of EMT-6 lung tumor colonies in nude mice. Autoradiography images were used to define the tissue morphology and activity distribution within lung tissues. Two animal groups were studied: Group A consisted of animals bearing small tumors (<130 micro m) and group B consisted of larger tumors (<600 micro m). Probability density functions (pdf) described the variability in average absorbed dose and survival probability among normal and tumor target cells and, in turn, were used to assess the survival fraction of tumor and normal tissue. RESULTS: The average absorbed dose to tumor cells per unit cumulated activity concentration for animals in group A was 1.10 x 10(-3) and 1.37 x 10(-3) Gy g MBq(-1) s(-1) for (211)At and (213)Bi, respectively, and for animals in group B was 3.8 x 10(-4) and 5.6 x 10(-4) Gy g MBq(-1) s(-1) for (211)At and (213)Bi, respectively. The fraction of tumor cells that received a zero absorbed dose for animals in group A was 0.04% for (213)Bi and 0.2% for (211)At and for animals in group B was 25% for (213)Bi and 31% for (211)At. Both (213)Bi- and (211)At-labeled 201B mAb were effective therapies for animals with small tumors, where predicted therapeutic effectiveness was consistent with experimental findings; however, they were ineffective for animals with larger tumors. CONCLUSION: Microdosimetric methods based on knowledge of tissue morphology and activity distribution on a small-scale level can be a useful tool for evaluating a priori the therapeutic efficacy and limitations of targeted alpha-particle endoradiotherapeutic strategies.  (+info)

(211)At-labeled and biotinylated effector molecules for pretargeted radioimmunotherapy using poly-L- and poly-D-Lysine as multicarriers. (6/53)

Poly-L- and poly-D-lysine were evaluated as carriers of astatine and biotin for prospective use as effector molecules in pretargeted radioimmunotherapy of micrometastases. The precursor polylysine was derivatized in a three-step, single-pot procedure, including biotinylation with biotin amidocaproic N-hydroxysuccinimide, astatination via the intermediate reagent N-succinimidyl 3-(trimethylstannyl)benzoate, and, finally, charge modification using succinic anhydride. The chemistry was shown to be very facile, with a biotinylation efficiency of 75 +/- 5%, and overall radiochemical yields in the range of 50-70%. After charge modification, no amines could be detected in the final product. The biotin function was unaffected by the chemistry and the radiation, as confirmed by almost complete binding of the effector molecule to avidin beads using a convenient filter tube assay. The effector molecules were evaluated in tumor-free female nude mice with regard to whole-body retention and tissue distribution after i.p. administration. The distribution of the L-isomer effector molecule showed rapid whole-body clearance with low uptake in all tissues, whereas the D-isoform showed whole-body clearance related to uptake in the kidneys. Both D-isomer and L-isomer showed faster blood clearance and generally lower tissue uptakes than labeled antibodies. The normal tissue distribution after the peritoneal administration implies that pretargeting using L-structure polylysine as the effector molecule may give a higher therapeutic index than that achieved in conventional radioimmunotherapy.  (+info)

Astatine-211-labeled antibodies for treatment of disseminated ovarian cancer: an overview of results in an ovarian tumor model. (7/53)

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to establish and refine a preclinical model to alpha-immunoradiotherapy of ovarian cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: At-211 was produced by cyclotron irradiation of a bismuth-209 target and isolated using a novel dry distillation procedure. Monoclonal antibodies were radiohalogenated with the intermediate reagent N-succinimidyl 3-(trimethylstannyl)benzoate and characterized in terms of radiochemical yield and in vitro binding properties. In vitro OVCAR-3 cells were irradiated using an external Cobalt-60 beam, as reference, or At-211-albumin and labeled antibody. Growth assays were used to establish cell survival. A Monte Carlo program was developed to simulate the energy imparted and the track length distribution. Nude mice were used for studies of WBC depression, with various activities of Tc-99m antibodies, as reference, and At-211 antibodies. In efficacy studies, OVCAR-3 cells were inoculated i.p., and animals were treated 2 weeks later. The animals were either dissected 6 weeks later or followed-up for long-term survival. RESULTS: A rapid distillation procedure, as well as a rapid and high-yield, single-pot labeling procedure, was achieved. From growth inhibition data, the relative biological effectiveness of the alpha-emission for OVCAR-3 cells was estimated to be approximately 5, which is in the same range as found in vivo for hematological toxicity. At-211 MOv18 was found to effectively inhibit the development of tumors and ascites, also resulting in long-term survival without significant toxic effect. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the short-range, high-linear energy transfer alpha-emitter At-211 conjugated to a surface epitope-recognizing monoclonal antibody appears to be highly efficient without significant toxicity in a mouse peritoneal tumor model, urging a Phase I clinical trial.  (+info)

In vitro cytotoxicity of (211)at-astatide and (131)I-iodide to glioma tumor cells expressing the sodium/iodide symporter. (8/53)

The sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) has been identified as an attractive target for cancer therapy. The efficacy of (131)I-iodide for NIS-expressing tumor therapy may be limited by a combination of poor cellular retention and unfavorable physical characteristics (long physical half-life and low linear-energy-transfer [LET] radiative emissions). On the other hand, (211)At-astatide is also transported by NIS and offers several therapeutic advantages over (131)I-iodide due to its physical characteristics (short half-life, high LET alpha-particle emissions). The objective of this study was to directly compare the radiotoxicity of both radionuclides using a NIS-transfected cultured cell model. METHODS: Cytotoxicity was determined by colony-forming assays. Also, a first-order pharmacokinetic model was used to simulate the closed compartmental system between the medium and cells. Experimental data were then fitted to this model and used to estimate the transfer coefficients between medium and cells, k(m)(c), and between cells and medium, k(c)(m). Using the pharmacokinetic model, the cumulated activity concentrations in the medium and cells were calculated. Monte Carlo transport methods were then used to assess absorbed doses from (131)I and (211)At. RESULTS: (211)At-Astatide was significantly more cytotoxic than (131)I-iodide in this closed compartmental system. For (211)At-astatide, absorbed doses per unit administered activity were 54- to 65-fold higher than for (131)I-iodide. Both NIS-expressing and control cells showed increased sensitivity to (211)At over (131)I, with significantly lower D(0) (absorbed dose required to reduce the survival fraction to e(-1)) and SF(2) (2-Gy survival fraction) values, highlighting the higher intrinsic cytotoxicity of alpha-particles. However, NIS-independent (nonspecific) binding of (211)At-astatide was higher than that of (131)I-iodide, therefore, yielding a lower absorbed dose ratio between NIS-transfected and -nontransfected cells. CONCLUSION: Treatment of NIS-expressing cells with (211)At-astatide resulted in higher absorbed doses and increased cytotoxicity per unit administered activity than that observed with (131)I-iodide. These results suggest that (211)At-astatide may be a promising treatment strategy for the therapy of NIS-expressing tumors.  (+info)