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We present a comprehensive software program, RAD-ADAPT, for the quantitative analysis of clonogenic assays in radiation biology. Two commonly used models for clonogenic assay analysis, the linear-quadratic model and single-hit multi-target model, are included in the software. RAD-ADAPT uses maximum likelihood estimation method to obtain parameter estimates with the assumption that cell colony count data follow a Poisson distribution. The program has an intuitive interface, generates model prediction plots, tabulates model parameter estimates, and allows automatic statistical comparison of parameters between different groups. The RAD-ADAPT interface is written using the statistical software R and the underlying computations are accomplished by the ADAPT software system for pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic systems analysis. The use of RAD-ADAPT is demonstrated using an example that examines the impact of pharmacologic ATM and ATR kinase inhibition on human lung cancer cell line A549 after ionizing radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circulating insulin is dependent on a balance between insulin appearance through secretion and insulin clearance. However, to what extent changes in insulin clearance contribute to the increased insulin levels after glucagon administration is not known. This study therefore assessed and quantified any potential effect of glucagon on insulin kinetics in mice. Prehepatic insulin secretion in mice was first estimated following glucose (0.35 g/kg i.v.) and following glucose plus glucagon (10 μg/kg i.v.) using deconvolution of plasma C-peptide concentrations. Plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, and glucagon were then measured simultaneously in individual mice following glucose alone or glucose plus glucagon (pre dose and at 1, 5, 10, 20 min post). Using the previously determined insulin secretion profiles and the insulin concentration-time measurements, a population modeling analysis was applied to estimate the one-compartment kinetics of insulin disposition with and without glucagon. Glucagon with glucose significantly enhanced prehepatic insulin secretion (Cmax and AUC 0-20 ) compared to that with glucose alone ( p < 0.0001). From the modeling analysis, the population mean and between-animal SD of insulin clearance was 6.4 ± 0.34 mL/min for glucose alone and 5.8 ± 1.5 mL/min for glucagon plus glucose, with no significant effect of glucagon on mean insulin clearance. Therefore, we conclude that the enhancement of circulating insulin after glucagon administration is solely due to stimulated insulin secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The vitamin D3 catabolizing enzyme, CYP24, is frequently over-expressed in tumors, where it may support proliferation by eliminating the growth suppressive effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3). However, the impact of CYP24 expression in tumors or consequence of CYP24 inhibition on tumor levels of 1,25(OH)2D3 in vivo has not been studied due to the lack of a suitable quantitative method. To address this need, an LC–MS/MS assay that permits absolute quantitation of 1,25(OH)2D3 in plasma and tumor was developed. We applied this assay to the H292 lung tumor xenograft model: H292 cells eliminate 1,25(OH)2D3 by a CYP24-dependent process in vitro, and 1,25(OH)2D3 rapidly induces CYP24 expression in H292 cells in vivo. In tumor-bearing mice, plasma and tumor concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3 reached a maximum of 21.6 and 1.70ng/mL, respectively, following intraperitoneal dosing (20μg/kg 1,25(OH)2D3). When co-administered with the CYP24 selective inhibitor CTA091 (250μg/kg), 1,25(OH)2D3 plasma levels increased 1.6-fold, and tumor levels increased 2.6-fold. The tumor/plasma ratio of 1,25(OH)2D3 AUC was increased 1.7-fold by CTA091, suggesting that the inhibitor increased the tumor concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3 independent of its effects on plasma disposition. Compartmental modeling of 1,25(OH)2D3 concentration versus time data confirmed that: 1,25(OH)2D3 was eliminated from plasma and tumor; CTA091 reduced the elimination from both compartments; and that the effect of CTA091 on tumor exposure was greater than its effect on plasma. These results provide evidence that CYP24-expressing lung tumors eliminate 1,25(OH)2D3 by a CYP24-dependent process in vivo and that CTA091 administration represents a feasible approach to increase tumor exposure to 1,25(OH)2D3. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]