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Patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who are treated with rituximab may develop resistant disease, often associated with changes in expression of CD20. The next-generation β-particle-emitting radioimmunoconjugate 177 Lu-lilotomab-satetraxetan (Betalutin) was shown to up-regulate CD20 expression in different rituximab-sensitive NHL cell lines and to act synergistically with rituximab in a rituximab-sensitive NHL animal model. We hypothesized that 177 Lu-lilotomab-satetraxetan may be used to reverse rituximab resistance in NHL. Methods: The rituximab-resistant Raji2R and the parental Raji cell lines were used. CD20 expression was measured by flow cytometry. Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) was measured by a bioluminescence reporter assay. The efficacies of combined treatments with 177 Lu-lilotomab-satetraxetan (150 or 350 MBq/kg) and rituximab (4 × 10 mg/kg) were compared with those of single agents or phosphate-buffered saline in a Raji2R-xenograft model. Cox regression and the Bliss independence model were used to assess synergism. Results: Rituximab binding in Raji2R cells was 36% ± 5% of that in the rituximab-sensitive Raji cells. 177 Lu-lilotomab-satetraxetan treatment of Raji2R cells increased the binding to 53% ± 3% of the parental cell line. Rituximab ADCC induction in Raji2R cells was 20% ± 2% of that induced in Raji cells, whereas treatment with 177 Lu-lilotomab-satetraxetan increased the ADCC induction to 30% ± 3% of that in Raji cells, representing a 50% increase ( P < 0.05). The combination of rituximab with 350 MBq/kg 177 Lu-lilotomab-satetraxetan synergistically suppressed Raji2R tumor growth in athymic Foxn1 nu mice. Conclusion: Lu-lilotomab-satetraxetan has the potential to reverse rituximab resistance; it can increase rituximab binding and ADCC activity 177 Lu-lilotomab-satetraxetan has the potential to reverse rituximab resistance; it can increase rituximab binding and ADCC activity in vitro and can synergistically improve antitumor efficacy in vivo ., (© 2020 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.)

Objectives: To investigate the therapeutic potential of the next-generation anti-CD37 radioimmunoconjugate 177 Lu-lilotomab satetraxetan ( 177 Lu-lilotomab) in combination with the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab for treatment of mice with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) xenografts., Methods: Nude mice with subcutaneous (s.c.) Burkitt's lymphoma Daudi xenografts and SCID mice intravenously (i.v.) injected with Mantle cell lymphoma Rec-1 cells were treated with either 177 Lu-lilotomab or rituximab alone or with the combination of both treatments. Tumour volume, body weight, blood counts and clinical status were monitored. CD20 expression was measured using flow cytometry with fluorescence-labelled rituximab., Results: The combination of 177 Lu-lilotomab and rituximab was synergistic for treatment of nude mice with s.c. Daudi xenografts while it was additive for treatment of SCID mice with i.v. injected Rec-1 cells. Binding of rituximab to NHL cells in-vitro was increased by pretreatment with 177 Lu-lilotomab., Conclusions: Treatment of mice with NHL xenografts with 177 Lu-lilotomab synergistically increased tumour suppression of subsequent anti-CD20 immunotherapy and improved survival. If the same effect is confirmed in a recently started clinical study, it could change the way radioimmunotherapy and CD20 immunotherapy would be used in the future., (© 2018 The Authors. European Journal of Haematology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the β-emitting lutetium-177 labelled anti-CD37 antibody NNV003 (177Lu-NNV003, Humalutin®) for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in in vitro studies and in animal models. Methods: Cytotoxicity of 177Lu-NNV003 was measured in REC-1 (mantle cell lymphoma) and DOHH-2 (diffuse large B cell lymphoma) cell lines. Biodistribution was studied in mice bearing subcutaneous DOHH-2 or MEC-2 (chronic lymphocytic leukaemia) xenografts. The therapeutic effect of a single injection of 177Lu-NNV003 was measured in mice intravenously or subcutaneously injected with REC-1 cells. Haematological and histopathological assessments were used to evaluate the toxic effect of 177Lu-NNV003. The immunotherapeutic effect of NNV003 was assessed by measuring binding to Fcγ receptors, activation of ADCC and ADCP. NNV003's immunogenicity potential was assessed using in silico immunogenicity prediction tools. Results: 177Lu-NNV003 showed an activity dependent antiproliferative effect in all cell lines. Maximum tumour uptake in vivo was 45% of injected activity/g in MEC-2 tumours and 15% injected activity/g in DOHH-2 tumours. In mice injected intravenously with REC-1 cells, 177Lu-NNV003 (50–100 MBq/kg) improved survival compared to control groups (p < 0.02). In mice with subcutaneous REC-1 xenografts, 500 MBq/kg 177Lu-NNV003 extended survival compared to the control treatments (p < 0.005). Transient haematological toxicity was observed in all mice treated with radioactivity. NNV003 induced ADCC and ADCP and was predicted to have a lower immunogenicity potential than its murine counterpart. Conclusion: 177Lu-NNV003 had a significant anti-tumour effect and a favourable toxicity profile. These results warrant further clinical testing in patients with CD37-expressing B cell malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: To investigate the therapeutic potential of the next‐generation anti‐CD37 radioimmunoconjugate 177Lu‐lilotomab satetraxetan (177Lu‐lilotomab) in combination with the anti‐CD20 antibody rituximab for treatment of mice with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) xenografts. Methods: Nude mice with subcutaneous (s.c.) Burkitt's lymphoma Daudi xenografts and SCID mice intravenously (i.v.) injected with Mantle cell lymphoma Rec‐1 cells were treated with either 177Lu‐lilotomab or rituximab alone or with the combination of both treatments. Tumour volume, body weight, blood counts and clinical status were monitored. CD20 expression was measured using flow cytometry with fluorescence‐labelled rituximab. Results: The combination of 177Lu‐lilotomab and rituximab was synergistic for treatment of nude mice with s.c. Daudi xenografts while it was additive for treatment of SCID mice with i.v. injected Rec‐1 cells. Binding of rituximab to NHL cells in‐vitro was increased by pretreatment with 177Lu‐lilotomab. Conclusions: Treatment of mice with NHL xenografts with 177Lu‐lilotomab synergistically increased tumour suppression of subsequent anti‐CD20 immunotherapy and improved survival. If the same effect is confirmed in a recently started clinical study, it could change the way radioimmunotherapy and CD20 immunotherapy would be used in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: 177Lu-lilotomab satetraxetan is a novel anti-CD37 antibody radionuclide conjugate for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Four arms with different combinations of pre-dosing and pre-treatment have been investigated in a first-in-human phase 1/2a study for relapsed CD37+ indolent NHL. The aim of this work was to determine the tumor and normal tissue absorbed doses for all four arms, and investigate possible variations in the ratios of tumor to organs-at-risk absorbed doses.Methods: Two of the phase 1 arms included cold lilotomab pre-dosing (arm 1 and 4; 40 mg fixed and 100 mg/m2 BSA dosage, respectively) and two did not (arms 2 and 3). All patients were pre-treated with different regimens of rituximab. The patients received either 10, 15, or 20 MBq 177Lu-lilotomab satetraxetan per kg body weight. Nineteen patients were included for dosimetry, and a total of 47 lesions were included. The absorbed doses were calculated from multiple SPECT/CT-images and normalized by administered activity for each patient. Two-sided Student’s t tests were used for all statistical analyses.Results: Organs with distinct uptake of 177Lu-lilotomab satetraxetan, in addition to tumors, were red marrow (RM), liver, spleen, and kidneys. The mean RM absorbed doses were 0.94, 1.55, 1.44, and 0.89 mGy/MBq for arms 1-4, respectively. For the patients not pre-dosed with lilotomab (arms 2 and 3 combined) the mean RM absorbed dose was 1.48 mGy/MBq, which was significantly higher than for both arm 1 (p = 0.04) and arm 4 (p = 0.02). Of the other organs, the highest uptake was found in the spleen, and there was a significantly lower spleen absorbed dose for arm-4 patients than for the patient group without lilotomab pre-dosing (1.13 vs. 3.20 mGy/MBq; p < 0.01).Mean tumor absorbed doses were 2.15, 2.31, 1.33, and 2.67 mGy/MBq for arms 1-4, respectively. After averaging the tumor absorbed dose for each patient, the patient mean tumor absorbed dose to RM absorbed dose ratios were obtained, given mean values of 1.07 for the patient group not pre-dosed with lilotomab, of 2.16 for arm 1, and of 4.62 for arm 4. The ratios were significantly higher in both arms 1 and 4 compared to the group without pre-dosing (p = 0.05 and p = 0.02). No statistically significant difference between arms 1 and 4 was found.Conclusions: RM is the primary dose-limiting organ for 177Lu-lilotomab satetraxetan treatment, and pre-dosing with lilotomab has a mitigating effect on RM absorbed dose. Increasing the amount of lilotomab from 40 mg to 100 mg/m2 was found to slightly decrease the RM absorbed dose and increase the ratio of tumor to RM absorbed dose. Still, both pre-dosing amounts resulted in significantly higher tumor to RM absorbed dose ratios. The findings encourage continued use of pre-dosing with lilotomab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-CD20 antibody rituximab labelled with the α-particle-emitting radionuclide 227Th is of interest as a radiotherapeutic agent for treatment of lymphoma. Complete regression of human lymphoma Raji xenografts in 60% of mice treated with 200 kBq/kg 227Th-rituximab has been observed. To evaluate possible late side effects of 227Th-rituximab, the long-term radiotoxicity of this potential radiopharmaceutical was investigated. BALB/c mice were injected with saline, cold rituximab or 50, 200 or 1,000 kBq/kg 227Th-rituximab and followed for up to 1 year. In addition, nude mice with Raji xenografts treated with various doses of 227Th-rituximab were also included in the study. Toxicity was evaluated by measurements of mouse body weight, white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts, serum clinical chemistry parameters and histological examination of tissues. Only the 1,000 kBq/kg dosage resulted in decreased body weight of the BALB/c mice. There was a significant but temporary decrease in WBC and platelet count in mice treated with 400 and 1,000 kBq/kg 227Th-rituximab. Therefore, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was 200 kBq/kg. The maximum tolerated activity was between 600 and 1,000 kBq/kg. No significant signs of toxicity were observed in histological sections in any examined tissue. There were significantly ( p < 0.05), but transiently, higher concentrations of serum bile acids and aspartate aminotransferase in mice treated with either 227Th-rituximab or non-labelled antibody when compared with control mice. The maximum tolerated dose to bone marrow was between 2.1 and 3.5 Gy. Therapeutically relevant dose levels of 227Th-rituximab were well tolerated in mice. Bone marrow suppression, as indicated by decrease in WBC count, was the dose-limiting radiotoxicity. These toxicity data together with anti-tumour activity data in a CD20-positive xenograft mouse model indicate that therapeutic effects could be obtained with relatively safe dosage levels of the radioimmunoconjugate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine whether the low-dose-rate α-particle–emitting radioimmunoconjugate 227Th–1,4,7,10-p-isothiocyanato-benzyl-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA)–rituximab can be used to inactivate lymphoma cells growing as single cells and small colonies. Methods and Materials: CD20-positive lymphoma cell lines were treated with 227Th-DOTA-rituximab for 1–5 weeks. To simulate the in vivo situation with continuous but decreasing supply of radioimmunoconjugates from the blood pool, the cells were not washed after incubation with 227Th-DOTA-rituximab, but half of the medium was replaced with fresh medium, and cell concentration and cell-bound activity were determined every other day after start of incubation. A microdosimetric model was established to estimate the average number of hits in the nucleus for different localizations of activity. Results: There was a specific targeted effect on cell growth of the 227Th-DOTA-rituximab treatment. Although the cells were not washed after incubation with 227Th-DOTA-rituximab, the average contribution of activity in the medium to the mean dose was only 6%, whereas the average contribution from activity on the cells'' own surface was 78%. The mean dose rates after incubation with 800 Bq/mL 227Th-DOTA-rituximab varied from 0.01 to 0.03 cGy/min. The average delay in growing from 105 to 107 cells/mL was 15 days when the cells were treated with a mean absorbed radiation dose of 2 Gy α-particle radiation from 227Th-DOTA-rituximab, whereas it was 11 days when the cells were irradiated with 6 Gy of X-radiation. The relative biologic effect of the treatment was estimated to be 2.9–3.4. Conclusions: The low-dose-rate radioimmunoconjugate 227Th-DOTA-rituximab is suitable for inactivation of single lymphoma cells and small colonies of lymphoma cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Radioimmunotherapy has proven clinically effective in patients with non-Hodgkin''s lymphoma. Radioimmunotherapy trials have so far been performed with β-emitting isotopes. In contrast to β-emitters, the shorter range and high linear energy transfer (LET) of α particles allow for more efficient and selective killing of individually targeted tumor cells. However, there are several obstacles to the use of α-particle immunotherapy, including problems with chelation chemistry and nontarget tissue toxicity. The α-emitting radioimmunoconjugate 227Th-DOTA-p-benzyl-rituximab is a new potential anti-lymphoma agent that might overcome some of these difficulties. The present study explores the immunoreactivity, in vivo stability and biodistribution, as well as the effect on in vitro cell growth, of this novel radioimmunoconjugate. To evaluate in vivo stability, uptake in balb/c mice of the α-particle-emitting nuclide 227Th alone, the chelated form, 227Th-p-nitrobenzyl-DOTA and the radioimmunoconjugate 227Th-DOTA-p-benzyl-rituximab was compared in a range of organs at increasing time points after injection. The immunoreactive fraction of 227Th-DOTA-p-benzyl-rituximab was 56–65%. During the 28 days after injection of radioimmunoconjugate only, very modest amounts of the 227Th had detached from DOTA-p-benzyl-rituximab, indicating a relevant stability in vivo. The half-life of 227Th-DOTA-p-benzyl-rituximab in blood was 7.4 days. Incubation of lymphoma cells with 227Th-DOTA-p-benzyl-rituximab resulted in a significant antigen-dependent inhibition of cell growth. The data presented here warrant further studies of 227Th-DOTA-p-benzyl-rituximab. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]