Search

This paper describes in vitro cytotoxicity experiments with 213Bi- and 225Ac-immunoconjugates on the human epidermoid tumour cell line A431 using a blood group A-reactive murine IgG (2D11) as the specific antibody and MOPC 21 as the control antibody. With both radionuclides, specific cell-killing was achieved. The observed cytotoxicity of 213Bi (T1/2 - 47 min) indicates that this radionuclide is a useful alternative for the alpha-emitter 212Bi in the treatment of blood-borne malignancies. 225Ac-immunoconjugates (T1/2 of 225Ac is 10 days) may be applicable for the treatment of solid tumours, since the daughter radionuclides of 225Ac contribute to the cytotoxic efficacy by a field effect (i.e. toxicity in an area distal from the antibody-binding site). The lack of an adequate chelator for 225Ac is a major drawback.

The specific delivery of radioisotopes to a tumor at minimal radiation of normal tissue is the ultimate aim of radioimmunotherapy. In this respect a two-step pretargeting regimen generally leads to an improved tumor to normal tissue uptake ratio compared to direct administration of radioimmunoconjugates. In this paper, in vitro studies are described in which the specific hybridization of complementary DNA fragments is the recognition mechanism in a pretargeting regimen comprising tumor cell saturation with a monoclonal antibody (MoAb)-oligonucleotide conjugate, followed by administration of the radiolabeled complementary oligonucleotide. Complementary oligodeoxynucleotides (15-mers; melting temperature, 68 degrees C) were prepared on a DNA synthesizer. The 5'-end was derivatized with a functional group for labeling with iodine, and the 3'-end was substituted with an amino function suitable for conjugation to an antibody (or attachment of a biotin residue). Both terminal modifications ensure stability of the oligonucleotides against exonucleases because the unconjugated form is stable for 24 h and the conjugated form is stable for several days when incubated in human plasma at 37 degrees C. Antibody-DNA conjugates were prepared by introduction of sulfhydryl groups into the oligonucleotide, followed by conjugation to maleimide-substituted MoAbs. Typically, 3 oligonucleotides were conjugated to an IgG, and 4-6 were conjugated to an IgM with preservation of immunoreactivity. Histochemistry on fresh frozen sections of breast cancer tissue demonstrated qualitatively the specificity of our two-step procedure. In vitro experiments with human tumor cell lines and tumor-specific MoAbs showed that, after saturation with tumor-specific MoAb-DNA conjugates, quantitative hybridization of the tumor cell-bound oligonucleotides occurred at a 30-fold excess of the labeled complementary oligonucleotide: hybridization was complete after 30 min of incubation. No reaction was observed with an irrelevant MoAb-DNA conjugate. The oligonucleotide was neither taken up by tumor cells or endothelial cells nor hybridized to a significant extent with human genomic DNA. These data indicate the feasibility of this two-step approach in radioimmunotherapy.

After separate administration of mianserin (CAS 24219-97-4) enantiomers to rats, the hydroxy-metabolites of S-mianserin were excreted mainly as conjugates whereas the amount of free phenolic metabolites was greater after administration of the R-enantiomer. The sulphate-conjugate of 8-hydroxy-mianserin was stereoselectively found in faeces only after administration of S-mianserin. Based on in vitro experiments with sulphatase, the stability of this conjugate towards enzymic hydrolysis appears a likely explanation. In vitro experiments with liver homogenates of rats revealed little enantioselectivity with respect to oxidative metabolism. After prior enzyme induction with phenobarbital, however, enantioselectivity with regard to N-oxidation was found. The 3-oxo-mianserin metabolite, found in vitro, is most likely the product of a rearrangement of mianserin-N-oxide. N-formyl-demethyl-mianserin, identified in vitro, is considered to be an artefact.

This paper proposes the utilization of 225Ac for the alpha-radioimmunotherapy of cancer. The isotope decays with a radioactive half-life of 10 days into a cascade of short-lived alpha- and beta-emitting isotopes. In addition, when indicated by the pharmacokinetic requirements of particular clinical applications, 213Bi, with a radioactive half-life of 47 min, can be chosen as an alternative source of alpha-particles in radioimmunotherapy. This isotope is the last alpha emitter in the 225Ac decay-cascade and can be extracted from a 225Ac source at the bedside of the patient. 225Ac can quasi ad infinitum be obtained from one of its precursors, 229Th, which can be made available by various means. The indications for the use of alpha-particles as an alternative to more traditional classes of radiation are derived from the particle-kinetic characteristics and the radioactive half-life of their source isotope, as well as from the properties of the target-selective carrier moiety for the source isotope. It may be expected that useful applications, complementary to and/or in conjunction with other means of therapy will be identified.

The metabolism of trans-5-chloro-2-methyl-2,3,3a,12b-tetrahydro-1 H-dibenz[2,3:6,7]oxepinol [4,5-c]pyrrolidine maleate (Org 5222) labelled with [3H] or [14C] was investigated in Wistar rats. Metabolites were identified by mass spectrometry, 13C- and 1H-NMR analysis, IR spectroscopy and, wherever possible, by comparison with authentic reference compounds. The metabolites found in plasma, bile, faeces and urine revealed the processes of metabolism in which Org 5222 underwent oxidation to yield an N-oxide existing in two diastereoisomeric forms, or N-demethylation to yield a demethyl metabolite. A novel metabolite was found in bile, viz. a carbamate glucuronide, formed from an intermediate carbamic acid, derived from the addition of CO2 to the demethyl metabolite.

123I-4-(3-dimethylaminopropylamino)-7-iodoquinoline (IAQ), a potential localizing agent for melanoma, was prepared by isotopic exchange between 123I-iodide and the phosphate or sulphate of IAQ. Yields up to 96% were obtained. The total time for preparation is restricted to 30 minutes.

A kit-like procedure is described for the labelling of Hippuran by exchange in a melt with carrier-free iodide-123 directly formed from the decay of123Xe. Decay and subsequent melting for 15 min at 180°C are performed in one and the same ampoule. This results in a transfer of 95% of the123I-activity into Hippuran with a residual123I-content of

2-Aminofluorene, 4-amino-3-methylbiphenyl, 4-amino-biphenyl and 4-amino-4′-fluorobiphenyl were tritiated by acid catalyzed exchange of the corresponding nitro compounds followed by catalytic reduction. The exchange reactions were carried out by heating the nitro compounds in [3H]-trifluoroacetic acid with a catalytic amount of trifluoromethanesulphonic acid (TFMS). No loss of tritium could be detected during the conversion of the tritiated nitro compounds into the corresponding amines by catalytic hydrogenation. Incorporation into the ortho position is very low (< 4%). During the metabolic activation and binding of the tritiated N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene to rat liver DNA in vivo, no tritium exchange occurred.

A number of different processes clear peptides from the circulation. These will be described and illustrated using examples from a range of peptide hormones and analogues.

The tissue distribution of a number of 5-[131I]-iodo-2-thiouracil derivatives was measured in Syrian golden hamsters with Greene melanoma. These compounds were rapidly (in less than 1 h) distributed in all tissues, while in most tissues fast elimination (T1/2 1-3 h) was observed. Because of retention of the 131I activity in the tumour, high tumour/non-tumour tissue ratios were found (e.g. tumour/eye 2.3-10, tumour/skin 1.5-3) suggesting that some of these compounds might be used as melanoma delineating agents, when labelled with 123I.

The uptake and distribution of several 4-(substituted amino)-iodoquinolines, 131I-labelled, and of 67Ga-citrate were investigated in Syrian golden hamsters with Greene melanomas. Because of its uptake in the melanoma (tumour/eye ratio 8.9), 4-(dimethylamino-ethylamino)-7-iodoquinoline (NM113) was selected for further investigations as a possible radiopharmaceutical for ocular scintigraphy when labelled with 123I. High uptake of NM113 turned out to be incidental and could not be favourably influenced by several pharmacological pretreatments. Affinity for melanin, as shown in in vitro experiments, unfavourably influences NM113 tumour-to-eye ratios. In comparison with 67Ga-citrate, the latter, with a high tumour-to-eye ratio (44.8 after 24 h) is more promising in patient studies in which NM113 123I was not.

Chloroquine can be iodinated with radioactive iodine in radiochemical yields 60-75% with chloramine-T or H2O2/lactoperoxidase. With both methods a rather complex mixture of labelled products is formed. The yield and ratios of the labelled products depend upon the chloroquine-concentration, the amount of carrier iodide present and in the case of the chloramine-T method, the chloramine-T concentration. With the chloramine-T method the main product is 3-iodochloroquine, with H2O2/lactoperoxidase an unidentified iodinated chloroquine-derivative, probably a dimer, is the main labelled product. With chloramine-T products such as 3-chlorochloroquine and deethylchloroquine are formed in mass amounts.

The synthesis of 131 I-5-iodo-2-thiouracils by electrophilic iodination or by an electrophilic isotopic exchange using chloramine-T and Iodo-gen TM has been investigated. Because of the sensitivity of the thiouracils for oxidation, Iodo-gen TM was used preferentially for the generation of the electrophilic 131 I-species.

The incorporation of [2-14C]-2-thiouracil and a series of [125I]-5-iodo-2-thiouracils ([125I]ISUra(s)) into cultured Greene hamster melanoma cells was determined in order to establish their properties as false precursors in the melanin-biosynthetic pathway. The cold trichloroacetic acid-precipitable incorporation of [2-14C]-2-thiouracil as well as [125I]ISUra into melanoma cells after a 24- to 48-hr labeling period proved to be completely tyrosinase dependent (more than 99.5% inhibition could be achieved by 0.5 mM phenylthiourea). [125I]ISUra incorporation was 3-fold higher than was [2-14C]-2-thiouracil incorporation and was enhanced by 1 mM theophylline treatment. [125I]ISUra incorporation into hamster, rabbit, and human melanoma cells showed a linear relationship with cell melanin content. Methylation of the sulfur completely prevented the incorporation, while propylation but not methylation at position 6 resulted in lower incorporation. [125I]ISUra proved to be a marker for melanogenesis and may be useful in studies on the differentiation of cultured melanoma cells.

123Xe and 127Xe have been produced by the reactions 127I(p, 5n) 123Xe, resp. 127I(d, 2n) 127Xe on CH2I2 as the target compound in a dynamic flow system. Radioxenon is stripped during bombardment by a flow of helium and purified from accompanying volatile organic radiation decomposition products by sequential combustion and trapping. Decay of 123Xe in the presence of H2S, ultimately leads almost completely to iodide-123I of very high radiochemical purity.