Angiotoxicity of oxygenated sterols and possible precursors.

Cell death, inflammation, and repair in rabbits' aortas and pulmonary arteries were observed at 3-, 7-, and 10-day periods after the intravenous injection of oxygenated sterols. Thus, oxygenated sterols, not cholesterol, may play the primary role in arterial wall injury and lesion development.

Intratumoral delivery of boronated epidermal growth factor for neutron capture therapy of brain tumors.

The gene for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is amplified or overexpressed in high-grade gliomas but is low or undetectable in normal brain. Recently, there has been increasing interest in using epidermal growth factor (EGF)-based bioconjugates as targeting agents for brain tumors. In the present study, we have investigated the potential use of boronated EGF as a delivery agent for boron neutron capture therapy, which is based on the capture reaction that occurs when 10B, a stable isotope, is irradiated with low-energy thermal neutrons. A fourth generation starburst dendrimer was boronated and linked to EGF using heterobifunctional reagents. Either wild-type or EGFR gene transduced C6 glioma cells (C6EGFR), which expressed 10(5)-10(6) receptor sites/cell, were stereotactically implanted into the right cerebral hemisphere of Fischer rats. Four weeks later, the rats received either i.v. or intratumoral (i.t.) injection of 131I-labeled boronated starburst dendrimer (BSD) or BSD-EGF. The biodistribution of 131I-BSD-EGF and 131I-BSD was studied by means of whole-body scintigraphy, autoradiography, and gamma scintillation counting. Following i.t. injection of 131I-BSD-EGF, 21.8% of the injected dose per gram tissue (% ID/g) was localized in C6EGFR tumors at 24 h and 16.3% at 48 h compared to 5 and 1.3% ID/g in C6 wild-type tumors, respectively, and 0.01 and 0.006% ID/g, respectively, for i.v. injected animals at the corresponding times. In contrast, following i.t. injection of BSD-EGF, only 0.01-0.1% ID/g was localized in the liver and spleen at 24 and 48 h compared to 5-12% ID/g following i.v. injection. Our data indicate that direct i.t. injection can selectively deliver BSD-EGF to EGFR-positive gliomas and suggest that intracerebral administration may be the most effective way for delivering EGF-based bioconjugates to EGFR-positive brain tumors.

Boron neutron capture therapy of intracerebral melanoma using boronophenylalanine as a capture agent.

A rat brain tumor model has been developed utilizing nude rats and the human melanoma cell line MRA 27. For pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution studies, 2 10(5) MRA 27 cells were implanted intracerebrally (i.c.), and 30 days later, 120 mg of 10B-enriched L-boronophenylalanine were injected i.p. into nude rats. 10B concentrations in the tumor, blood, and normal brain were 23.7, 9.4, and 8.4 micrograms/g, respectively, 6 h following administration. For therapy experiments, tumor bearing rats were irradiated at the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor 30 days following implantation. The median survival time was 44 days for untreated rats, 76 days for those receiving a physical dose of 2.7 Gy, and 93 days for those receiving 3.6 Gy. Animals receiving both 10B-L-boronophenylalanine and physical doses of 1.8, 2.7, or 3.6 Gy (total tumor physical doses of 5.0, 7.5, or 10.1 Gy) had median survival times of 170, 182, and 262 days, respectively. Forty % of rats that received the highest tumor dose (10.1 Gy) survived > 300 days. In a replicate experiment 21% of animals that had received L-boronophenylalanine and irradiation (total tumor physical dose of 10.1 Gy) were alive 220 days after therapy. In a parallel study, animals that were irradiated with gamma photons from a 137Cs source with 12 Gy or 2.0 Gy 9 delivered to the head had median survival times of 86 and 79 days, respectively, compared to 47 days for untreated animals. Our results indicate that boron neutron capture therapy is effective against i.c. melanoma in a rodent model and suggest that large animal studies are warranted to further assess its efficacy.

Boron neutron capture therapy of brain tumors: enhanced survival following intracarotid injection of either sodium borocaptate or boronophenylalanine with or without blood-brain barrier disruption.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the efficacy of boron neutron capture therapy could be enhanced by means of intracarotid (i.c.) injection of sodium borocaptate (BSH) or boronophenylalanine (BPA) with or without blood-brain barrier disruption (BBB-D). For biodistribution studies, F98 glioma-bearing rats were injected i.v. or i.c. with either BSH (30 mg of boron/kg of body weight) or BPA (24 mg of boron/kg of body weight) with or without mannitol-induced, hyperosmotic BBB-D and killed 2.5 h later. The highest tumor boron concentrations for BSH and BPA were attained following i.c. injection with BBB-D (48.6 and 94.0 microg/g, respectively) compared to i.c. (30.8 and 42.7 microg/g) and i.v. injection (12.9 and 20.8 microg). Using the same doses of BSH and BPA, therapy experiments were initiated 14 days after intracerebral implantation of F98 glioma cells. Animals were irradiated 2.5 h after i.v. or i.c. administration of the capture agent with or without BBB-D using a collimated beam of thermal neutrons at the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor. The median survival times of rats given BSH or BPA i.c. were 52 and 69 days, respectively, for rats with BBB-D; 39 and 48 days for rats without BBB-D; 33 and 37 days for i.v. injected rats; 29 days for irradiated controls; and 24 days for untreated controls. i.c. injection of either BSH or BPA resulted in highly significant enhancement (P = 0.01 and P = 0.0002, respectively) of survival times compared to i.v. injection, and this was further augmented by BBB-D (P = 0.02 and P = 0.04, respectively) compared to i.c. injection. Normal brain tissue tolerance studies were carried out with non-tumor-bearing rats, which were treated in the same way as tumor-bearing animals. One year after irradiation, the brains of these animals showed only minimal radiation-induced changes in the choroid plexus, but no differences were discernible between irradiated controls and those that had BBB-D followed by i.c. injection of either BSH or BPA. Our data clearly show that the route of administration, as well as BBB-D, can enhance the uptake of BSH and BPA, and, subsequently, the efficacy of boron neutron capture therapy.

A nude rat model for neutron capture therapy of human intracerebral melanoma.

PURPOSE: The present study was carried out to determine the efficacy of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) for intracerebral melanoma using nude rats, the human melanoma cell line MRA 27, and boronophenylalanine as the capture agent. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution studies: MRA 27 cells (2 x 10(5)) were implanted intracerebrally, and 30 days later, 120 mg of 10B-L-BPA were injected intraperitoneally into nude rats. Therapy experiments: Thirty days following implantation, tumor bearing rats were irradiated at the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor. RESULTS: Pharmacokinetic experiments: Six hours following administration of BPA, tumor, blood, and normal brain boron-10 levels were 23.7, 9.4, and 8.4 micrograms/g respectively. Therapy experiments: Median survival time of untreated rats was 44 days compared to 76 days and 93 days for those receiving physical doses of 2.73 Gy and 3.64 Gy, respectively. Rats that had received both 10B-BPA and physical doses of 1.82, 2.73, or 3.64 Gy had median survival times of 170, 182, and 262 days, respectively. Forty percent of rats that had received the highest tumor dose (10.1 Gy) survived for > 300 days and in a replicate experiment 21% of the rats were longterm survivors (> 220 days). Animals that received 12 Gy in a single dose or 18 Gy fractionated (2 Gy x 9) of gamma photons from a 137Cs source had median survival times of 86 and 79 days, respectively, compared to 47 days for untreated animals. Histopathologic examination of the brains of longterm surviving rats, euthanized at 8 or 16 months following BNCT, showed no residual tumor, but dense accumulations of melanin laden macrophages and minimal gliosis were observed. CONCLUSION: Significant prolongations in median survival time were noted in nude rats with intracerebral human melanoma that had received BNCT thereby suggesting therapeutic efficacy. Large animal studies should be carried out to further assess BNCT of intracerebral melanoma before any human trials are contemplated.

Strategies for the design and synthesis of boronated nucleic acid and protein components as potential delivery agents for neutron capture therapy.

PURPOSE: Strategies for the design and synthesis of boronated nucleosides, amino acids, and peptides as potential delivery agents for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) are described. METHODS AND MATERIALS: For BNCT to be a useful treatment modality, there is a need to design and synthesize nontoxic boron compounds that selectively target tumor cells, accumulate in sufficient amounts (20-30 micrograms 10B/g of tumor) and persist at therapeutic levels for a sufficient time prior to neutron irradiation. Boronated nucleosides, amino acids and peptides are such promising target compounds. Such structures may be selectively used by proliferating neoplastic cells compared with mitotically less active normal cells and therefore achieve the tissue differentials necessary for BNCT. RESULTS: The rationale for synthesis of boronated nucleic acid and protein components is discussed. Results of biological and clinical studies of some boronated nucleosides, nucleotides, amino acids and peptides are presented. CONCLUSION: Boronated nucleosides, amino acids and peptides can be considered as potential targeting agents for BNCT.

Boron neutron capture therapy of brain tumors: enhanced survival following intracarotid injection of sodium borocaptate with or without blood-brain barrier disruption.

PURPOSE: Sodium borocaptate (Na2B12H11SH or BSH) has been used clinically for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) of patients with primary brain tumors. The purpose of the present study was to determine if tumor uptake of BSH and efficacy of BNCT could be enhanced in F98 glioma-bearing rats by intracarotid (i.c.) injection of the compound with or without blood-brain barrier disruption (BBB-D). METHODS AND MATERIALS: For biodistribution studies 100,000 F98 glioma cells were implanted stereotactically into the brains of Fischer rats, and 12 days later BBB-D was carried out by i.c. infusion of 25% mannitol, followed immediately thereafter by i.c. injection of BSH (30 mg B/kg body weight). Animals were killed 1, 2.5, and 5 h later, and their brains were removed for boron determination. For BNCT experiments, which were initiated 14 days after intracerebral implantation of 1000 F98 cells, BSH (30 mg B/kg b.wt. was administered intravenously (i.v.) without BBB-D, or i.c. with or without BBB-D. The animals were irradiated 2.5 h later with a collimated beam of thermal neutrons at the Brookhaven National Laboratory Medical Research Reactor. RESULTS: The mean tumor boron concentration after i.c. injection with BBB-D was 48.6 +/- 17.2 microg/g at 2.5 h compared with 30.8 +/- 12.2 microg/g after i.c. injection without BBB-D and 12.9 +/- 4.2 microg/g after i.v. injection. The best composite tumor to normal tissue ratios were observed at 2.5 h after BBB-D, at which time the tumor:blood (T:B1) ratio was 5.0, and the tumor: brain (T:Br) ratio was 12.3, compared to 1.1 and 4.6, respectively, in i.v. injected rats. The mean survival time for untreated control rats was 24 +/- 3 days, 29 +/- 4 days for irradiated controls, 33 +/- 6 days for those receiving i.v. injection of BSH, 40 +/- 8 days for rats receiving i.c. BSH without BBB-D, and 52 +/- 13 days for BBB-D followed by BNCT (p = 0.003 vs. i.v. injected BSH). CONCLUSIONS: Intracarotid administration of BSH with or without BBB-D significantly increased tumor uptake of BSH and enhanced survival of F98 glioma-bearing rats following BNCT. BBB-D may be a useful way to enhance the delivery of both low and high molecular weight boron compounds to brain tumors. Further studies are in progress to assess this approach with other boron delivery agents.

Boron neutron capture therapy of brain tumors: enhanced survival and cure following blood-brain barrier disruption and intracarotid injection of sodium borocaptate and boronophenylalanine.

PURPOSE: Boronophenylalanine (BPA) and sodium borocaptate (Na(2)B(12)H(11)SH or BSH) have been used clinically for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) of high-grade gliomas. These drugs appear to concentrate in tumors by different mechanisms and may target different subpopulations of glioma cells. The purpose of the present study was to determine if the efficacy of BNCT could be further improved in F98-glioma-bearing rats by administering both boron compounds together and by improving their delivery by means of intracarotid (i.c.) injection with or without blood-brain barrier disruption (BBB-D). METHODS AND MATERIALS: For biodistribution studies, 10(5) F98 glioma cells were implanted stereotactically into the brains of syngeneic Fischer rats. Eleven to 13 days later animals were injected intravenously (i.v.) with BPA at doses of either 250 or 500 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) in combination with BSH at doses of either 30 or 60 mg/kg b.w. or i.c. with or without BBB-D, which was accomplished by i.c. infusion of a hyperosmotic (25%) solution of mannitol. For BNCT studies, 10(3) F98 glioma cells were implanted intracerebrally, and 14 days later animals were transported to the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). They received BPA (250 mg/kg b.w.) in combination with BSH (30 mg/kg b.w. ) by i.v. or i.c. injection with or without BBB-D, and 2.5 hours later they were irradiated with a collimated beam of thermal neutrons at the BNL Medical Research Reactor. RESULTS: The mean tumor boron concentration +/- standard deviation (SD) at 2.5 hours after i. c. injection of BPA (250 mg/kg b.w.) and BSH (30 mg/kg b.w.) was 56. 3 +/- 37.8 microgram/g with BBB-D compared to 20.8 +/- 3.9 microgram/g without BBB-D and 11.2 +/- 1.8 microgram/g after i.v. injection. Doubling the dose of BPA and BSH produced a twofold increase in tumor boron concentrations, but also concomitant increases in normal brain and blood levels, which could have adverse effects. For this reason, the lower boron dose was selected for BNCT studies. The median survival time was 25 days for untreated control rats, 29 days for irradiated controls, 42 days for rats that received BPA and BSH i.v., 53 days following i.c. injection, and 72 days following i.c. injection + BBB-D with subsets of long-term survivors and/or cured animals in the latter two groups. No histopathologic evidence of residual tumor was seen in the brains of cured animals. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of BPA and BSH, administered i.c. with BBB-D, yielded a 25% cure rate for the heretofore incurable F98 rat glioma with minimal late radiation-induced brain damage. These results demonstrate that using a combination of boron agents and optimizing their delivery can dramatically improve the efficacy of BNCT in glioma-bearing rats.

Chemoimmunotherapy of cancer. 3. Analytical measurement of chemical half-lives of monofunctional alkylators.

The objective of this study is the measurement of the rates of hydrolysis of a series of chloroethyl sulfide derivatives, under stimulated physiological conditions. Interferences encountered with the conventional spectrophotometric method prompted the use of a rapid-response, chloride selective electrode. This probe was readily capable of monitoring the hydrolytic rate, which is identical with the rate of chloride ion formation. Since the desired subsecond half-lives were not achieved by any of the compounds, factors influencing the rates were investigated. The results suggest that the rate-controlling cyclization step may be inhibited, due to coordination of undissociated protonic functional groups on the aromatic portions of the structures with the lone-pair electrons on sulfur.

Chemoimmunotherapy of cancer.

The preparation of a series of water-soluble mustard haptens for chemoimmunotherapy of cancer is described. Preliminary screening data are given, indicating some activity against P388 lymphocytic leukemia for those compounds containing the most potent immunogenic functional groups.

Aporphines. 31. Synthesis and antitumor activity of aporphine nitrogen mustards.

A series of aporphine nitrogen mustards and their congeners (1b-g) has been prepared. N-[[Bis(2-chloroethyl)-amino]-2,11-dihyroxy-10-methoxynoraporphine (1b) and its mono- and diacetyl ester derivatives (1c-d) were prepared from N-(chloroacetyl)-2,11-diacetoxy-10-methoxynoraporphine (2). Reaction of 2 with diethanolamine under various conditions and different solvents resulted in the corresponding N-[[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]acetyl] precursors, which were subsequently treated with SOCl2 to yield the target compounds. N-(2-Choroethyl)norapocodeine (1e) was obtained from the chlorination of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)norapocodeine (9) with SOCl2. Prolonging such treatment was found to result in the formation of N-[2-(chloroethoxy)ethyl]norapocodeine (1f) at the expense of 1e. N-[[[N'-(2-Chloroethyl)carbamyl]oxy]ethyl]norapocodeine (1g) and its 11-(2-chloroethyl)carbamyl derivative (1h) were also prepared. All the double-armed aporphine amide nitrogen mustards (ab-d) were found to have antitumor activity. The single-armed aporphine nitrogen mustard (1e) was also active in P388 but the activity was less than that observed with 1b-d. The lead compound 1a was inactive in the LE1210 and P388 systems at the doses tested. Similarly, the two aporphine mustard congeners (1f,g) were also inactive in the P388 system. All the activity was observed in the intraperitoneally innoculated tumor systems.

Isoquinolines. 6. Potential central nervous system antitumor agents. Nitrogen mustards of 3-amino-4-(p-aminophenyl)isoquinoline.

A series of 3-amino-4-(p-aminophenyl)isoquinolines bearing the bis(2-chloroethyl)amino group was synthesized as potential CNS antitumor agents. Diol precursors 1e and 1f were prepared by the treatment of 1b and 1c with ethylene oxide. Diol precursors 5a-c and 9 were prepared by the treatment of 4a-c and 8 with diethanolamine. The reaction of these diols with SOCl2 yielded target mustards 10-15 which were evaluated in the intraperitoneal murine L1210 tumor. No intermediates or target mustards were active in this tumor system.

Boron neutron capture therapy: linkage of a boronated macromolecule to monoclonal antibodies directed against tumor-associated antigens.

Two new protein-binding polyhedral boron derivatives, isocyanatoundecahydro-closo-dodecaborate(2-) (1) and isocyanato(trimethylamino)octahydro-closo-decaborate(1 -) (2), were synthesized. These anionic isocyanates have long hydrolysis half-lives at pH 7 and react readily with primary or secondary aliphatic amines resulting in spontaneous urea linkage. Utilizing 1, 1100 boron atoms (7.3% boron by weight) were incorporated per molecule of a polyclonal antibody directed against human thymocytes (anti-thymocyte globulin) without denaturation. However, immunoreactivity of the conjugates was lost. Reaction of 1 and 2 with polylysine yielded boronated macromolecules containing 21-28% boron by weight (up to 2000 boron atoms per molecule). Polylysine boronated with 2 was successfully linked to antibody molecules employing the heterobifunctional linking molecules N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP) and m-maleimidobenzoyl sulfosuccinimide ester (sulfo-MBS). Separation of the conjugated antibody from the free boronated macromolecules and unconjugated antibody molecules has been achieved by gel filtration on a Sephacryl S-300 column. By linking boronated polylysine to antibodies, greater than 10(3) boron atoms were incorporated with the attachment of this species to one or more sites on the antibody molecule. The resulting immunoconjugates contained greater than 10(3) boron atoms per molecule, retained their immunoreactivity, and potentially might be useful for the selective delivery of large numbers of boron atoms to tumor cells.

Dicesium N-succinimidyl 3-(undecahydro-closo-dodecaboranyldithio)propionate, a novel heterobifunctional boronating agent.

The synthesis of a novel heterobifunctional agent, dicesium N-succinimidyl 3-(undecahydro-closo-dodecaboranyldithio)propionate, is described. This structure contains an active ester component known to react rapidly under very mild conditions with amino groups of proteins, resulting in covalent linkage. With use of this boronating agent, approximately 480 boron atoms have been incorporated per molecule of a polyclonal antibody directed against human thymocytes and 1300 boron atoms per molecule were incorporated into a monoclonal antibody, 17-1A, directed against human colorectal carcinoma cells. Binding of the boronated antibodies to the corresponding target cells was demonstrated by means of membrane immunofluorescence. There was some loss in reactivity, as determined by fluorescent end point titers, but specificity remained unchanged. The data suggest that boronated antibodies potentially could be used to selectively deliver boron-10 to tumor cells in order to achieve their destruction by neutron capture.

Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of boronated uridine and glucose derivatives for boron neutron capture therapy.

The following boron-containing nucleoside and glucose derivatives have been synthesized as potential boron delivery agents for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT): 2'-O-(o-carboran-1-ylmethyl)uridine (4a), 3'-O-(o-carboran-1-ylmethyl)uridine (4b), sodium 7-(uridin-2'-ylmethyl)dodecahydro-7,8-dicarba-++ +nido-undecaborate (5), 5'-O-(o-carboran-1-ylmethyl)uridine (9), and 3'-O-(o-carboran-1-ylmethyl)-D-glucose (13). In vitro cellular uptake studies were performed with F98 rat glioma cells. Following 16 h incubation, cellular boron concentrations were determined by direct current plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (DCP-AES). Boron concentrations ranged from 65 to 103 micrograms/g of cells for the neutral closo structures compared with 1.5 micrograms/g of cells for the charged nido species. Cellular uptake of sodium mercaptoundecahydro-closo-dodecaborate (BSH), the compound currently being used in Japan for the treatment of malignant brain tumors by BNCT, was 2 micrograms/g of cells.

Boron-containing polyamines as DNA targeting agents for neutron capture therapy of brain tumors: synthesis and biological evaluation.

Three series of new boron-containing spermidine/spermine (SPD/SPM) analogues have been synthesized: N1- and N5-(4-carboranylbutyl) SPD/SPM derivatives (SPD-1, SPD-5, SPM-1, SPM-5); N1,N10-diethyl-N5-(4-carboranylbutyl)spermidine (DESPD-5), N1,N14-diethyl-N5-(4-carboranylbutyl)spermine (DESPM-5); and N5,N10-bis(4-carboranylbutyl)spermine (SPM-5,10). In vitro studies using rat F98 glioma cells have shown that these polyamines retain the ability to displace ethidium bromide from calf thymus DNA and are rapidly taken up by F98 glioma cells. However, their cytotoxicities, especially those with terminal N-substituted (SPD-1, SPM-1) boron compounds, are greater than those of SPD/SPM. Nevertheless, the groundwork has been created for a new class of boron-containing compounds that maybe useful for boron neutron capture therapy of tumors.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of boron-containing polyamines as potential agents for neutron capture therapy of brain tumors.

New boron-containing spermidine/spermine (SPD/SPM) analogues have been synthesized: N5-[4-(2-aminoethyl-o-carboranyl)butyl] and N5-{4-[(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-o-carboranyl]butyl} SPD/SPM derivatives (ASPD-5, ASPM-5, DHSPD-5, and DHSPM-5) as well as N5-{[4-(dihydroxyboryl)phenyl]methyl}spermidine (BBSPD-5). These boronated polyamines retain their ability to displace ethidium bromide from calf thymus DNA and are rapidly taken up in vitro by F98 rat glioma cells. The in vitro toxicities of ASPD-5, ASPM-5, DHSPD-5, and DHSPM-5 are lower than those previously reported for N5-[4-(o-carboranyl)butyl] SPD/SPM derivatives (SPD-5 and SPM-5) but similar to those of native SPD and SPM. Very low toxicity was also observed for BBSPD-5. In vivo studies of ASPD-5 and BBSPD-5 were performed in mice bearing intracerebral implants of the GL261 glioma and subcutaneous implants of the B16 melanoma. The biodistribution data found in both tumor models suggest that the polyamines synthesized to date do not appear to be suitable boron agents for BNCT.

Protein-binding polyhedral boranes.

A series of polyhedral borane derivatives containing protein-binding functional groups has been synthesized. Problems encountered in earlier studies (low incorporation levels, gross precipitation of conjugates) have been overcome by including a water-solubilizing gluconamide group in the structure. This modification has allowed high levels of boron to be covalently bound to HGG, forming a completely water-soluble conjugate.

Synthesis of 5-(carboranylalkylmercapto)-2'-deoxyuridines and 3-(carboranylalkyl)thymidines and their evaluation as substrates for human thymidine kinases 1 and 2.

Derivatives of thymidine containing o-carboranylalkyl groups at the N-3 position and derivatives of 2'-deoxyuridine containing o-carboranylalkylmercapto groups at the C-5 position were synthesized. The alkyl spacers consist of 4-8 methylene units. The synthesis of the former compounds required 3-4 reaction steps in up to 75% overall yield and that of the latter 9-10 reaction steps with significantly lower overall yield. Derivatives of thymidine substituted with carboranylalkyl substituents at the N-3 position and short spacers were phosphorylated by both recombinant and purified cytosolic thymidine kinase (TK1) to a relatively high degree. None of the tested 2'-deoxyuridine derivatives possessing carboranyl substituents at the C-5 position were phosphorylated by either recombinant or purified TK1. The amounts of phosphorylation product detected for some of the C-5-substituted nucleosides with recombinant mitochondrial thymidine kinase (TK2) were low but significant and decreased with increasing lengths of the alkyl spacer. The data obtained in this study do not seem to support the tether concept applied in the synthesis of the new C-5- and N-3-substituted carboranyl nucleosides intended to reduce possible steric interference in the binding of carboranyl nucleosides with deoxynucleoside kinases. Instead, it appeared that a closer proximity of the bulky carborane moiety to the nucleoside scaffold resulted in better substrate characteristics.