Auger electron emitter against multiple myeloma--targeted endo-radio-therapy with 125I-labeled thymidine analogue 5-iodo-4'-thio-2'-deoxyuridine.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy characterized by accumulation of malignant, terminally differentiated B cells in the bone marrow. Despite advances in therapy, MM remains an incurable disease. Novel therapeutic approaches are, therefore, urgently needed. Auger electron-emitting radiopharmaceuticals are attractive for targeted nano-irradiation therapy, given that DNA of malignant cells is selectively addressed. Here we evaluated the antimyeloma potential of the Auger electron-emitting thymidine analogue (125)I-labeled 5-iodo-4'-thio-2'-deoxyuridine ([(125)I]ITdU). METHODS: Cellular uptake and DNA incorporation of [(125)I]ITdU were determined in fluorodeoxyuridine-pretreated KMS12BM, U266, dexamethasone-sensitive MM1.S and -resistant MM1.R cell lines. The effect of stimulation with interleukin 6 (IL6) or insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) on the intracellular incorporation of [(125)I]ITdU was investigated in cytokine-sensitive MM1.S and MM1.R cell lines. Apoptotic cells were identified using Annexin V. Cleavage of caspase 3 and PARP was visualized by Western blot. DNA fragmentation was investigated using laddering assay. Therapeutic efficiency of [(125)I]ITdU was proven by clonogenic assay. RESULTS: [(125)I]ITdU was shown to be efficiently incorporated into DNA of malignant cells, providing a promising mechanism for delivering highly toxic Auger radiation emitters into tumor DNA. [(125)I]ITdU had a potent antimyeloma effect in cell lines representing distinct disease stages and, importantly, in cell lines sensitive or resistant to the conventional therapeutic agent, but was not toxic for normal plasma and bone marrow stromal cells. Furthermore, [(125)I]ITdU abrogated the protective actions of IL6 and IGF1 on MM cells. [(125)I]ITdU induced massive damage in the DNA of malignant plasma cells, which resulted in efficient inhibition of clonogenic growth. CONCLUSION: These studies may provide a novel treatment strategy for overcoming resistance to conventional therapy in multiple myeloma.

New molecular markers for prostate tumor imaging: a study on 2-methylene substituted fatty acids as new AMACR inhibitors.

The development of prostate carcinoma is associated with alterations in fatty acid metabolism. α-Methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR) is a peroxisomal and mitochondrial enzyme that catalyses interconversion between the (S)/(R)-isomers of a range of α-methylacyl-CoA thioesters. AMACR is involved in the ß-oxidation of the dietary branched-chain fatty acids and bile acid intermediates. It is highly expressed in prostate (more than 95 %), colon (92 %), and breast cancers (44 %) but not in the respective normal or hyperplastic tissues. Thus, targeting of AMACR could be a new strategy for molecular imaging and therapy of prostate and some other cancers. Unlabeled 2-methylenacyl-CoA thioesters (12 a-c) were designed as AMACR binding ligands. The thioesters were tested for their ability to inhibit the AMACR-mediated epimerization of (25R)-THC-CoA and were found to be strong AMACR inhibitors. Radioiodinated (E)-(131) I-13-iodo-2-methylentridec-12-enoic acid ((131) I-7 c) demonstrated preferential retention in AMACR-positive prostate tumor cells (LNCaP, LNCaP C4-2wt and DU145) compared with both AMACR-knockout LNCaP C4-2 AMACR-siRNA and benign BPH1 prostate cell lines. A significant protein-bound radioactive fraction with main bands at 47 (sum of molecular weights of AMACR plus 12 c), 70, and 75 kDa was detected in LNCaP C4-2 wt cells. In contrast, only negligible amounts of protein-bound radioactivity were found in LNCaP C4-2 AMACR-siRNA cells.

Synthesis and biologic study of IV-14, a new ribonucleoside radiotracer for tumor visualization.

UNLABELLED: Uridine-cytidine kinase (UCK) 2, an enzyme normally expressed in human placenta and testis and highly overexpressed in many neoplasias of blood and solid tissues, catalyzes monophosphorylation of pyrimidine ribonucleosides with efficiency 15- to 20-fold higher than that of ubiquitously expressed isozyme UCK1. In this paper, we report the synthesis of 3'-(E)-(2-iodovinyl)uridine (IV-14) and its preclinical evaluation as a new radiotracer derived from a UCK2-selective antitumor agent, 3'-(ethynyl)uridine. METHODS: Radioiodinated IV-14 was prepared from the respective stannyl precursor. (131)I-IV-14 was studied in cellular uptake assays and tested for stability in serum as well as for stability to thymidine phosphorylase, liver-, and mucosa-specific murine uridine phosphorylases. UCK1 and UCK2 expression levels in different tumor cell lines were determined by Western blot. Cellular distribution of (131)I-IV-14 was determined in HL60 cells. Biodistribution studies and gamma-camera scintigraphy were performed on an HL60-xenografted severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse model. RESULTS: (131)I-IV-14 demonstrated excellent stability in serum. It was stable to human thymidine phosphorylase and to liver- and mucosa-specific murine uridine phosphorylases. Cellular uptake after 24 h of incubation with (131)I-IV-14 was 4.27 +/- 0.21, 3.66 +/- 0.13, 2.69 +/- 0.07, 2.24 +/- 0.18, and 3.26 +/- 0.18 percentage injected dose per 5 x 10(5) Mia-PaCa-2, CX-1, HL60, Capan-1, and Panc-1 cells, respectively. Uptake and retention of IV-14 were regulated by 2 factors: UCK2 expression level and intracellular transport mediated partially via human equilibrating nucleoside transporter 1. A biodistribution study of (131)I-IV-14 in an HL60-xenografted SCID mouse model showed that at 4 h after injection the greatest amount of retained radioactivity was in tumor. The tissue-to-tumor ratio 4 h after injection was 1.0 +/- 0.24 for tumor, 0.40 +/- 0.18 for spleen, 0.25 +/- 0.12 for colon, 0.14 +/- 0.07 for small intestine, and less than 0.1 for other sites. Scintigraphy with (123)I-IV-14 4 h after injection showed the tumor well. In addition, high accumulation of radioiodide in the stomach content was observed and was presumably due to metabolic degradation of IV-14. CONCLUSION: IV-14 is a UCK2-specific marker, allowing for in vivo addressing of tumors with high RNA synthesis independent of proliferation rate.

Towards to hENT1-nucleoside transporter selective imaging agents. Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of the radiolabeled SAENTA analogues.

Three new potential hENT(1) inhibitors suitable for labeling with PET/SPECT radioisotopes were prepared from an advanced intermediate 4. They were tested for their capability to inhibit binding of SAENTA-fluorescein to HL60 leukemia cells in flow cytometry assay and SAENTA-I (5) was determined to be the most active compound. (131)I-5 showed high hENT(1)-specific binding (up to 54% ID) to 6 from 7 tested tumor cell lines and was chosen for further in vivo study.

Preferential tumor targeting and selective tumor cell cytotoxicity of 5-[131/125I]iodo-4'-thio-2'-deoxyuridine.

PURPOSE: Auger electron emitting radiopharmaceuticals are attractive for targeted nanoirradiation therapy, provided that DNA of malignant cells is selectively addressed. Here, we examine 5-[123/125/131I]iodo-4'-thio-2'-deoxyuridine (ITdU) for targeting DNA in tumor cells in a HL60 xenograft severe combined immunodeficient mouse model. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Thymidine kinase and phosphorylase assays were done to determine phosphorylation and glycosidic bond cleavage of ITdU, respectively. The biodistribution and DNA incorporation of ITdU were determined in severe combined immunodeficient mice bearing HL60 xenografts receiving pretreatment with 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd). Organ tissues were dissected 0.5, 4, and 24 h after radioinjection and uptake of [131I]ITdU (%ID/g tissue) was determined. Cellular distribution of [125I]ITdU was imaged by microautoradiography. Apoptosis and expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67 were determined by immunohistologic staining using corresponding paraffin tissue sections. RESULTS: ITdU is phosphorylated by thymidine kinase 1 and stable toward thymidylate phosphatase-mediated glycosidic bond cleavage. Thymidylate synthase-mediated deiodination of [123/125/131I]ITdU was inhibited with FdUrd. Pretreatment with FdUrd increased preferentially tumor uptake of ITdU resulting in favorable tumor-to-normal tissue ratios and tumor selectivity. ITdU was exclusively localized within the nucleus and incorporated into DNA. In FdUrd-pretreated animals, we found in more than 90% of tumor cells apoptosis induction 24 h postinjection of ITdU, indicating a highly radiotoxic effect in tumor cells but not in cells of major proliferating tissues. CONCLUSION: ITdU preferentially targets DNA in proliferating tumor cells and leads to apoptosis provided that the thymidylate synthase is inhibited.

Homocysteine thiolactone-induced hyperhomocysteinemia does not alter concentrations of cholesterol and SREBP-2 target gene mRNAS in rats.

The present rat study was conducted to test whether hyper-homocysteinemia induced by dietary homocysteine (Hcy) alters the cholesterol concentration in plasma and tissue and the gene expression of genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and uptake. Therefore, rats were fed 100 or 200 mg Hcy per kilogram body mass per day (Hcy100 group and Hcy200 group, respectively) as dl-homocysteine thiolactone, or an Hcy-free diet, which served as control, over 14 days. Rats from the Hcy100 group and the Hcy200 group had higher plasma Hcy concentrations (34.4 +/- 4.6 and 69.4 +/- 11.5 microM, respectively) than rats fed an Hcy-free diet (9.5 +/- 1.7 microM). The concentration of Hcy in liver was 2.6 and 3.8 times higher, and in small intestine was 2.6 and 5.1 times higher, in the Hcy100 group and the Hcy200 group, respectively, than in control rats (P < 0.05). The concentrations of cholesterol in plasma, lipoproteins, liver, and small intestine and the relative mRNA concentrations of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP-2), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor in liver and small intestine were not influenced by dl-homocysteine thiolactone supplementation. In conclusion, in view of the experimental conditions used here, increased plasma and tissue concentrations of Hcy do not alter cholesterol metabolism of liver and intestine.