Specific uptake of the auger electron-emitting thymidine analogue 5-[123I/125I]iodo-2'-deoxyuridine in rat brain tumors: diagnostic and therapeutic implications in humans.

Glial neoplasms of the human central nervous system are malignancies that have defied treatment. Part of the problem lies in the limitations of current diagnostic techniques which are unable to identify small collections of neoplastic glia within normal parenchyma and in the difficulty of sterilizing these tumors because of limited selectivity of the cytotoxic agents available. The thymidine analogue 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (IdUrd) radiolabeled with 123I and 125I was injected directly into an intracerebral rat 9L gliosarcoma and found to be a sensitive and specific agent for the detection of this neoplasm in rats. External gamma camera imaging (123I) visualized tumors as small as 0.5 mm in diameter. Autoradiography (125I) indicated that IdUrd was incorporated into the DNA of neoplastic glia only. Since 123I emits gamma-photons suitable for scintigraphy, [123I]IdUrd holds promise for the diagnosis of brain tumors in humans as well. Furthermore, since 123I and 125I are Auger electron emitters that have demonstrated antineoplastic effects, direct administration of [123I]IdUrd or [125I]IdUrd into tumors may also have potential for the treatment of central nervous system malignancies.

Antigen-binding site protection during radiolabeling leads to a higher immunoreactive fraction.

It is generally accepted that the immunointegrity of an antibody (Ab) depends on the preservation of its antigen-binding sites. Our goal was to radiolabel an antibody at several iodine:antibody molar ratios under conditions protecting its combining site and to compare its immunoreactive fraction (IRF) and electrophoretic mobility with those of the same antibody radiolabeled without protection. The data indicate that an antibody radiolabeled while its antigen-binding site is occupied by its antigen had the same IRF, regardless of the number of iodine atoms per antibody molecule. On the other hand, even at an I:Ab ratio of 1:1, the IRF of the same antibody radiolabeled without protection was lower than that of a protected one and decreased with increasing I:Ab ratios. In addition, the iodination of these Ab changes their electrophoretic mobility; however, when the Ab is labeled in the protected state, the degree of change is less. The binding of an antibody to its antigen prior to radiolabeling, therefore, enhances its immuno-integrity and prevents major conformational changes as reflected by electrophoresis.

Preadsorption of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies to liver and spleen tissues leads to higher tumor-to-normal-tissue ratios.

This study addresses the impact of background activity on the use of radioimmunoconjugates for radioimmunodiagnosis and radioimmunotherapy. Since the liver and the spleen represent organs with preferential nonspecific uptake, we exposed radiolabeled (iodinated and Indium-111 labeled) preparations of monoclonal antibodies to a suspension of fresh liver and spleen cells at physiological temperature and compared their immunoreactivity, in vivo biodistribution, and tumor targeting to those of the same radiolabeled proteins without prior adsorption to this suspension. The biodistribution studies were performed under conditions of high background activity, i.e., shortly after the injection (1 hour) and using a high dose of the protein. Preadsorption of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies results in a significant decreased uptake in certain normal tissues, i.e., greater contrast between normal and tumor tissues, as demonstrated by the quotient of the two target-to-nontarget ratios (exposed/unexposed antibody) which was greater than one for most of the tissues examined.