Differences between the catabolism and tumour distribution of intact monoclonal antibody (791T/36) and its Fab/c fragment in mice with tumour xenografts revealed by the use of a residualizing radiolabel (dilactitol-125I-tyramine) and autoradiography

Residualizing indium-111-radiolabel for plasmid DNA and its application to tissue distribution study

To develop a suitable vector and an administration technique for in vivo gene transfer, the tissue distribution of plasmid DNA (pDNA) needs to be understood. In this study, a novel residualizing radiolabel for pDNA was developed. 4-[p-Azidosalicylamido]butylamine (ASBA) was coupled with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) anhydride, then the conjugate was reacted with pDNA by photoactivation, followed by labeling with [(111)In]InCl(3) to obtain (111)In-pDNA. The overall structure of pDNA was well preserved, and the retention of its transcriptional activity was 40-98%. After intravenous injection of (111)In-pDNA into mice, about 50% of the radioactivity was recovered in the liver within 3 min. The level remained stable for at least 2 h, followed by a very slow decrease to 45% at 24 h. This contrasted with the results obtained with (32)P-pDNA by nick translation, in which a rapid decrease in hepatic radioactivity was observed. The amount of radioactivity in the lung following the administration of polyethyleneimine/(111)In-pDNA complexes correlates well with the transgene expression. These results indicate that the novel residualizing radiolabel clearly demonstrates the cells that have taken up pDNA and, therefore, gives us useful information about how to design a better approach for nonviral in vivo gene delivery.

Gamma scintigraphy of the biodistribution of 123I-labelled N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymer-doxorubicin conjugates in mice with transplanted melanoma and mammary carcinoma

An N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer-doxorubicin conjugate is currently under clinical evaluation as a new antitumour agent. It has been shown previously that such conjugates exhibit selective tumour accumulation. In this study HPMA copolymer doxorubicin conjugates of low (LMW) or high (HMW) molecular weight were synthesised (which had a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 25,000 and 94,000 respectively) and additionally contained a small amount (1 mol%) of the comonomer methacryloyltyrosinamide to permit labelling with [123I or 125I]iodide. Gamma camera imaging using the 123I-labelled probes was used to follow time-dependent biodistribution after intraperitoneal (i.p.) or intravenous (i.v.) administration to mice bearing subcutaneously either B16F10 melanoma or a mammary carcinoma. Imaging showed more rapid clearance of LMW conjugate from the peritoneal cavity than HMW conjugate. The images of mice given the LMW conjugate revealed rapid urinary excretion of radioactivity after both i.p. and i.v. injection with an early high concentration of tracer in the bladder, and subsequently a very high concentration in the kidneys, which came to dominate the views. Dissection analysis 2 days after administration of the LMW conjugate revealed a kidney level of radioactivity corresponding to 25-40% dose/g tissue in mice bearing the two tumour models. Following administration of the HMW conjugate kidney accumulation at 2 days was less due to retention of the higher molecular weight polymer molecules in the circulation, and spleen and liver displayed the highest concentrations of radioactivity. The tumour accumulation of LMW and HMW conjugates was; mammary carcinoma 3.18 and 5.29% dose/g respectively; B16F10 melanoma 3.23 and 8.82 %dose/g although these levels of tracer enabled visualisation in the images of the mammary carcinoma with HMW conjugate at later time points. The smaller size of the B16F10 tumour masses did not permit clear visualisation.

Processing of antibody-radioisotope conjugates after binding to the surface of tumor cells

BACKGROUND

Previous experiments indicated that most antibodies binding to cell surface antigens are internalized gradually and degraded within lysosomes, with a half-life of degradation of approximately 1 day, for most antibodies. The research discussed in this article extended our studies to eight additional antibodies reacting with six different antigens, including three antigens anchored in the membrane by glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol. The authors also tested antibodies labeled with 111indium, as well as 125iodine, to determine whether different radiolabels would be processed differently.

METHODS

Antibodies were radiolabeled with 125I or with 111In bound to benzyl-DTPA. After binding to the surface of tumor cells in vitro, excess antibody was washed away, and the fate of the radiolabel was investigated over periods of 3-7 days. Radiolabel released into the supernatant or retained by the cells was analyzed to determine whether it was still on intact antibody.

RESULTS

In 13 of the 15 antibodies that were tested, a similar pattern of irreversible binding and gradual catabolism was observed. Iodine conjugated to antibodies was released rapidly from the cell after antibody catabolism. In contrast, the 111In was retained within the cell much longer than 125I, with the rate of degradation and release into the medium being at least fivefold slower. More than 50% of the bound 111In was still present on the cells after 7 days. Biochemical analysis of the retained 111In extracted cells after 4-6 days demonstrated that it was no longer associated with antibodies and was in a low molecular weight form, probably still associated with the chelator benzyl-DTPA.

CONCLUSIONS

Different radiolabels are processed by tumor cells differently, after catabolism of the antibody to which they originally were conjugated. The data suggest that the prolonged retention of 111In, relative to that of 125I, is due not to deiodination of iodine conjugates, but rather to intracellular retention of catabolic products containing 111In, perhaps within lysosomes. The use of radioisotopes that are retained within cells after antibody internalization and degradation may improve both radioimmunodetection and radioimmunotherapy of cancer.

Influence of syngeneic monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies to murine monoclonal antibodies against tumour-associated antigens on the biodistribution of their target antibodies and their fragments

The effect of syngeneic anti-idiotypic (anti-id) antibodies on the biodistribution of three murine monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against human tumour-associated antigens, and also on that of their fragments, has been examined in mice using, as a model system, purified anti-id mAb against three different target mAb. With the IgG2b mAb NCRC-2, pretreatment of mice 24 h previously with its IgG1 anti-id mAb NCRC-60 caused clearance of subsequently administered NCRC-2. With the univalent Fab/c fragment of NCRC-2 there was little effect, even with anti-id to Fab/c pretreatment ratios of 20:1, although immune complexes were present in the circulation. With Fab of NCRC-2, anti-id mAb prolonged blood survival by reducing renal clearance, immune complexes surviving in the circulation. With the IgG1 mAb NCRC-23, immune complexes formed in vivo with the IgG2b anti-id mAb NCRC-59, but with only little hepatic clearance. With the Fab and F(ab')2 fragments of NCRC-23, blood survival was increased in mice pretreated with anti-id mAb, and with Fab this was clearly due to reduced renal clearance. The third mAb, the IgG3 NCRC-48, formed complexes with its IgG2a anti-id mAb NCRC-62, but these survived in the circulation with no accelerated clearance of the target mAb. These results are different from those previously seen with endogenous anti-id responses. They indicate the diversity of effects that anti-id mAb can have on the biodistribution of their target mAb, and emphasise the difficulty of using such anti-id mAb to modulate the pharmacokinetics of target mAb.

Influence of barrier-crossing limitations on the amount of macromolecular drug taken up by its target

Macromolecules (substitutive enzymes, polymeric prodrugs, immunotoxins, radiolabeled antibodies, or peptide hormones) are of interest in the treatment of several diseases. To reach the tissues, these macromolecular drugs have to cross the capillary wall, which represents an important transfer limitation. While pharmacokinetics usually studies the changes in drug concentration in different body compartments, analyzing the amount of drug gaining access to its target may be more relevant for assessing the efficiency of macromolecules than for low molecular mass drugs. To determine the influence of different parameters on the fraction of the injected dose gaining access to the pharmacologic target, we constructed pharmacokinetic models where two uptakes, both linear or nonlinear, work either in the same compartment (no transport limitation), or in compartments separated by a transport barrier. Numerical applications were carried out with parameters obtained either experimentally or from the literature. We conclude that it is of little use to increase the affinity (K(uptake)) of a macromolecular drug for its target when a transport limitation and an undesired elimination from the plasma space are both present. Likewise, an increase of the uptake (rate of uptake or maximal velocity) by the target is not very productive because permeability of the capillary wall is the factor limiting access of macromolecules to tissues. Maximal efficiency of therapeutic macromolecules could be achieved by increasing, where feasible, the transport across the barrier between the plasma and the target, and by preventing the undesired eliminations as much as possible.