Heavy ion effects on yeast cells: reappearance of the oxygen effect with very high LET

The development of a [211At]-astatinated endoradiotherapeutic drug: Part II. Therapeutic results for transplanted adenocarcinoma of the rectum in mice and associated studies

PURPOSE

6-[211At]-astato-MNDP is of a class of a high linear energy transfer endoradiotherapeutic drug, which selectively targets to an onco-APase isoenzyme expressed by certain epithelial and germ cell tumors. The therapeutic efficacy and acute toxicity of its endogenous alpha-particle emissions have been studied in a murine tumor model.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

211At was produced by the 207Bi(alpha,2n)211 At cyclotron-based nuclear reaction. High specific activity 6-[211At]-astato-MNDP was rapidly synthesized by in vacuo thermal heterogeneous isotopic exchange. The therapeutic potential of 6-[211At]-astato-MNDP and 211At- was determined in mice bearing a transplanted CMT-93 rectal carcinoma which exhibited onco-APase activity.

RESULTS

Significant therapeutic effects due to targeted alpha-particle emissions have been confirmed for the activity dose range, 10-750 kBq 6-[211At]-astato-MNDP. A therapeutic window has been identified, whereby cure rates of approximately 45-65% were achieved following administration of 55-300 kBq 6-[211At]-astato-MNDP. Estimated tumor absorbed radiation doses were not inconsistent with clinical response. Irreversible hematoxicity or stigmata of acute radiation damage in other critical normal tissues were not encountered. Nonspecifically internalized 211At- exerted no therapeutic effect.

CONCLUSION

Therapeutic results for 6-[211At]-astato-MNDP have confirmed the profound in vivo cytotoxicity of its targeted alpha-radiations in the CMT-93 tumor. Acute normal tissue toxicity was acceptable. A rationale for optimal fractionation of targeted 6-[211At]-astato-MNDP endoradiotherapy is discussed, and its putative role in the possible individualized management of certain human tumors has been proposed.

Astatine-211: its possible applications in cancer therapy

The cyclotron-produced radiohalogen, 211At, is eminently suitable as a possible therapeutic radionuclide. It decays by the emission of 6.8 MeV mean energy alpha-particles, which from a radiobiological viewpoint are of near optimal therapeutic LET. This paper reviews developments in the possible application of [211At]astato-labelled molecules as potential anti-tumour agents. Additionally, radio-dosimetric evidence is presented, and its implications for human cancer therapy are discussed.

Effects of heavy ions on cycling stem cells

Murine marrow stem cells assayed with the spleen colony assay have been shown to be largely in a noncycling state, Go. In the unirradiated animal where these spleen-colony forming units (CFUs) transit normally between a non-proliferative state and active proliferation, exposure to a sufficient dose of ionizing radiation increases the frequency (probability) of this transition. For low-LET irradiation, marrow stem cells are not induced into cycle until a threshold dose is achieved. This dose appears to be in the range 50 to 100 cGy, inducing proliferation in an all-or-nothing manner. For irradiation with heavy charged-particles, however, the threshold dose is dependent on mass and energy. Irradiation with particles of sufficient mass and energy stimulates active proliferation even at the smallest doses tested, 5 cGy. Further, this response does not appear to result from an all-or-nothing effect. Rather, individual animals with intermediate levels of stem cell cycling have been observed. These data support the notion that locally controlled hemopoiesis can be affected by local deposition of radiation damage.