Antibody-induced intracellular signaling works in combination with radiation to eradicate lymphoma in radioimmunotherapy

Radioimmunotherapy: a specific treatment protocol for cancer by cytotoxic radioisotopes conjugated to antibodies

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) represents a selective internal radiation therapy, that is, the use of radionuclides conjugated to tumor-directed monoclonal antibodies (including those fragments) or peptides. In a clinical field, two successful examples of this treatment protocol are currently extended by ⁹⁰Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin) and ¹³¹I-tositumomab (Bexxar), both of which are anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies coupled to cytotoxic radioisotopes and are approved for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. In addition, some beneficial observations are obtained in preclinical studies targeting solid tumors. To date, in order to reduce the unnecessary exposure and to enhance the therapeutic efficacy, various biological, chemical, and treatment procedural improvements have been investigated in RIT. This review outlines the fundamentals of RIT and current knowledge of the preclinical/clinical trials for cancer treatment.

Cancer radioimmunotherapy

Targeting of radionuclides with antibodies, or radioimmunotherapy, has been an active field of research spanning nearly 50 years, evolving with advancing technologies in molecular biology and chemistry, and with many important preclinical and clinical studies illustrating the benefits, but also the challenges, which all forms of targeted therapies face. There are currently two radiolabeled antibodies approved for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but radioimmunotherapy of solid tumors remains a challenge. Novel antibody constructs, focusing on treatment of localized and minimal disease, and pretargeting are all promising new approaches that are currently under investigation.

Combination radioimmunotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy involving different or the same targets improves therapy of human pancreatic carcinoma xenograft models

Chemoimmunotherapy with antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) is emerging as a promising therapy for solid tumors, whereas radioimmunotherapy (RAIT) of solid tumors has been relatively ineffective because of their resistance to radiation. We developed antibody-SN-38 conjugates that have significant antitumor activity in xenograft models at nontoxic doses. The goal of this study was to determine if an ADC could be combined with RAIT to enhance efficacy without a commensurate increase in host toxicity. Nude mice bearing human pancreatic cancer xenografts (Capan-1 and BxPC-3) were treated with a single dose of 90Y-labeled antimucin antibody (hPAM4; clivatuzumab tetraxetan) alone or in combination with an anti-Trop-2-SN-38 conjugate, typically administered twice weekly over 4 weeks. The combination, even at RAIT's maximum tolerated dose, controlled tumor progression and cured established xenografts significantly better than the individual treatments without appreciable toxicity. The ADC could be started 1 week after or up to 2 weeks before RAIT with similar enhanced responses, but delaying RAIT for 2 weeks after the ADC was less effective. A nonspecific ADC provided additional benefit over using free drug (irinotecan), but the response was enhanced with the specific ADC. When targeting Capan-1 with ample mucin, hPAM4 could be used as the RAIT and the ADC agent without losing effectiveness, but in BxPC-3 with less mucin, targeting of different antigens was preferred. These studies show the feasibility of combining ADC and RAIT for improved efficacy without increased toxicity.

New insights into the mechanisms of action of radioimmunotherapy in lymphoma

The exquisite sensitivity of haematological malignancies to targeted radiation alongside the impressive results achieved by the pioneers in this field suggests that radioimmunotherapy is likely to be a productive area for future clinical research. Recent experimental work has demonstrated that the combination of targeted radiation and antibody effector mechanisms are critical to long-term clearance of tumour. This review provides the background of clinical and biological insights into the mechanisms of action of radioimmunotherapy.

Radioimmunotherapy as a Therapeutic Option for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) represents a relatively new antibody-based radiopharmaceutical treatment for patients with various kinds of tumors. Although the field has a long history of preclinical and clinical investigations using many different agents, to date, only 2 of these immunologically targeted radiopharmaceuticals have been cleared for commercial sale. Both of these agents ((90)Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan or "Zevalin" [Biogen-Idec, Boston, MA] and (131)I-tositumomab or "Bexxar" [GlaxoSmithKline Research, Triangle Park, NC]) are directed against the CD20 surface antigen found on normal mature B cells and greater than 95% of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Both compounds produce similar impressive clinical outcomes (approximately 20%-40% complete response rates and 60%-80% overall response rates for patients with indolent B-cell NHL). Current protocol-based investigations of anti-CD20 RIT relate to new clinical uses and new CD20(+) targets.

Single-Cell Dosimetry for Radioimmunotherapy of B-Cell Lymphoma Patients with Special Reference to Leukemic Spread

AIMS

Many lymphoma patients have both macroscopic tumors and single-cell manifestations of their disease. Treatment efficacy could, therefore, depend on the radionuclide used. The aim of this study was to investigate dosimetry at a cellular level for three isotopes of radioiodine.

METHODS

Cells were assumed to be spherical with radii of 6.35, 7.7, and 9.05 microm corresponding to the dimensions of the Raji cells. The radius of the nucleus was assumed to be 75% of the cellular radius. The electron energies were 18, 28, and 190 keV, corresponding to the mean electron energy per decay for (125)I, (123)I, and (131)I, respectively. S-values for different activity distributions were simulated using Monte Carlo and dose-volume histograms as well as absorbed doses, and absorbed dose rates were calculated.

RESULTS

(125)I gives the highest absorbed dose (approximately 4-40 times that of (131)I), whereas (123)I will give the highest absorbed dose rate (approximately 100 times that of (131)I). Under the given assumptions, the absorbed dose at this level is more dependent on the size of the cells than on whether the radioimmunoconjugate is internalized.

CONCLUSIONS

This enquiry showed that both (123)I and (125)I have greater potential than (131)I for the treatment of leukemic spread in patients with lymphoma.

Microscopic intratumoral dosimetry of radiolabeled antibodies is a critical determinant of successful radioimmunotherapy in B-cell lymphoma

Radioimmunotherapy is a highly effective treatment for some hematologic malignancies; however, the underlying mechanisms of tumor clearance remain poorly understood. We have previously shown that both targeted radiation using (131)I-labeled anti-MHC class II (MHCII) monoclonal antibody (mAb) plus mAb signaling with unlabeled anti-idiotype are required for the long-term clearance of tumor in syngeneic murine lymphoma models. In this study, we have investigated how the microdistribution of the targeted radiation component of this combination affects the long-term clearance of lymphoma. (131)I-labeled mAb targeting CD45 and MHCII antigens was found to deliver similar doses of radiation to tumor-bearing organ using conventional dosimetry ( approximately 1.0 Gy per MBq when (131)I was labeled to 500 mug mAb and given i.v. per mouse), but when used as radiation vectors in combination therapy only, (131)I-anti-MHCII plus anti-idiotype produced long-term survival. The profound differences in therapy did not seem to be dependent on levels of (131)I-mAb tumor-binding or antibody-dependent cytotoxicity. Instead, the microscopic intratumoral dosimetry seemed to be critical with the (131)I-anti-MHCII, delivering more concentrated and therefore substantially higher radiation dose to tumor cells. When the administered activity of (131)I-anti-CD45 was increased, a radiation dose response was shown in the presence of anti-idiotype and long-term survival was seen. We believe that these new insights should influence the selection of new antigen targets and the design of dosimetric methods in radioimmunotherapy of lymphoma.

Review of clinical radioimmunotherapy

Radioimmunotherapy involves a form of biologically targeted radiopharmaceutical treatment in which a radioactive isotope (typically a short-range, high-energy beta-emitter) is chemically bound to a target-specific monoclonal antibody or fragment. Thus, these radioimmunoconjugates combine the exquisite targeting specificity of the humoral immune system with the known cancer-killing power of high-energy radiotherapy. To date, two radioimmunotherapy agents have been fully approved for commercial use: 90Yttrium ibritumomab tiuxetan and (131)Iodine tositumomab. Both compounds target the CD20 surface molecule found on normal and malignant B cells, and both are medically indicated for the treatment of indolent B-cell lymphoma and related conditions. Clinical results are excellent (20-40% complete response rates and 60-80% overall response rates) and toxicity is typically quite mild. Current research is now attempting to both explore the biology of these compounds and to expand the spectrum of CD20+ diseases that could be treated using either or both of these active agents. Concurrently, work is in progress to achieve the same excellent clinical results using antibodies specific for other, more common epithelial tumors. This work is at an earlier stage than the lymphoma work, partly due to the high innate radiosensitivity of the lymphoid system. Thus, various enhancement methodologies are being explored to increase clinical response rates for these solid tumors, and a number of solid tumor RIT agents are now in early-stage clinical trials. The most likely pattern of use for this field in the next 5 years will probably involve combination or sequential regimens incorporating both radioimmunotherapy and more conventional chemotherapy or external radiotherapy.

Rat Sodium Iodide Symporter for Radioiodide Therapy of Cancer

Design and development of new approaches for targeted radiotherapy of cancer and improvement of therapeutic index by more local radiation therapy are very important issues. Adenovirus-mediated delivery of the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) gene to cancer cells is a powerful technique to concentrate lethal radiation in tumor cells and eradicate tumors with increased therapeutic index. A replication-defective adenoviral vector expressing the rat NIS gene (Ad-rNIS) was used for in vitro gene delivery and into human prostate cancer xenografts to study antitumor effect. Robust function of the rat symporter was detected in DU145, T47D, and HCT-15 human cancer cell lines transduced with Ad-rNIS. All three cancer cell lines successfully transferred functionally active rat symporter to the plasma membrane, resulting in very high levels of iodine-125 accumulation. Three-dimensional multicellular tumor spheroids derived from DU145 human prostate cancer cells were transduced with Ad-rNIS and incubated with (131)I for 24 hours. After treatment, spheroids rapidly decreased in size and disappeared within 10 days. In vivo data revealed an inhibition of tumor growth in athymic nude mice after intratumoral Ad-rNIS injection followed by (131)I administration. Eighty-eight percent of experimental mice survived >30 days, whereas control groups had only 18% survival >30 days. This is the first report that demonstrates the rat NIS gene can effectively induce growth arrest of human tumor xenografts after in vivo adenoviral gene delivery and (131)I administration. The data confirm our hypothesis that the rat NIS gene is an attractive suicide gene candidate for cancer treatment.