67Cu-2IT-BAT-Lym-1 pharmacokinetics, radiation dosimetry, toxicity and tumor regression in patients with lymphoma

Lym-1, a monoclonal antibody that preferentially targets malignant lymphocytes, has induced therapeutic responses and prolonged survival in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma when labeled with 1311. Radiometal-labeled antibodies provide higher tumor radiation doses than corresponding 1311 antibodies. 67Cu has an exceptional combination of properties desirable for radioimmunotherapy, including gamma and beta emissions for imaging and therapy, respectively, a biocompatible half-time and absence of pathways contributing to myelotoxicity. The radioimmunoconjugate, 67Cu-21T-BAT-Lym-1, has been shown to be efficacious in nude mice bearing human Burkitt's lymphoma (Raji) xenografts. Based on these results, a clinical study of the pharmacokinetics and dosimetry of 67Cu-21T-BAT-Lym-1 in patients with lymphoma was initiated.

METHODS

Eleven patients with advanced stage 3 or 4 lymphoma were given a preload dose of unmodified Lym-1, then an imaging dose of 126-533 MBq (3.4-14.4 mCi) 67Cu-21T-BAT-Lym-1. Total Lym-1 ranged from 25 to 70 mg dependent on the specific activity of the radioimmunoconjugate and was infused at a rate of 0.5-1 mg/min. Imaging, physical examination, including caliper measurement of superficial tumors, and analysis of blood, urine and fecal samples were performed for a period of 6-13 d after infusion to assess pharmacokinetics, radiation dosimetry, toxicity and tumor regression.

RESULTS

In 7 patients, in whom superficial tumors had been accurately measured, tumors regressed from 18% to 75% (mean 48%) within several days of 67Cu-21T-BAT-Lym-1 infusion. The uptake and biological half-time of 67Cu-21T-BAT-Lym-1 in tumors were greater than those of normal tissues, except the mean liver half-time exceeded the mean tumor half-time. The mean tumor-to-marrow radiation ratio was 32:1, tumor-to-total body was 24:1 and tumor-to-liver was 1.5:1. Images were of very good quality; tumors and normal organs were readily identified. Mild and transient Lym-1 toxicity occurred in 6 patients; 1 patient developed a human antimouse antibody. There were no significant changes in blood counts or serum chemistries indicative of radiation toxicity.

CONCLUSION

Because of the long residence time of 67Cu-21T-BAT-Lym-1 in tumors, high therapeutic ratios were achieved and, remarkably, numerous tumor regressions were observed after imaging doses. The results indicate considerable therapeutic potential for 67Cu-21T-BAT-Lym-1.

Maximum-tolerated dose, toxicity, and efficacy of (131)I-Lym-1 antibody for fractionated radioimmunotherapy of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

PURPOSE

Lym-1, a monoclonal antibody that preferentially targets malignant lymphocytes, has induced remissions in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) when labeled with iodine 131 ((131)I). Based on the strategy of fractionating the total dose, this study was designed to define the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and efficacy of the first two, of a maximum of four, doses of (131)I-Lym-1 given 4 weeks apart. Additionally, toxicity and radiation dosimetry were assessed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty patients with advanced NHL entered the study a total of 21 times. Thirteen (62%) of the 21 entries had diffuse large-cell histologies. All patients had disease resistant to standard therapy and had received a mean of four chemotherapy regimens. (131)I-Lym-1 was given after Lym-1 and (131)I was escalated in cohorts of patients from 40 to 100 mCi (1.5 to 3.7 GBq)/m2 body surface area.

RESULTS

Mean radiation dose to the bone marrow from body and blood (131)I was 0.34 (range, 0. 1 6 to 0.63) rad/mCi (0.09 mGy/MBq; range, 0.04 to 0.17 mGy/ MBq). Dose-limiting toxicity was grade 3 to 4 thrombocytopenia with an MTD of 100 mCi/m2 (3.7 GBq/m2) for each of the first two doses of (131)I-Lym-1 given 4 weeks apart. Nonhematologic toxicities did not exceed grade 2 except for one instance of grade 3 hypotension. Ten (71 %) of 14 entries who received at least two doses of (131)I-Lym-1 therapy and 11 (52%) of 21 total entries responded. Seven of the responses were complete, with a mean duration of 14 months. All three entries in the 100 mCi/m2 (3.7 MBq/m2) cohort had complete remissions (CRs). All responders had at least a partial remission (PR) after the first therapy dose of (131)I-Lym-1.

CONCLUSION

(131)I-Lym-1 induced durable remissions in patients with NHL resistant to chemotherapy and was associated with acceptable toxicity. The nonmyeloablative MTD for each of the first two doses of (131)I-Lym-1 was 100 mCi/m2 (total, 200 mCi/m2) (3.7 GBq/m2; total, 7.4 GBq/m2).

Comparison of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetic acid (DOTA)-peptide-ChL6, a novel immunoconjugate with catabolizable linker, to 2-iminothiolane-2-[p-(bromoacetamido)benzyl]-DOTA-ChL6 in breast cancer xenografts

Radioimmunotherapy using 131I-ChL6 antibody has shown promise in patients with breast cancer. To enhance this potential, a novel ChL6 immunoconjugate that is catabolizable and tightly binds 90Y and (111)In was developed. The immunoconjugate, 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetic acid (DOTA)-peptide-ChL6, consists of the macrocyclic chelator DOTA linked to ChL6 by a peptide that is preferentially catabolized in the liver. The pharmacokinetic and dosimetric properties of the radioimmunoconjugates (RICs) (111)In- and 90Y-DOTA-peptide-ChL6 and (111)In- and 90Y-2-iminothiolane (2-IT)-2-[p-(bromoacetamido)benzyl]-DOTA-ChL6 were compared in athymic mice bearing HBT3477 human breast cancer xenografts. Each of the RICs was stable in vivo and concentrated well in the xenografts. Liver concentration, cumulative radioactivity (activity over time), and radiation dose of the DOTA-peptide-ChL6 RICs were one-third to one-half of those of the corresponding 2-IT-2-[p(bromoacetamido)benzyl]-DOTA-ChL6 RICs. Indium-111 RICs were imperfect tracers for corresponding 90Y RICs, although their pharmacokinetics and radiation dosimetries were similar. The results of this study were consistent with previously published in vitro data, which indicated that the peptide linker of DOTA-peptide-ChL6 was catabolized by cathepsin B. The cumulative activities and radiation doses to the liver of DOTA-peptide-ChL6 RICs were one-half of those of corresponding RICs with the 2-IT linker. Preliminary data from pilot studies in patients with breast cancer are in accord with these observations. These novel DOTA-peptide RICs seem to have excellent clinical potential for radioimmunotherapy associated with marrow transplantation, for which liver radiation is likely to be dose limiting for 90Y.

Maximum tolerated dose of 67Cu-2IT-BAT-LYM-1 for fractionated radioimmunotherapy of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a pilot study

PURPOSE

Lym-1, a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) that preferentially targets malignant lymphocytes, has induced therapeutic responses in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) when labeled with iodine-131 (131I). Radiometal labeled antibodies provide a higher tumor radiation dose than the corresponding 131I labeled antibodies. Based on the strategy of fractionating the total radiation dose, this study was designed to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of the first 2, of a maximum of 4, doses of 67Cu-2IT-BAT-Lym-1 given 4 weeks apart. Additionally, toxicity, radiation dosimetry and efficacy were assessed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients had Ann Arbor stage IVB NHL, resistant to standard therapy, including multiple chemotherapy regimens. Each dose of 67Cu-2IT-BAT-Lym-1 was given after a preload of unmodified Lym-1. A 10 mCi imaging dose of 67Cu-2IT-BAT-Lym-1 was given in order to assess pharmacokinetics and radiation dosimetry prior to therapy. Based on the MTD for 131I-Lym-1 and comparative dosimetry for 131I-Lym-1 and 67Cu-2IT-BAT-Lym-1, the trial was initiated at 60 millicuries per square meter of body surface area (mCi/m2) in cohorts of 3 patients.

RESULTS

A single cohort of patients proved sufficient to define the MTD as 60 mCi/m2 for each of the first 2 doses of 67Cu-2IT-BAT-Lym-1. The dose-limiting toxicities were grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. Neutropenic sepsis and bleeding did not occur. Mean radiation dose contributed to the bone marrow by 67Cu in the body and blood was 0.2 (range, 0.2 to 0.3) rads/mCi. Copper-67 incorporated into ceruloplasmin contributed 25% of the dose to marrow from blood. Non-hematologic toxicities did not exceed grade 2. The three patients had substantial tumor regression even after imaging doses of 67Cu-2IT-BAT-Lym-1. After therapy, one response was complete with a duration of 12 months. Radiation doses to tumors in this patient varied from 7.0-21.9 rads/mCi or 5420-7000 total rads from the course of therapy.

CONCLUSION

67Cu-2IT-BAT-Lym-1 provided good imaging, favorable radiation dosimetry and a remarkably high therapeutic index (ratio of tumor to marrow radiation doses). The non-myeloablative MTD for each of 2 doses was 60 mCi/m2.

The effect of different extraction methods on the antiglycolytic and antiureolytic properties of Sorindeia warneckei--a Nigerian chewing stick

Experiments were carried out to determine the best partition reagents for extracting the active biological agents in Sorindeia warneckei--chewing stick. Results show the Soxhlet extraction method to be the most effective.

Yttrium-90-DOTA-peptide-chimeric L6 radioimmunoconjugate: efficacy and toxicity in mice bearing p53 mutant human breast cancer xenografts

The novel radioimmunoconjugate, 90Y-DOTA-peptide-chimeric L6 (ChL6), was designed to reduce radiation to critical normal tissues with an exceptionally stable 90Y chelate moiety and a biodegradable linker. Human breast cancer tumors (HBT 3477) in mice were treated with 90Y-DOTA-peptide-ChL6 to examine the effects of increasing dose on the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of this new agent.

METHODS

Groups of athymic mice bearing HBT 3477 xenografts received 4.1- to 14.1-MBq doses of 90Y-DOTA-peptide-ChL6 intravenously. The lethal dose (LD)(50/30), general well-being (weight loss), hematotoxicity and therapeutic efficacy were studied.

RESULTS

The LD(50/30) was 12.8 MBq, which corresponded to doses of 17.9 and 50.9 Gy to the total body and tumor (200 mm3), respectively. Deaths were associated with hematotoxicity; no deaths occurred at doses of 9.6 MBq or less. At sublethal doses, the rate of tumor response (cures +/- complete responses + partial responses) increased with increasing dose: 4.1 MBq, 27%; 5.9 MBq, 41%; 8.5 MBq, 69%; and 9.6 MBq, 79% (maximum tolerated dose, MTD). In mice receiving doses of 4.1-9.6 MBq, 6 of 74 (8%) of tumors were cured. Increasing the 90Y dose led to smaller tumor size at nadir and longer tumor regrowth delay but no increase in cure. Although the HBT 3477 p53 gene was found to be mutant resulting in p53 protein not binding DNA breaks, tumors at MTD demonstrated evidence of apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

In the human breast cancer athymic mouse model, 90Y-DOTA-peptide-ChL6 had a high therapeutic index and LD(50/30) leading to a 79% response rate at the MTD. The evidence of apoptosis as a mechanism for this tumor response in p53 mutant breast cancer warrants further studies because these observations are relevant to the treatment of lethal breast cancer.

Yttrium-90/indium-111-DOTA-peptide-chimeric L6: pharmacokinetics, dosimetry and initial results in patients with incurable breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) using 131I-Chimeric L6 (ChL6) antibody has shown therapeutic promise for patients with breast cancer. To enhance this potential, a novel immunoconjugate was developed that targets adenocarcinomas like breast cancer and tightly binds yttrium-90 (90Y) for therapy and indium-111 (111In) for imaging. The radioimmunoconjugate consists of a macrocyclic chelator (DOTA) linked to ChL6 by a catabolizable peptide. 90Y-DOTA-peptide-ChL6 was designed to minimize the radiation dose to critical normal tissues, thereby improving the therapeutic index.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three patients with incurable metastatic breast cancer received 90Y/111In-DOTA-peptide-ChL6 for 5 pharmacokinetics/dosimetry studies and one of these patients also received 2 therapy doses. Quantitative imaging of 111In and in vitro assay of 90Y and 111In in blood urine and bone marrow samples were obtained.

RESULTS

90Y/111In-DOTA-peptide-ChL6 was prepared at high purity and was stable in vivo. Assays of bone marrow revealed no evidence for escape of 90Y or 111In from the chelate. 111In imaging of tumors was excellent, providing a therapeutic index for tumor to marrow radiation as high as 229 to 1. 90Y and 111In provided comparable pharmacokinetics, as did tracer and therapeutic doses of radioimmunoconjugates. One patients that received 2 therapeutic doses of 90Y-DOTA-peptide-ChL6 showed regression of tumors and tumor markers. Toxicities were relatively minor and no anti-globulin response developed despite 5 immunoconjugate infusions.

CONCLUSIONS

This first study in patients of radioimmunoconjugates with a catabolizable linker between the metal chelator and the antibody confirmed that these novel 90Y/111In-DOTA-peptide-ChL6 radioimmunoconjugates have significant potential. Tracer doses of 111In-DOTA-peptide-ChL6 for imaging predicted the behavior of therapeutic doses of 90Y-DOTA-peptide-ChL6. The latter radioimmunoconjugate induced regression of tumors and tumor markers without significant toxicity. When compared to earlier 131I-ChL6 dosimetry, 90Y-DOTA-peptide-ChL6 provided a therapeutic index several times better.

Analysis of long-lived radionuclidic impurities in short-lived radiopharmaceutical waste using gamma spectrometry

Large hospitals and biomedical research centers utilize decay-in-storage programs to minimize the volume of their low level radioactive waste. However, some medically useful radionuclides often contain small amounts of long-lived radionuclidic impurities which may complicate simple waste management procedures. We have evaluated the extent of this problem in low level radioactive waste involving 67Cu and (111)In over a 6-mo cycle of decay-in-storage by identifying the residual radionuclides in our dry waste using a multichannel analyzer. The multichannel analyzer was also used to quantify the radionuclide constituents of our liquid waste at the beginning of a decay-in-storage cycle. Radionuclides were identified by the presence of characteristic photopeaks of each isotope in the gamma spectrum and quantified by region of interest analysis. After a decay-in-storage cycle, long-lived 58Co, 57Co, and 56Co isotopes were observed in dry 67Cu waste and (114m)In identified in dry (111)In waste. The (114m)In was detected in dry (111)In waste containing initial (114m)In activity of 740 kBq (20 microCi), while the cobalt radionuclides were detected in dry 67Cu waste containing initial 58Co, 57Co, and 56Co activities of 444, 148, and 148 kBq (12, 4, and 4 microCi), respectively. Such dry low level radioactive waste was thus disqualified from short-term radioactive waste storage programs. The radionuclide constituents in the liquid waste were quantified in microCi mL(-1) and confirmed to be within the Nuclear Regulatory Commission set limits of 2 x 10(-4), 6 x 10(-4) and 6 x 10(-5) microCi mL(-1) for 58Co, 57Co, and 56Co, respectively, before disposal. The highest levels of long-lived isotopes that have been found in our liquid low level radioactive waste at the beginning of decay-in-storage were 5.5 x 10(-4), 4.8 x 10(-4), and 1.4 x 10(-4) microCi mL(-1) for 58Co, 57Co, and 56Co, respectively. Gamma spectrometry can be used to aid waste segregation and final management decisions on low level radioactive waste.

Dosimetric evaluation of copper-64 in copper-67-2IT-BAT-Lym-1 for radioimmunotherapy

Copper-67 (67Cu) is an attractive radionuclide for radioimmuno-therapy because of its favorable physical and biologic characteristics. Current supplies of 67Cu, however, contain as much as 60% of 64Cu at the time of delivery. Scatter photons from 64Cu enter the 67Cu energy window, affecting image resolution and counting accuracy. The radiation dose to tissue is also altered.

METHODS

A line source and a small vial source of 67Cu containing varying amounts of 64Cu were used to evaluate the impact of 64Cu on image resolution and activity quantitation, respectively. Identical pharmacokinetics for 67Cu and 64Cu was assumed, and the radiation dosimetry of 64Cu was assessed using quantitative imaging data for 67Cu because the amount of 64Cu could be calculated for any time after 67Cu production. MIRD formalism was used to estimate the therapeutic index, defined as the ratio of radiation dose to tumor divided by the radiation dose to bone marrow.

RESULTS

As the amount of 64Cu increased, the full width at tenth maximum of the line spread function increased, although there was no significant change in full width at half maximum. The number of scatter counts from 64Cu increased as the amount of 64Cu or the size of the source region of interest increased. When 64Cu was 25% of the total activity, less than 10% of the total 67Cu photopeak counts detected with a scintillation camera were attributable to 64Cu. Although the tumor radiation dose per unit of activity (cGy/GBq) from 67Cu was five times greater than that from 64Cu, the marrow dose (CGy/GBq) from 67Cu was only three times greater than that from 64Cu. Therefore, the therapeutic index was diminished by the presence of 64Cu. When 64Cu radioimpurity was less than 25% of the total activity, there was less than a 10% decrease in the therapeutic index.

CONCLUSION

The shorter physical half-life of 64Cu relative to that of 67Cu and slower uptake and longer retention of antibody by tumor than by marrow result in a lower therapeutic index for 64Cu. The 25% radioimpurity of 64Cu causes less than 10% deviation in activity quantitation and diminution in the therapeutic index. The change in therapeutic index is predictable over time and can be used to determine the optimal time for radiopharmaceutical administration.

Prelabeling of chimeric monoclonal antibody L6 with 90yttrium- and 111indium-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N",N"'-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) chelates for radioimmunodiagnosis and therapy

90Y and 111In have been attached to chimeric monoclonal antibody L6 with a bifunctional chelating agent (DOTA-peptide isothiocyanate). The bifunctional chelating agent was prelabeled with either radiometal and then conjugated to the antibody. Studies in human patients showed excellent 111In single-photon emission computed tomography images of breast cancer lesions 24 h after injection.

Pharmacokinetics of chimeric L6 conjugated to indium-111- and yttrium-90-DOTA-peptide in tumor-bearing mice

A bifunctional chelating agent, DOTA-Gly3-L-(p-isothiocyanato)-phenylalanine amide (DOTA-peptide-NCS), was studied in nude mice bearing human breast cancer xenographs (HBT 3477) to determine its potential for radioimmunoconjugate therapy.

METHODS

Indium-111 and yttrium-90 were attached to an anti-adenocarcinoma chimeric L6 (ChL6) monoclonal antibody (MAb) after pre-chelation to the DOTA-peptide-NCS and the desired neutral radiochelates were obtained by purification. The unique characteristic of the DOTA-peptide-NCS to form neutral complexes with trivalent metals was utilized to separate the resulting 111In and 90Y radiochelates from excess chelating agent and other anionic by-products resulting from metal impurities. The purified radiochelates were then conjugated to ChL6. The pharmacokinetics of 111In- and 90Y-DOTA-peptide-ChL6 were obtained for 5 days after injection in nude mice bearing HBT 3477 xenographs. The results were compared with the pharmacokinetics of 125I-ChL6 obtained in the same mouse model.

RESULTS

The whole-body clearance of 125I-ChL6, 90Y- and 111In-DOTA-peptide-ChL6 was monoexponential with biologic half-times of 92, 104 and 160 hr, respectively. Blood clearances of the three radiopharmaceuticals were biphasic. The radiometal immunoconjugates had greater tumor uptake and slower clearances.

CONCLUSION

Indium-111- and 90Y-DOTA-peptide-ChL6 can be produced at high specific activity with fewer than one chelate per MAb by using a pre-labeling method that permits radiochelate purification by charge selection. Studies in mouse xenografts indicate that tumor uptake is enhanced and a favorable therapeutic index is achieved using these agents.

Comparative toxicity studies of yttrium-90 MX-DTPA and 2-IT-BAD conjugated monoclonal antibody (BrE-3)

BACKGROUND

BrE-3 is monoclonal antibody that has promise for imaging and therapy of human adenocarcinoma. Because of observations in therapeutic trials of yttrium-90 (90Y) escape from radioimmunoconjugates and uptake by the skeleton with resultant bone marrow toxicity, the authors attempted to evaluate the importance of this factor by a comparison of the LD50 in healthy mice treated with 90Y that had been chelated with either of two high affinity chelators, methylbenzyldiethylene-triaminepentaacetic acid (MX-DTPA) or bromoacetamidobenzyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazocyclododecane- N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetic acid (BAD).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Bone marrow hematopoietic toxicity was dose-limiting and the source of death for both chelators. The LD50 for 90Y-BrE-3-MX-DTPA was 220.9 microCi, and that for 90Y-BrE-3-2IT-BAD and was 307.8 microCi. Whole-body autoradiography revealed substantially greater uptake of 90Y in the skeleton when MX-DTPA was used as the chelator.

CONCLUSIONS

These observations suggest that 90Y escape to bone is a significant factor in the maximum tolerated dose of radioimmunoconjugate that can be used in therapeutic trials. These results probably underestimate the importance of 90Y escape since 90Y in the skeleton of patients is likely to be more significant than in mice because more of the 90Y energy is absorbed in the marrow of larger species.

Structure-distribution relationship studies of 99mTc-2,3-diamine complexes

In order to develop an organ specific radiopharmaceutical a structure-distribution relationship study was carried out in mice using a homologous series of cationic 99mTc-2,3-diaminoalkanes. The results showed that specific organ uptakes were uniformly low, generally less than 5% of the injected dose. Rapid removal of the lower homologues from the circulation through the excretory organs and an excessive blood retention of the higher homologue complexes were observed. Evidence of preferential renal clearance (over the hepatobiliary clearance) by the complexes was obtained from both linear and multiple regression analyses. Using the combined biodistribution data for the cationic diamino complexes and the equivalent anionic 99mTc-2,3-dioximinoalkane complexes, the multiple correlation was evaluated between the % urinary tract uptake data at 4 h post injection and a combination of log P, molecular diameter and charge (+1 or -1) of the complexes. From the magnitude and sign of the coefficients in the equation for the regression line, it was found that the dependence of the amount of complex cleared renally on the physico-chemical parameters tested is in the order; log P, cationic charge and molecular diameter.

Structure-distribution relationship studies of 99mTc-2,3-dioxime complexes

The structure-distribution relationship studies of a homologous series of anionic 99mTc-2,3-dioximinoalkanes in mice, showed very low specific organ uptakes due to a combination of rapid clearance and excessive blood binding factors as found for the cationic 99mTc-diamine analogues (Salako and Theobald, Nucl. Med. Biol. 17, 437-441; 1990. The dioxime complexes showed a preference for hepatobiliary clearance unlike the diamine complexes which were cleared through the renal tract. The relationship between the amount cleared through the biliary tract and molecular weight of the dioxime complexes is binomial, with the optimum about the C-8 chain homologue. The hepatobiliary clearance model which was discovered for these complexes follows a multiple correlation equation which has a combination of four physico-chemical properties in the order: log P, charge, protein binding and molecular weight. It was observed particularly that the log P and charge have broadly similar magnitudes (to those in the urinary model of the diamine complexes) but reversed signs. The sign on the charge coefficient is negative, indicating that an overall negative charge is required for efficient hepatobiliary extraction and excretion of these Tc-complexes.

Detection and determination of salicylic acid impurity in aspirin tablet formulations' by high performance liquid chromatography

Salicylic acid is a major hydrolytic degradation product of aspirin, responsible especially for gastric irritation during oral aspirin administration. This impurity was investigated in 12 different brands of aspirin formulation readily available in our locality. A simple, rapid and sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic method was adopted for this investigation. The mobile phase was methanol/water (20/80, v/v) adjusted to pH 2.5 with phosphoric acid and was run on a 50 mm reversed-phase column monitored at 240 nm. The limit of detection for salicylic acid was 5 ng. Only three of these formulations showed the presence of salicylic acid impurity and all these contained salicylic acid in excess of the USP 1980 limit of 0.3% salicylic acid per tablet.

Radioiodination and preliminary in vivo investigation of the alkaloid cryptolepine

In this paper we report the successful labelling of cryptolepine with 131I using the chloramine T method. Quality control by ITLC of the labelled product showed 80% labelling but when the mixture was equilibrated with some amberlite (Cl-) anion resin to exchange the excess free iodide, the radiochemical purity was raised to greater than 90%. Preliminary biodistribution in a rat did not show specific localisation of the tracer; rather, rapid clearance from the blood was indicated. It appears that its main excretory pathway is the hepatobiliary tract despite its relatively small molecular weight of 365. Also, despite i.v. administration, an appreciable 8% uptake was found in the stomach at 1 h post injection, indicating the process of enterohepatic reflux. These findings may have some bearings on the antimicrobial property of the plant.