Long term survival of patients with advanced ovarian cancer treated with intraperitoneal radioimmunotherapy

PURPOSE: To determine the long term survival of patients with advanced ovarian cancer treated with radioimmunotherapy following cytoreductive surgery and platinum based chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligibility criteria included patients with histological evidence of ovarian cancer stages IC-IV following completion of conventional platinum containing chemotherapy. Of 52 patients entered into the study, 31 had residual disease following standard chemotherapy and 21 patients had achieved complete remission. Treatment consisted of one intraperitoneal administration of 25 mg of monoclonal antibody HMFG1 labelled with 18 mCi/m2 of 90Y. Survival was the primary end-point. RESULTS: In the group of 21 patients who had achieved complete remission following surgery, conventional chemotherapy and intraperitoneal radioimmunotherapy, the median survival has not been reached with a maximum follow-up of 12 years. Survival at greater than 10 years is 78%. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a substantial proportion of patients who achieve complete remission with conventional therapy can achieve a long-term survival benefit when treated with intraperitoneal radioimmunotherapy using HMFG1 labelled with 90Y.

Monoclonal antibody targeting of ovarian carcinoma

The ability to effectively define disease status in ovarian cancer after initial therapy or to selectively screen high-risk populations remains a major challenge for in vivo monoclonal antibody (mAb)-targeted approaches. Antitumour murine mAbs (HMFG1, HMFG2, H317, and H17E2) and the reshaped human antibody Hu2PLAP (against placental alkaline phosphatase; PLAP), labelled with indium-111 and iodine-123, were evaluated for their ability to localise ovarian tumours in sequential studies of our group. Thirty patients with ovarian cancer, aged 40-78 years (median 60 years) were studied with HMFG1/G2: 11, and H317/H17E2: 19 murine mAbs. Six patients with ovarian cancer aged between 36 and 65 years (median 49 years) were studied with the reshaped human Hu2PLAP mAb (5 patients) or the murine H17E2 mAb (2 patients) labelled with 111In via a new macrocyclic chelating agent (DOTA). One of these was imaged twice, with H17E2- and Hu2PLAP-DOTA-111In, respectively. In 20 out of 22 patients with radiologically measurable ovarian cancer, the presence of tumour was confirmed by the murine mAb scan and correlated well with the findings of conventional radiology diagnostic methods. One of these patients with a negative H17E2 scan and a large abdominal mass at laparotomy was found to have a PLAP-negative tumour on immunohistochemistry. Additionally, the antibody scan revealed the presence of active disease, confirmed at laparotomy/laparoscopy, in 6 out of 8 patients considered to be in clinical complete remission. Best images were obtained at 24 and 48 h after the 123I and 111In mAbs, respectively. Successful imaging with the reshaped human antibody, Hu2PLAP, was seen in 2 patients with PLAP-positive tumours. Antibodies to DOTA developed in 2 patients. In conclusion, immunolocalisation of ovarian tumours is feasible with both murine and reshaped human mAbs. The sensitivity and specificity of the method appear very high in this pilot study, and in view of the absence of toxicity, the diagnostic contribution of this approach should be evaluated prospectively. Given the low number of patients without surgically detectable disease in the present study, future investigations should include more patients with no evidence of disease in order to provide more meaningful estimates of specificity.

Radioimmunotherapy after chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer: a matched analysis

Ovarian cancer has an overall five-year survival of around 30% in spite of complete remissions being obtained after optimal surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy. Previous studies have indicated a survival advantage for patients treated with radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies (radioimmunotherapy). We report here on the survival of patients who received single-dose intraperitoneal radioimmunotherapy after having achieved complete remission with standard management. Twenty-five patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, stages Ic-IV, received adjuvant intraperitoneal radioimmunotherapy following completion of conventional chemotherapy. On achieving complete remission they receive once 25 mg of HMFG1 labelled with 18 mCi/m2. Controls for cases were sought from the database of the North Thames ovary group (NTOG). Controls were selected on the basis of stage, histological grade and type, and age of patient at diagnosis. Kaplan-Meier survival plots were constructed for cases and controls and subjected to statistical analysis with the log-rank test. Additionally, using a database of 84 NTOG patients known to be disease-free at the end of chemotherapy, estimated survival curves were constructed using Cox's proportional hazards regression model. Close matches were found for 20 of the 25 patients. Median survival has not been reached at a median follow-up of 59 months for cases and 27 months for controls. Survival at five years is 80% for cases and 55% for controls (p=0.0035). The Cox model estimates long-term (10-year) survival of 70% for patients who received radioimmunotherapy, compared to 32% for those that did not (p=0.003). All patients developed serological evidence of human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA). This study shows a likely survival benefit for patients with ovarian cancer who receive intraperitoneal radioimmuno-therapy in the adjuvant setting.

Pharmacokinetics and toxicity of an yttrium-90-CITC-DTPA-HMFG1 radioimmunoconjugate for intraperitoneal radioimmunotherapy of ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

The intracavitary route for the administration of monoclonal antibodies is used in a variety of locally spreading cancers. The authors have been treating patients with ovarian cancer in Phase I and II studies assessing toxicity and response to improved radioimmunoconjugates.

METHODS

Nineteen patients, 34-65 years of age, were treated with a new radioimmunoconjugate, 90Y-CITC-DTPA-HMFG1, instilled in the peritoneal cavity after second-look laparoscopy. Activity was increased in a stepwise fashion.

RESULTS

Following the intraperitoneal administration of 90Y-CITC-DTPA-HMFG1, levels of the radioimmunoconjugate in the blood increased, reaching a peak of about 30% of injected activity at around 54 hours posttreatment. Approximately 18% of the radiolabel was excreted in the urine within 96 hours. Bone-marrow toxicity was the dose-limiting factor. Grade III platelet and granulocyte toxicity was observed at 19.3 mCi/m2. A type III immunologic response was observed in a number of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

A dose of 18.5 mCi/m2 for subsequent treatments is recommended, based on a linear correlation of activity dose-to-body surface area. The clinical profile of a mild to moderate hypersensitivity syndrome is presented and hypotheses regarding its etiology are suggested.

Targeting of tumours with murine and reshaped human monoclonal antibodies against placental alkaline phosphatase: immunolocalisation, pharmacokinetics and immune response

Anti-tumour monoclonal murine and humanised (reshaped human) antibodies (H17E2 and Hu2PLAP, respectively) against placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), radioactively labelled with indium-111 (111In) and iodine-123 (123I), were evaluated for their ability to localise mainly testicular and ovarian tumours in sequential pilot studies of the Hammersmith Oncology Group. 33 patients with active primary and/or metastatic testicular cancer were studied with the [111In]- or [123I]H17E2 antibody. 8 patients with testicular cancer were studied with the same antibody after being rendered free of disease after induction chemotherapy and surgical resection of residual tumour. 3 additional patients, 2 with ovarian cancer and 1 with testicular seminoma, were studied with [111In]H17E2 via a macrocyclic chelating agent (DOTA). 7 patients; 5 with ovarian cancer, 1 with breast cancer, and 1 with gastric cancer, received the reshaped human Hu2PLAP antibody [111In]DOTA labelled. One of these was imaged twice, with H17E2- and Hu2PLAP-DOTA-111In, respectively. In the initial 33 patients with active primary and/or metastatic testicular cancer, the presence of tumour was confirmed and correlated well with conventional radiological diagnostic methods, and in addition, the antibody scan revealed the presence of active disease in 2 patients with negative conventional imaging, but elevated serum tumour markers. In the 8 patients with complete remission (CR), imaging studies with the radiolabelled antibody did not show any localisation. The best images were obtained at 24 and 48 h after the [123I]- and [111In]H17E2, respectively. None of these patients developed human anti-mouse antibody responses (HAMA). Successful imaging with the reshaped human antibody, Hu2PLAP-DOTA-111In, was seen in 3 patients with PLAP-positive tumours (2 ovarian and 1 gastric cancer). The 3 negative patients were 1 in complete remission, 1 with PLAP-negative tumour and 1 who cleared the Hu2PLAP antibody immediately after infusion due to the presence of anti-chelating agent (anti-DOTA) antibodies from a previous H17E2-DOTA-111In scan. One patient with PLAP-negative breast carcinoma had a false-positive scan with Hu2PLAP, showing localisation to the pleural effusion. Antibody pharmacokinetics showed a mean t1/2 beta = 73.1 +/- 30.2 h (n = 5) for Hu2PLAP versus t1/2 beta = 27.2 +/- 5.9 h (n = 3) for H17E2 (P < 0.05). 2 patients receiving Hu2PLAP were excluded due to the rapid clearance of the radiolabel as a result of the presence of high HAMA and anti-chelate antibody levels, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adjuvant therapy of ovarian cancer with radioactive monoclonal antibody

Fifty-two patients with epithelial ovarian cancer were treated with yttrium-90-labelled monoclonal antibody HMFG1 administered intraperitoneally following conventional surgery and chemotherapy as part of an extended phase I-II trial. The treatment was well tolerated and the only significant toxicity observed was reversible myelosuppression as previously described. Following conventional surgery and chemotherapy, 21 out of the 52 patients had no evidence of residual disease and were regarded as receiving treatment in an adjuvant setting. To date, two of these patients have died of their disease (follow-up 3-62 months, median follow-up 35 months). This extended phase I-II study suggests that patients with advanced ovarian cancer who achieve a complete remission following conventional therapy may benefit from further treatment with intraperitoneal radioactive monoclonal antibody.

Tumour localisation with a radioactively labelled reshaped human monoclonal antibody

A genetically reshaped human IgG1 monoclonal antibody (Hu2PLAP) with anti-tumour specificity, was radiolabelled with Indium-111 by chelation with a new macrocyclic compound (DOTA) which allows the production of stable radioimmunoconjugates for in vivo application. This was used to image seven patients with malignant disease, of whom two had been previously exposed to mouse monoclonal antibodies and had developed human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA). Successful tumour localisation was seen in the four patients with active disease and antigen positive tumours. No patient showed any antibody responses against Hu2PLAP, but three out of six patients tested showed an immune response against the macrocycle DOTA. Reshaped human monoclonal antibodies with anti-tumour specificity may facilitate repeated administrations of radioactive antibodies, thus allowing new possibilities, both in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Intraperitoneal yttrium-90-labeled monoclonal antibody in ovarian cancer

From March 1987 to March 1988, a phase I to II study was carried out in 25 patients with ovarian cancer. They received escalating doses of intraperitoneally (IP) administered yttrium-90 (Y-90)-labeled monoclonal antibody, HMFG1, against a tumor cell-surface antigen. Myelosuppression prevented an escalation of the administered Y-90 activity above 25 mCi. Y-90-labeled antibody was absorbed from the peritoneal cavity into the circulation. Maximum blood Y-90 activity was observed 40 hours after the IP injection with a mean of 21% of the injected activity (range, 14.2% to 26.4%) in the circulation. The radiation dose the bone marrow received from circulating Y-90-labeled antibody (the blood radiation dose) was calculated by applying the Medical Internal Radiation Dose (MIRD) formulation to the measured Y-90 activity in patients blood. Myelosuppression occurred following calculated blood radiation doses to bone marrow of only 10 to 30 cGy. The excessive myelosuppression following such modest radiation doses from circulating Y-90-labeled antibody could be explained by the uptake of Y-90 by bone. In an attempt to reduce bone absorption of Y-90, seven patients received an intravenous (IV) infusion of EDTA (Sinclair Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Godalming, United Kingdom). This increased the urinary excretion of Y-90 from a mean of 11.1% to 32.3% of the injected activity (P = .0001). Fourteen patients had assessable tumor at laparoscopy. Tumor regression was observed in one patient, and palliation of ascites in a further patient.

c-erbB-2 oncogene expression in ovarian cancer

One hundred and four common epithelial malignancies of the ovary were stained for c-erbB-2 using an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody 21N. Twenty-three out of 104 (22.1 per cent) showed cytoplasmic staining alone. Nine out of 104 (8.7 per cent) showed both membrane and cytoplasmic staining. In a multivariate Cox analysis with other known risk factors the relative risk for cytoplasmic staining alone was 1.456 (chi 2 = 1.71, P greater than 0.1) and for membrane and cytoplasmic staining 0.316 (chi 2 = 7.95, P less than 0.005). These results do not support an adverse prognostic effect of c-erbB-2 in our patients.

A study of in vivo immune complex formation and clearance in man

C and CR1 have been shown to participate in the clearance of injected, preformed, immune complexes in humans and in non-human primates. Their role in the physiologic disposal of immune complexes formed in vivo in humans was investigated in three patients receiving radioimmunotherapy for ovarian carcinoma. On day 0 each patient received, by intraperitoneal injection, 10 mg of 131I-mouse anti-tumor mAb (10 mCi/mg). On days 1 and 2, 18 mg of trace-labeled, 125I-human anti-mouse IgG was administered by i.v. infusion over 15 min, to accelerate the clearance of the 131I-anti-tumor antibody from the circulation and reduce the radiation dose to the marrow. Sequential blood samples were obtained after the injection of the second (anti-mouse) antibody, to monitor clearance. Immune complexes (shown by sucrose gradient centrifugation to be 19 to 40 S in size) formed within 5 min, and were cleared with a half-life of 11 +/- 1.7 min in the liver. Complexes were measured by 4% polyethylene glycol precipitation, and by solid phase C3d- and C1q-binding assays. Between 8 and 11% of the total available complexed material bound to CR1 on E. Peak binding of immune complexes to red cells occurred 10 min after the maximal complex load was detected by precipitation with polyethylene glycol. At that time, immune complexes bound to E constituted one-fifth of the total circulating pool of complexes. Coincident with immune complex formation and clearance, a 47% fall in serum C4, C3, and CH50 was measured, with the deposition of up to 1230 molecules of C4, and 2590 molecules of C3 on the surface of red cells. During 20 min after immune complex formation there was a mean loss of 32% of erythrocyte CR1. The changes in complement and CR1 on E and in serum observed in these patients resembled those seen in patients with SLE: i.e., a reduction in CR1 and an increase in C3 and C4 on E, and reduced serum C.

A study of in vivo immune complex formation and clearance in man

C and CR1 have been shown to participate in the clearance of injected, preformed, immune complexes in humans and in non-human primates. Their role in the physiologic disposal of immune complexes formed in vivo in humans was investigated in three patients receiving radioimmunotherapy for ovarian carcinoma. On day 0 each patient received, by intraperitoneal injection, 10 mg of 131I-mouse anti-tumor mAb (10 mCi/mg). On days 1 and 2, 18 mg of trace-labeled, 125I-human anti-mouse IgG was administered by i.v. infusion over 15 min, to accelerate the clearance of the 131I-anti-tumor antibody from the circulation and reduce the radiation dose to the marrow. Sequential blood samples were obtained after the injection of the second (anti-mouse) antibody, to monitor clearance. Immune complexes (shown by sucrose gradient centrifugation to be 19 to 40 S in size) formed within 5 min, and were cleared with a half-life of 11 +/- 1.7 min in the liver. Complexes were measured by 4% polyethylene glycol precipitation, and by solid phase C3d- and C1q-binding assays. Between 8 and 11% of the total available complexed material bound to CR1 on E. Peak binding of immune complexes to red cells occurred 10 min after the maximal complex load was detected by precipitation with polyethylene glycol. At that time, immune complexes bound to E constituted one-fifth of the total circulating pool of complexes. Coincident with immune complex formation and clearance, a 47% fall in serum C4, C3, and CH50 was measured, with the deposition of up to 1230 molecules of C4, and 2590 molecules of C3 on the surface of red cells. During 20 min after immune complex formation there was a mean loss of 32% of erythrocyte CR1. The changes in complement and CR1 on E and in serum observed in these patients resembled those seen in patients with SLE: i.e., a reduction in CR1 and an increase in C3 and C4 on E, and reduced serum C.

Clearance of 131I-labeled murine monoclonal antibody from patients' blood by intravenous human anti-murine immunoglobulin antibody

Five patients treated with intraperitoneal 131I-labeled mouse monoclonal antibody for ovarian cancer also received i.v. exogenous polyclonal human anti-murine immunoglobulin antibody. The pharmacokinetics of 131I-labeled monoclonal antibody in these patients were compared with those of 28 other patients receiving i.p.-radiolabeled monoclonal antibody for the first time without exogenous human anti-murine immunoglobulin, and who had no preexisting endogenous human anti-murine immunoglobulin antibody. Patients receiving i.v. human anti-murine immunoglobulin antibody demonstrated a rapid clearance of 131I-labeled monoclonal antibody from their circulation. The (mean) maximum 131I blood content was 11.4% of the injected activity in patients receiving human anti-murine immunoglobulin antibody compared to 23.3% in patients not given human anti-murine immunoglobulin antibody. Intravenous human anti-murine immunoglobulin antibody decreased the radiation dose to bone marrow (from 131I-labeled monoclonal antibody in the vascular compartment) 4-fold. Following the injection of human anti-murine immunoglobulin antibody, 131I-monoclonal/human anti-murine immunoglobulin antibody immune complexes were rapidly transported to the liver. Antibody dehalogenation in the liver was rapid, with 87% of the injected 131I excreted in 5 days. Despite the efficient hepatic uptake of immune complexes, dehalogenation of monoclonal antibody was so rapid that the radiation dose to liver parenchyma from circulating 131I was decreased 4-fold rather than increased. All patients developed endogenous human anti-murine immunoglobulin antibody 2 to 3 weeks after treatment.

Malignant ascites: review of the literature, and an update on monoclonal antibody-targeted therapy

Malignant ascites presents a difficult clinical problem, causing discomfort and distress to patients in the later stages of disease. Repeated attempts at palliation are often unsuccessful. In this article, conventional forms of therapy for malignant ascites are reviewed and their limitations outlined. Furthermore, we present data on a new form of therapy: antibody guided irradiation. Pilot studies have produced encouraging results in the management of malignant serous effusions, and further randomised studies are currently in progress.

Intraperitoneal radioimmunotherapy for ovarian cancer

Twenty-eight patients with assessable residual ovarian cancer after cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy received intraperitoneal I-131 labelled monoclonal antibodies. There was no response in eight patients with tumour nodules greater than 2 cm, a partial response in two of the 15 patients with tumour nodules less than 2 cm, and a complete response in three of the other five patients with positive peritoneal washings. A further six patients received Y-90 labelled monoclonal antibodies for residual ovarian cancer. There was no response in one patient with nodules greater than 2 cm, and a partial response in one of the other five patients with tumour nodules less than 2 cm. The non-specific radiation dose in the peritoneal cavity from the infused isotope was measured by lithium fluoride thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD). The radiation dose received by the peritoneal serosa was less than 500 cGy and was not sufficient to account for the observed tumour response. Significant bone marrow suppression was observed with I-131 activities greater than 120 mCi and with Y-90 activities greater than 13 mCi. The haemopoietic bone marrow is the dose-limiting organ in patients receiving radioimmunotherapy.

Intraperitoneal radioimmunotherapy for ovarian cancer: pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and efficacy of I-131 labeled monoclonal antibodies

Thirty-six patients with ovarian cancer were treated with intraperitoneal I-131 labeled monoclonal antibodies to tumor associated antigens. The activity of I-131 administered was increased from 20 mCi to 158 mCi and the pharmacokinetics and toxicity evaluated. Five patients who had developed HAMA (Human Antimouse Antibodies) were retreated, and the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of the first and second treatment compared. Patients receiving their first therapy (HAMA negative), had a maximum of 25% (range 19.8-39.8%) of the injected activity in their circulation. This was accompanied by severe marrow suppression at I-131 activities over 120 mCi. The 5 HAMA positive patients had only 5% injected activity in the systemic circulation (range 3.8-6%), with rapid urinary excretion and neglible marrow suppression. In 31 patients with assessable disease there were no responses in 8 patients with gross disease (nodules greater than 2 cms), partial responses in 2 out of 15 patients with nodules less than 2 cms, and complete responses in 3 out of 6 patients with microscopic disease. The non specific radiation dose to the peritoneal cavity was estimated to be less than 500 cGy by lithium fluoride TLD, and could not be expected to account for the responses seen.

Management of the mature selected breech presentation: an analysis based on the intended method of delivery

The outcome of 313 mature singleton breech deliveries, covering a 3-year period at the Queen Charlotte's Hospital, is reviewed. Maternal and fetal outcome were analysed by the intention to deliver vaginally compared with planned caesarean section. There was no serious fetal morbidity or mortality in either of these groups despite considerable mechanical difficulty with vaginal delivery of the head in one patient. One woman in this group required hysterectomy for haemorrhage after an emergency caesarean section. Planned caesarean sections were carried out in 125 cases (40%). Trial of vaginal delivery was abandoned in 59 (40%) of the 149 women where this was attempted. Epidural analgesia appears to increase the duration of the second stage of labour in those who were delivered vaginally. Younger women and those with smaller babies were more likely to succeed with a trial of vaginal delivery but there was no relation between birthweight and the radiological obstetric conjugate and success or failure of trial of labour.

Mid-trimester levels of alphafetoprotein in the screening of low birthweight

Elevated maternal levels of alphafetoprotein (AFP) in midtrimester are believed by some to be a useful screening test for premature labour, low birthweight and low birthweight for gestation. In a prospective study on 887 randomly selected pregnant women we found that although there was an association between low birthweight and elevated AFP, the test would miss five out of every six cases of low birthweight and there would be nine false-positives for every case correctly identified. The test is not therefore sufficiently predictive of low birthweight to be of value as a screening test for this condition.