[en] The localizaton of ¹³¹I-McAbSZ-39 in 5 unde mice bearing human glioma was investigated by means of γ-camera, autoradiography and radioactivity distribution. All tumor sites of 5 nude mice could be demonstrated by γ-camera after 24h. The best imaging was taken on the third, forth and fifth days. The whole body autoradiography showed the selective accumulation of radioactivity in tumor areas. The radioactivity distribution was higher in tumor tissue than in other tissues

[en] The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the EGFRvIII specific monoclonal antibody, L8A4 as a boron delivery agent for NCT of the receptor (+) rat glioma, F98_npEGFRvIII. A heavily boronated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer (BD) was linked to L8A4 by means of heterobifunctional reagents. Wild type (F98_WT) receptor(-) or EGFRvIII human gene transfected receptor(+) F98_npEGFRvIII glioma cells were implanted into the brains of Fischer rats. Biodistribution studies were initiated 14 d later. Animals received ¹²⁵I-labeled BD-L8A4 by either convection enhanced delivery (CED) or intratumoral(i.t.) injection and were euthanized 6, 12, 24 or 48 h later. At 6 h following CED, equivalent amounts of the bioconjugate were detected in receptor(+) and (-) tumors, but by 24 h the amounts retained by receptor(+) gliomas were 60.1% following CED and 43.7% following i.t. injection, compared to 14.6% ID/g by receptor(-) tumors. Tumor boron concentrations were 32.7 and 44.5 μg/g, respectively, for BD-L8A4 alone or in combination with i.v. BPA. BNCT was carried out at the MITR-II Reactor 24 h after CED of BD-L8A4 (∼40 μg ¹⁰B/∼750 μg protein) and 2.5 h after i.v. injection of BPA (500 mg/kg). Rats that received BD-L8A4 alone or in combination with BPA had mean survival times of 70.4 and 85d, respectively, with 20% and 10% long term survivors, respectively, compared to 40.1 d for i.v. BPA and 30.3 and 26.3 d for irradiated and untreated controls, respectively. These data convincingly demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of molecular targeting of EGFRvIII and should provide a platform for the future development of combinations of high and low molecular weight delivery agents for BNCT of brain tumors. (author)

[en] The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the monoclonal antibody cetuximab (IMC-C225), which is directed against EGFR, as a boron delivery agent for NCT of a human EGFR gene transfected rat glioma, designated F98_EGFR. A heavily boronated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer (BD) was chemically linked to cetuximab by means of heterobifunctional reagents. In vitro, the bioconjugate (BD-C225) was specifically taken up by F98_EGFR glioma cells (41.8 μg/g) compared to receptor (-) F98_WT cells (9.1 μg/g). Glioma cells were stereotactically implanted into the brains of Fischer rats and biodistribution studies were initiated 14 d later. The amount of boron retained by F98_EGFR gliomas 24 h following either convection enhanced delivery (CED) or intratumoral (i.t.) injection were 77.2 and 50.8 μg/g, respectively, and normal brain and blood values were <0.5 μg/g. BNCT was carried out 24 h after CED of BD-C225 either alone or in combination with i.v. BPA and the corresponding mean survival times were 54.5 and 70.9 d, respectively, with one long term survivor (>180 d) compared to 40 d for i.v. BPA alone and 31 d and 26 d for irradiated and untreated controls, respectively. Our data convincingly demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of molecular targeting of EGFR using either boronated cetuximab alone or in combination with BPA and should provide a platform for the future development of combinations of high and low molecular weight delivery agents for BNCT of brain tumors. (author)

[en] Several thymidine analogues substituted with closo- and nido-carborane at the N-3 position were synthesized. The nido-carboranyl thymidine analogues were designed to be effective substrates for human thymidine kinase 1 in combination with an increased water solubility sufficient for clinical application in boron neutron capture therapy. This was done because N-3 substituted closo-carboranyl thymidine analogues previously synthesized in our laboratories were good TK1 substrates but were poorly water-soluble. Newly synthesized zwitterionic amino nido- and the corresponding neutral closo-m-carboranyl thymidine analogues exhibited excellent TK1 phosphorylation rates up to 75% relative to thymidine, indicating that these compounds were good substrates for thymidine kinase 1. Thin layer chromatographic studies were indicative of increased hydrophilicity of the synthesized nido-carboranyl thymidine analogues compared with their closo-carboranyl counterparts and previously reported closo-carboranyl thymidine analogues

[en] Purpose: Sodium borocaptate (Na₂B₁₂H₁₁SH or BSH) has been used clinically for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) of patients with primary brain tumors. The purpose of the present study was to determine if tumor uptake of BSH and efficacy of BNCT could be enhanced in F98 glioma-bearing rats by intracarotid (i.c.) injection of the compound with or without blood-brain barrier disruption (BBB-D). Methods and Materials: For biodistribution studies 100,000 F98 glioma cells were implanted stereotactically into the brains of Fischer rats, and 12 days later BBB-D was carried out by i.c. infusion of 25% mannitol, followed immediately thereafter by i.c. injection of BSH (30 mg B/kg body weight). Animals were killed 1, 2.5, and 5 h later, and their brains were removed for boron determination. For BNCT experiments, which were initiated 14 days after intracerebral implantation of 1000 F98 cells, BSH (30 mg B/kg b.wt. was administered intravenously (i.v.) without BBB-D, or i.c. with or without BBB-D. The animals were irradiated 2.5 h later with a collimated beam of thermal neutrons at the Brookhaven National Laboratory Medical Research Reactor. Results: The mean tumor boron concentration after i.c. injection with BBB-D was 48.6 ± 17.2 μg/g at 2.5 h compared with 30.8 ± 12.2 μg/g after i.c. injection without BBB-D and 12.9 ± 4.2 μg/g after i.v. injection. The best composite tumor to normal tissue ratios were observed at 2.5 h after BBB-D, at which time the tumor:blood (T:B1) ratio was 5.0, and the tumor: brain (T:Br) ratio was 12.3, compared to 1.1 and 4.6, respectively, in i.v. injected rats. The mean survival time for untreated control rats was 24 ± 3 days, 29 ± 4 days for irradiated controls, 33 ± 6 days for those receiving i.v. injection of BSH, 40 ± 8 days for rats receiving i.c. BSH without BBB-D, and 52 ± 13 days for BBB-D followed by BNCT (p = 0.003 vs. i.v. injected BSH). Conclusions: Intracarotid administration of BSH with or without BBB-D significantly increased tumor uptake of BSH and enhanced survival of F98 glioma-bearing rats following BNCT. BBB-D may be a useful way to enhance the delivery of both low and high molecular weight boron compounds to brain tumors. Further studies are in progress to assess this approach with other boron delivery agents

[en] The purpose of the present study was to further evaluate a boronated dendrimer (BD)-epidermal growth factor bioconjugate (BD-EGF), administered by means of convection enhanced delivery (CED), as a molecular targeting agent for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) of the F98_EGFR glioma. Twenty-four hours following CED of ¹²⁵I-labeled BD-EGF 47.4% of the injected dose (ID) was retained in F98_EGFR gliomas compared to 12.3% in F98_WT (wildtype) receptor negative tumors. Normal brain values were in the range of 5.9-10.1% ID in the tumor bearing cerebral hemisphere. Boron concentrations in F98_EGFR gliomas were 22.3 and 11.7 μg/g following CED and i.t. injection, respectively. Based on these results, BNCT studies were initiated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology nuclear reactor (MITRII). The mean survival time (MST) of rats that received BD-EGF either alone or in combination with boronophenylalanine (BPA), injected i.v., were 53±13 d and >61±14 d, respectively, compared to 40±5 d for BPA alone and 31±4 d for irradiated controls. These data show that CED improved the radiobiological effectiveness of BD-EGF and lay the groundwork for future studies using combinations of boron delivery agents for NCT of EGFR(+) gliomas

[en] Purpose: Multicentric cerebral metastases of melanoma represent an important clinical problem for which there currently is no satisfactory treatment. We previously developed a model for melanoma metastatic to the brain employing nude rats bearing intracerebral implants of the human MRA27 melanoma. The purpose of the present study was to determine if the efficacy of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) could be improved by either Cereport (RMP-7) mediated modulation of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability or hyperosmotic mannitol-induced BBB disruption using boronophenylalanine (BPA) as the capture agent. Methods and Materials: Biodistribution studies were carried out at 0.5, 2.5, and 4 h after intracarotid administration of Cereport (1.5 μg/kg) and intracarotid or i.v. administration of BPA (500 mg/kg). Peak tumor boron concentrations (65.4 μg/g) and the best composite tumor:brain (6.1:1) and tumor:blood (6.3:1) ratios were observed at 2.5 h after intracarotid administration. BNCT was initiated at the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor 13-14 days after intracerebral implantation of 10⁶ MRA27 cells. Results: Untreated control rats had a median survival time (MeST) of 22 days and for irradiated controls, it was 30 days. Rats that received i.v. or intracarotid BPA without Cereport followed by BNCT 2.5 h later had MeSTs of 41 days and 57 days, respectively, with 20% long-term survivors (>180 days) in the latter group. Rats that received intracarotid BPA with Cereport had an MeST of 86 days with 36% long-term survivors, which was very close to that of rats that had hyperosmotic mannitol-induced disruption of the BBB (85 days with 25% long-term survivors). When these two groups were combined, and survival times were compared, using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, to those of rats that received intracarotid BPA without blood-brain barrier disruption, these differences were significant at the level p=0.01. Conclusions: Our data show that optimizing the delivery of BPA by means of intracarotid injection combined with opening the BBB by infusing Cereport or a hyperosmotic solution of mannitol significantly enhanced survival times and produced long-term cures of MRA27 melanoma-bearing rats. These observations are relevant to future clinical studies using BNCT for the treatment of intracerebral melanoma

[en] Purpose: Boronophenylalanine (BPA) and sodium borocaptate (Na₂B₁₂H₁₁SH or BSH) have been used clinically for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) of high-grade gliomas. These drugs appear to concentrate in tumors by different mechanisms and may target different subpopulations of glioma cells. The purpose of the present study was to determine if the efficacy of BNCT could be further improved in F98-glioma-bearing rats by administering both boron compounds together and by improving their delivery by means of intracarotid (i.c.) injection with or without blood-brain barrier disruption (BBB-D). Methods and Materials: For biodistribution studies, 10⁵ F98 glioma cells were implanted stereotactically into the brains of syngeneic Fischer rats. Eleven to 13 days later animals were injected intravenously (i.v.) with BPA at doses of either 250 or 500 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) in combination with BSH at doses of either 30 or 60 mg/kg b.w. or i.c. with or without BBB-D, which was accomplished by i.c. infusion of a hyperosmotic (25%) solution of mannitol. For BNCT studies, 10³ F98 glioma cells were implanted intracerebrally, and 14 days later animals were transported to the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). They received BPA (250 mg/kg b.w.) in combination with BSH (30 mg/kg b.w.) by i.v. or i.c. injection with or without BBB-D, and 2.5 hours later they were irradiated with a collimated beam of thermal neutrons at the BNL Medical Research Reactor. Results: The mean tumor boron concentration ± standard deviation (SD) at 2.5 hours after i.c. injection of BPA (250 mg/kg b.w.) and BSH (30 mg/kg b.w.) was 56.3 ± 37.8 μg/g with BBB-D compared to 20.8 ± 3.9 μg/g without BBB-D and 11.2 ± 1.8 μg/g after i.v. injection. Doubling the dose of BPA and BSH produced a twofold increase in tumor boron concentrations, but also concomitant increases in normal brain and blood levels, which could have adverse effects. For this reason, the lower boron dose was selected for BNCT studies. The median survival time was 25 days for untreated control rats, 29 days for irradiated controls, 42 days for rats that received BPA and BSH i.v., 53 days following i.c. injection, and 72 days following i.c. injection + BBB-D with subsets of long-term survivors and/or cured animals in the latter two groups. No histopathologic evidence of residual tumor was seen in the brains of cured animals. Conclusions: The combination of BPA and BSH, administered i.c. with BBB-D, yielded a 25% cure rate for the heretofore incurable F98 rat glioma with minimal late radiation-induced brain damage. These results demonstrate that using a combination of boron agents and optimizing their delivery can dramatically improve the efficacy of BNCT in glioma-bearing rats

[en] Cetuximab (IMC-C225) is a monoclonal antibody directed against both the wild-type and mutant vIII isoform of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the monoclonal antibody (MoAb), cetuximab, as a boron delivery agent for neutron capture therapy (NCT) of brain tumors. Twenty-four hours following intratumoral (i.t.) administration of boronated cetuximab (C225-G5-B₁₁₀₀), the mean boron concentration in rats bearing either F98_EGFR or F98_WT gliomas were 92.3±23.3 μg/g and 36.5±18.8 μg/g, respectively. In contrast, the uptake of boronated dendrimer (G5-B₁₀₀₀) was 6.7±3.6 μg/g. Based on its favorable in vivo uptake, C225-G5-B₁₁₀₀ was evaluated as a delivery agent for BNCT in F98_EGFR glioma bearing rats. The mean survival time (MST) of rats that received C225-G5-B₁₁₀₀, administered by convection enhanced delivery (CED), was 45±3 d compared to 25±3 d for untreated control animals. A further enhancement in MST to >59 d was obtained by administering C225-G5-B₁₁₀₀ in combination with i.v. boronophenylalanine (BPA). These data are the first to demonstrate the efficacy of a boronated MoAb for BNCT of an intracerebral (i.c.) glioma and are paradigmatic for future studies using a combination of boronated MoAbs and low molecular weight delivery agents

[en] The goals of the present study were two-fold. First, to determine the biodistribution of three carboranyl-porphyrins, designated H₂DCP, H₂TCP and H₂TBP following intracerebral (i.c.) administration by means of convection enhanced delivery (CED) to F98 glioma bearing rats. Tumor boron concentrations immediately after CED were 36 and 88 μg/g for H₂DCP and H₂TCP, respectively, and were 103 and 62 μg/g for H₂TCP and H₂TBP, respectively, 24h after termination of CED. The corresponding normal brain concentrations were 5.2, 3.3 and 0.8 μg/g, and blood and liver concentrations all were <0.5 μg. Second, based on these favorable biodistribution data, to study the efficacy of H₂TCP and H₂TBP as boron delivery agents in F98 glioma bearing rats. BNCT was carried out at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Research Reactor (MITRR) 24 h after CED of 200 μl of either 0.5 mg of H₂TCP or H₂TBP. Untreated control rats all died within 29 days after tumor implantation and had a mean survival time (MST) of 23±3 days and irradiated controls had a MST of 27±3 days. Animals that received H₂TCP by CED, followed by BNCT, had a MST of 35±4 days and animals received H₂TBP had a MST of 44±10 days. Further studies were carried out using H₂TBP at a dose of 0.2 mg administered by a Harvard pump, either alone or in combination with i.v. BPA, and the corresponding MSTs were 34±3 d and 43±9 d, respectively. Histopathologic examination of the brains of animals that died revealed large numbers of porphyrin laden macrophages and extracellular accumulations of free porphyrin indicating that tumor cell uptake was suboptimal. Further studies are planned to synthesize and evaluate new compounds that will have enhanced cellular uptake and efficacy as boron delivery agents for NCT. (author)