No description available.

No description available.

Os tratamentos convencionais para carcinoma medular de tireóide (CMT) metastático são insatisfatórios. Tanto a quimioterapia quanto a radioterapia são pouco eficazes para a doença avançada. Portanto, a terapia gênica é uma promissora opção. Trabalhos de construção de vetores plasmidiais ou adenovirais específicos para cultura de células de carcinoma medular de tireóide e/ou animais têm demonstrado resultados encorajadores, conseguindo significativa redução do tumor. O objetivo deste trabalho foi construir e avaliar a eficácia do plasmídio pTCPtkevIL-12 contendo o gene da timidina quinase (HSV-tk) e da interleucina 12 otimizada/evolved (evIL-12), ambos sob controle do promotor da calcitonina modificado (TCP), visando terapia gênica do CMT. A associação entre um gene ?suicida? (TK) e um gene imunomodulador (IL12) é sabidamente sinérgica, o que motivou o emprego destes dois genes no vetor terapêutico. Por melhoramento genético, obteve-se recentemente a IL-12 otimizada/evolved, com elevada capacidade em induzir resposta imune. O promotor TCP é mais forte e mais específico que o promotor de calcitonina natural , e já foi usado em diversos trabalhos em CMT. Para determinar a atividade biológica das interleucinas 12 (evIL-12 e mIL-12), os sobrenadantes das culturas de células TT transfectadas foram utilizados para avaliar proliferação linfocitária e estimulação de células dendríticas (DCs). As células TT (carcinoma medular humano de tireóide) foram transfectadas com o plasmídio pTCPtkevIL-12 ou pTCPmIL-12 (plasmídio com o gene da IL-12 murina, sob controle do promotor TCP). A proliferação linfocitária foi quantificada por citometria de fluxo e a diferenciação de linfócitos T para um padrão Th1 foi verificada através da dosagem de IFN-? e IL-4 por ELISA. A avaliação do perfil fenotípico das DCs, cultivadas com sobrenadante contendo mIL-12 ou evIL-12 durante a diferenciação, foi feita através de marcação com anticorpos das moléculas de membrana marcadoras de maturação CD80, CD83, CD86 e CD40, com leitura também por citometria de fluxo. Também foi avaliada e comprovada a capacidade do plasmídio pTCPevIL-12 de promover apoptose induzida pelo sistema suicida timidina quinase/ganciclovir, nas células TT transfectadas. Os experimentos de proliferação linfocitária verificaram que ambas IL-12 promoveram intensa proliferação linfocitária, em similar magnitude. A principal função da IL12, todavia, não é estimular proliferação linfocitária, mas sim, induzir fortemente diferenciação para Th1, fundamental para uma eficiente resposta anti-tumoral. Foi observado que ambas IL-12 proporcionaram forte resposta Th1. Porém, a evIL-12 mostrou-se superior à mIL-12 na diferenciação dos linfócitos T para o padrão Th1. Os experimentos que avaliaram a capacidade da IL-12 maturar DCs diferenciadas, mostraram um aumento na expressão de CD40 nas DCs sob estímulo de ambas IL-12, porém a expressão foi discretamente maior com evIL-12 que com mIL-12 . Não foi observada alteração na expressão das outras proteínas marcadoras de maturação (CD80, CD83, CD86). Comparando-se o sobrenadante das células TT transfectadas com o plasmídio pTCPtkevIL-12 antes e após adição de GCV, verificou-se que ele se tornou mais eficiente para induzir expressão de CD40 nas células dendríticas após a adição do GCV. O incremento de expressão de CD40 nas DCs após tratamento com GCV poderia explicar, ao menos em parte, o efeito anti-tumoral sinérgico observado com a expressão simultânea dos genes timidina quinase e IL-12, já descritos em estudos in vivo, na literatura. Considerando-se que a evIL-12 mostrou-se mais eficiente em promover diferenciação dos linfócitos T para padrão Th1 e em promover uma maturação/ativação de melhor qualidade das células dendríticas diferenciadas (maior expressão de CD40), poderia-se afirmar que esta IL- 12 é extremamente imunogênica, superior inclusive à IL-12 murina , a única utilizada até o momento em terapia gênica de CMT. Os resultados satisfatórios alcançados neste trabalho oferecem perspectivas de aplicação futura ao plasmídio terapêutico pTCPtkevIL-12 para uso em terapia gênica em CMT. O plasmídio poderia ser utilizado em aplicação intra-tumoral e em estimulação de células dendríticas. A vacinoterapia com células dendríticas estimuladas com sobrenadante de células TT transfectadas com pTCPtkevIL-12 e tratadas com ganciclovir, devido a elevada expressão de CD40, pode ser uma esperança de um tratamento mais eficaz das metástases do CMT. Diversos estudos afirmam haver uma correlação direta entre maior expressão de CD40 e maior regressão do tumor primário e das metástases. / Present treatments of advanced and metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) are unsatisfactory. Tissue-specific cancer gene therapy is a promising alternative approach. IL-12 gene is a good citokyne to be used in gene therapy because it appears to be the most effective immunomodulatory gene. Literature data shows synergism in the association of two antitumor methods: suicide gene thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) and interleukin genes; therefore, they should ideally be together in the vector. The evolved interleukin12, obtained by DNA shuffling, is believed to elicit more antitumoral immune response than the human IL-12. None of them has been tested in MTC, only the murine IL-12 has been employed in MTC gene therapy. To explore a more efficient multi-gene antitumor treatment, development and evaluation of a plasmid expressing both herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase type 1 (HSVtk) and evolved interleukin-12 (evIL-12) under the control of modified calcitonin promoter (TCP) were done in this study. TCP promoter is more specific and efficient than the natural calcitonin promoter CT/CGRP, and has already been used in several studies. To verify IL-12 biological activity, lymphocyte proliferation and dendritic cell stimulation after IL-12 were studied. TT cells (human MTC) were transfected by pTCPtkevIL-12 plasmid or by pTCPmIL-12 (plasmid containing murine IL-12 gene, under control of TCP promoter). Lymphocyte proliferation was analysed by flow cytometry, and Th1 response was assessed by IFN-? and IL-4 ELISA measurement. The phenothypic analysis of dendritic cells (DCs) by flow cytometry was based on the expression of the maturative surface markers CD80, CD83, CD86 and CD40. Also, plasmid pTCPtkevIL-12 ability to promote TT transfected cells apoptosis, through the suicide system HSV-tk/ganciclovir, was evaluated and confirmed. Both IL-12 elicited similar intense lymphocyte proliferation. Nevertheless, the main IL-12 function is not to stimulate lymphocyte proliferation but induce Th1 immune response, which is essential for efficient anti-tumour response. Both IL-12, showed great Th1 response; however fortunately, ev-IL12 was superior to mIL-12 in promoting T cell Th1 response. Flow cytometry analysis of DCs revealed significant higher expression of CD40 surface molecule after differentiated DCs were exposed to TT transfected cells, either with pTCPtkevIL-12 or pTCPmIL-12, supernatants. DCs stimulated with supernatants containing evIL-12 were 36.91% CD40+, whereas when stimulated by supernatants containing mIL-12 were 14.74% CD40+. The other maturative markers (CD80, CD83, CD86) remained with the same expression level. Moreover, TT pTCPtkevIL-12- transfected cells supernatants, showed a even higher ability of increasing CD40 expression in DCs after treatment with GCV. At least partially, this increase in dendritic cells CD40 expression could explain the synergism observed with the simultaneous expression of thymidine kinase and interleukin genes. Outstanding lymphocyte proliferation and dendritic cell stimulation were achieved by the evIL-12 secreted in the supernatants, confirming that this interleukin 12 is really very potent. The good results achieved by the present study justify further experiments with this therapeutic plasmid. It could be used intra-tumorally and to stimulate/mature dendritic cells. Vaccine with DCs stimulated by TT pTCPtkevIL-12-transfected cells after GCV treatment supernatants, due to higher CD40 expression, could be very suitable for the treatment of MTC metastasis. Several studies show better primary tumor and metastasis regression in the presence of high levels of CD40 expression.

Nenhuma / 3-Desoxi-3-[18F]Fluor-Timidina (18FLT) é um análogo radioativo do nucleosídeo timidina usado desde 1998 em exames de tomografia por emissão de pósitrons (PET) para diagnóstico de vários tipos de tumores, como de mama, pulmonar, colorretal, cerebral, entre outros. Seu uso amplia a cobertura dos exames PET em diagnóstico de câncer, já que existem limitações da [18F]Fludesoxiglicose (18FDG), o radiofármaco PET mais usado no mundo atualmente. Para implementação da produção de 18FLT, na Unidade de Pesquisa e Produção de Radiofármacos do Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear (UPPR/CDTN), o módulo de síntese de 18FDG foi adaptado usando-se 3 protocolos nos quais se variou a concentração de etanol (0; 8 e 10% V/V). Também foram desenvolvidos testes de Controle de Qualidade, como pH, determinação de catalisador, determinação de etanol e acetonitrila, pureza química e radioquímica, entre outros. A formulação foi avaliada in vitro quanto a sua segurança, pelos ensaios de viabilidade metabólica (MTT) e toxicidade clonogênica, e quanto a sua eficácia para a detecção de tumores pelo ensaio de interação (Binding). Os rendimentos corrigidos obtidos da síntese de 18FLT foram 6,52%; 253% e 233% para o 1, o 2 e o 3 protocolo, respectivamente. O produto do protocolo 3 (Etanol 8%) apresentou menor citotoxicidade no teste in vitro MTT do que o do segundo (Etanol 10%). Além disso, a formulação de 18FLT e as impurezas químicas presentes na mesma não afetaram a clonogenicidade das células testadas. Com base nestes resultados o protocolo 3 foi escolhido como a síntese padrão de 18FLT. A interação da 18FLT com as linhagens celulares foi saturável, com ligação específica maior que 90%, atestando a eficácia do radiofármaco na detecção de tumores. A afinidade do radiofármaco 18FLT por células de glioblastoma humano (U87MG) foi da ordem de 0,24 μmol/L (Kd). Por fim, constatou-se que quantidades adicionais de timidina e clorotimidina, duas impurezas presentes na formulação, reduziram significativamente a interação de 18FLT (IC50 ~ 1 - 34 μmol/L) com as células tumorais, o que pode reduzir sua eficácia para o diagnóstico. Assim, sugere-se que um valor máximo seja estabelecido para a concentração destas impurezas como um dos critérios de Pureza Química de 18FLT, baseando-se no ensaio de eficácia de interação. Portanto, a UPPR/CDTN está apta a fornecer rotineiramente o radiofármaco 18FLT para estudos não clínicos e clínicos, de acordo com os requisitos de Boas Práticas de Fabricação de Medicamentos exigidos pela ANVISA. / 3-Deoxy-3-[18F]Fluorothymidine (18FLT) is a Thymidine radioactive analog that is being used since 1998 for cancer diagnostics by Positron Emission Tomography (PET) for several types of cancer, as breast, lung, colorectal, brain, among others. Its use extends coverage of PET scans in diagnosis of cancers in certain organs and tissues, since there are limitations of [18F] Fludeoxyglucose (18FDG), which is the most used PET radiopharmaceutical in the world today. An 18FDG synthesis module was adapted to implement 18FLT production in Research and Production Unit of Radiopharmaceuticals from Center of Nuclear Technology Development (UPPR/CDTN). Three protocols were used varying the concentration of ethanol (0%, 8% and 10%). Quality control tests were also developed, as pH, catalyst determination, ethanol and acetonitrile determination, chemical and radiochemical purity, amongst others. The formulation was evaluated in vitro for its safety, using the metabolic viability (MTTs assay) and clonogenic toxicity assays, and for its effectiveness in tumors, using the binding test. The corrected yields were 6.52%; 253%; and 233% for the first, second and third synthesis protocols, respectively. The third protocol (Ethanol 8%) was found to be less cytotoxicity comparing to the second one (Ethanol 10%). Furthermore, 18FLT chemical impurities and the entire formulation did not affect the clonogenicity of the cells in Clonogenic Assay. Based on these results the protocol 3 was chosen as the standard 18FLT synthesis. The interaction of 18FLT with the cell lines was saturable, with specific binding higher than 81%, confirming the effectiveness of the radiopharmaceutical in tumor detection. The affinity between 18FLT and human glioblastoma cells (U87MG) was found to be 0.24 μmol/L (Kd). Finally, it was found that additional quantities of thymidine and chlorothymidine reduced significantly 18FLT interaction (IC50 ~ 1 - 34 μmol/L) with tumor cells, which can reduce its effectiveness in PET diagnosis. For this reason it is suggested that a maximum value must be set for the concentration of these impurities in the 18FLT Chemical Purity quality control test based in efficacy binding assays. Therefore, CDTN is able to routinely provide 18FLT radiopharmaceutical for clinical and non clinical studies, according to the Brazilian Good Manufacturing Practices for Radiopharmaceuticals required by ANVISA.

Os tratamentos convencionais para carcinoma medular de tireóide (CMT) metastático são insatisfatórios. Tanto a quimioterapia quanto a radioterapia são pouco eficazes para a doença avançada. Portanto, a terapia gênica é uma promissora opção. Trabalhos de construção de vetores plasmidiais ou adenovirais específicos para cultura de células de carcinoma medular de tireóide e/ou animais têm demonstrado resultados encorajadores, conseguindo significativa redução do tumor. O objetivo deste trabalho foi construir e avaliar a eficácia do plasmídio pTCPtkevIL-12 contendo o gene da timidina quinase (HSV-tk) e da interleucina 12 otimizada/evolved (evIL-12), ambos sob controle do promotor da calcitonina modificado (TCP), visando terapia gênica do CMT. A associação entre um gene ?suicida? (TK) e um gene imunomodulador (IL12) é sabidamente sinérgica, o que motivou o emprego destes dois genes no vetor terapêutico. Por melhoramento genético, obteve-se recentemente a IL-12 otimizada/evolved, com elevada capacidade em induzir resposta imune. O promotor TCP é mais forte e mais específico que o promotor de calcitonina natural , e já foi usado em diversos trabalhos em CMT. Para determinar a atividade biológica das interleucinas 12 (evIL-12 e mIL-12), os sobrenadantes das culturas de células TT transfectadas foram utilizados para avaliar proliferação linfocitária e estimulação de células dendríticas (DCs). As células TT (carcinoma medular humano de tireóide) foram transfectadas com o plasmídio pTCPtkevIL-12 ou pTCPmIL-12 (plasmídio com o gene da IL-12 murina, sob controle do promotor TCP). A proliferação linfocitária foi quantificada por citometria de fluxo e a diferenciação de linfócitos T para um padrão Th1 foi verificada através da dosagem de IFN-? e IL-4 por ELISA. A avaliação do perfil fenotípico das DCs, cultivadas com sobrenadante contendo mIL-12 ou evIL-12 durante a diferenciação, foi feita através de marcação com anticorpos das moléculas de membrana marcadoras de maturação CD80, CD83, CD86 e CD40, com leitura também por citometria de fluxo. Também foi avaliada e comprovada a capacidade do plasmídio pTCPevIL-12 de promover apoptose induzida pelo sistema suicida timidina quinase/ganciclovir, nas células TT transfectadas. Os experimentos de proliferação linfocitária verificaram que ambas IL-12 promoveram intensa proliferação linfocitária, em similar magnitude. A principal função da IL12, todavia, não é estimular proliferação linfocitária, mas sim, induzir fortemente diferenciação para Th1, fundamental para uma eficiente resposta anti-tumoral. Foi observado que ambas IL-12 proporcionaram forte resposta Th1. Porém, a evIL-12 mostrou-se superior à mIL-12 na diferenciação dos linfócitos T para o padrão Th1. Os experimentos que avaliaram a capacidade da IL-12 maturar DCs diferenciadas, mostraram um aumento na expressão de CD40 nas DCs sob estímulo de ambas IL-12, porém a expressão foi discretamente maior com evIL-12 que com mIL-12 . Não foi observada alteração na expressão das outras proteínas marcadoras de maturação (CD80, CD83, CD86). Comparando-se o sobrenadante das células TT transfectadas com o plasmídio pTCPtkevIL-12 antes e após adição de GCV, verificou-se que ele se tornou mais eficiente para induzir expressão de CD40 nas células dendríticas após a adição do GCV. O incremento de expressão de CD40 nas DCs após tratamento com GCV poderia explicar, ao menos em parte, o efeito anti-tumoral sinérgico observado com a expressão simultânea dos genes timidina quinase e IL-12, já descritos em estudos in vivo, na literatura. Considerando-se que a evIL-12 mostrou-se mais eficiente em promover diferenciação dos linfócitos T para padrão Th1 e em promover uma maturação/ativação de melhor qualidade das células dendríticas diferenciadas (maior expressão de CD40), poderia-se afirmar que esta IL- 12 é extremamente imunogênica, superior inclusive à IL-12 murina , a única utilizada até o momento em terapia gênica de CMT. Os resultados satisfatórios alcançados neste trabalho oferecem perspectivas de aplicação futura ao plasmídio terapêutico pTCPtkevIL-12 para uso em terapia gênica em CMT. O plasmídio poderia ser utilizado em aplicação intra-tumoral e em estimulação de células dendríticas. A vacinoterapia com células dendríticas estimuladas com sobrenadante de células TT transfectadas com pTCPtkevIL-12 e tratadas com ganciclovir, devido a elevada expressão de CD40, pode ser uma esperança de um tratamento mais eficaz das metástases do CMT. Diversos estudos afirmam haver uma correlação direta entre maior expressão de CD40 e maior regressão do tumor primário e das metástases. / Present treatments of advanced and metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) are unsatisfactory. Tissue-specific cancer gene therapy is a promising alternative approach. IL-12 gene is a good citokyne to be used in gene therapy because it appears to be the most effective immunomodulatory gene. Literature data shows synergism in the association of two antitumor methods: suicide gene thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) and interleukin genes; therefore, they should ideally be together in the vector. The evolved interleukin12, obtained by DNA shuffling, is believed to elicit more antitumoral immune response than the human IL-12. None of them has been tested in MTC, only the murine IL-12 has been employed in MTC gene therapy. To explore a more efficient multi-gene antitumor treatment, development and evaluation of a plasmid expressing both herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase type 1 (HSVtk) and evolved interleukin-12 (evIL-12) under the control of modified calcitonin promoter (TCP) were done in this study. TCP promoter is more specific and efficient than the natural calcitonin promoter CT/CGRP, and has already been used in several studies. To verify IL-12 biological activity, lymphocyte proliferation and dendritic cell stimulation after IL-12 were studied. TT cells (human MTC) were transfected by pTCPtkevIL-12 plasmid or by pTCPmIL-12 (plasmid containing murine IL-12 gene, under control of TCP promoter). Lymphocyte proliferation was analysed by flow cytometry, and Th1 response was assessed by IFN-? and IL-4 ELISA measurement. The phenothypic analysis of dendritic cells (DCs) by flow cytometry was based on the expression of the maturative surface markers CD80, CD83, CD86 and CD40. Also, plasmid pTCPtkevIL-12 ability to promote TT transfected cells apoptosis, through the suicide system HSV-tk/ganciclovir, was evaluated and confirmed. Both IL-12 elicited similar intense lymphocyte proliferation. Nevertheless, the main IL-12 function is not to stimulate lymphocyte proliferation but induce Th1 immune response, which is essential for efficient anti-tumour response. Both IL-12, showed great Th1 response; however fortunately, ev-IL12 was superior to mIL-12 in promoting T cell Th1 response. Flow cytometry analysis of DCs revealed significant higher expression of CD40 surface molecule after differentiated DCs were exposed to TT transfected cells, either with pTCPtkevIL-12 or pTCPmIL-12, supernatants. DCs stimulated with supernatants containing evIL-12 were 36.91% CD40+, whereas when stimulated by supernatants containing mIL-12 were 14.74% CD40+. The other maturative markers (CD80, CD83, CD86) remained with the same expression level. Moreover, TT pTCPtkevIL-12- transfected cells supernatants, showed a even higher ability of increasing CD40 expression in DCs after treatment with GCV. At least partially, this increase in dendritic cells CD40 expression could explain the synergism observed with the simultaneous expression of thymidine kinase and interleukin genes. Outstanding lymphocyte proliferation and dendritic cell stimulation were achieved by the evIL-12 secreted in the supernatants, confirming that this interleukin 12 is really very potent. The good results achieved by the present study justify further experiments with this therapeutic plasmid. It could be used intra-tumorally and to stimulate/mature dendritic cells. Vaccine with DCs stimulated by TT pTCPtkevIL-12-transfected cells after GCV treatment supernatants, due to higher CD40 expression, could be very suitable for the treatment of MTC metastasis. Several studies show better primary tumor and metastasis regression in the presence of high levels of CD40 expression.

(thesis): Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE) frequently accompanies the therapy with a continuous 5-FU infusion or peroral capecitabine (5-FU prodrug). In the most severe cases this adverse effect leads to discontinuation of a needful therapy. Local 10 % uridine ointment is used to prevent and treat the said adverse event. Nevertheless, this method is not generally accepted as an effective one because it has never been proved in a randomized controlled clinical trial. Most probably, a direct effect of a cytostatic compound on the skin of hands and foots causes PPE. The toxicity of 5-FU is mediated primarily by its incorporation into RNA and by thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibition and subsequent DNA synthesis disruption. The importance of particular 5-FU toxicity mechanisms varies in different cell types. For choosing the best PPE local antidote it is necessary to find out which molecular mechanism applies in keratinocytes. We have chosen pyrimidine nucleosides as the most suitable compounds for the local PPE therapy because the uridine ointment is already being used in several oncology centers in the Central Europe. In order to find out the 5-FU toxicity mechanism, we further tested the effect of calciumfolinate (CF) which strengthens the TS inhibition by 5-FU. We studied also uracil and...

No description available.

La résistance du virus de l’herpès simplex (VHS) aux antiviraux est un problème courant chez les individus immunosupprimés. Des mutations au sein du gène de la thymidine kinase (TK) virale sont principalement à l’origine de la résistance au traitement de première ligne, i.e. les analogues des nucléosides. La cible ultime de tous les antiviraux anti-herpétique demeure cependant l’ADN polymérase (pol) virale. Ces deux gènes viraux (TK et ADN pol) démontrent un certain degré de polymorphisme génétique et il peut devenir difficile d’identifier avec certitude les mutations responsables de la résistance aux antiviraux. Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse de Doctorat démontrent le développement de nouvelles méthodes afin d’établir un lien entre l’apparition de mutations au niveau de gênes viraux et un phénotype de résistance particulier. Un système d’expression du gène de la TK virale chez le parasite Leishmania et un ensemble de cosmides et de plasmides recombinants permettant de générer des virus ADN pol mutants ont été mis au point. Ces nouvelles stratégies nous ont permis de caractériser les mutations virales impliquées dans la résistance aux antiviraux. / Drug resistant HSV isolates are responsible form substantial morbidity among immunocompromised subjects. The genetic basis for resistance to nucleoside analogs such as acyclovir (ACV) have been mapped to point mutations in the viral thymidine kinase (TK) gene while mutations within the viral DNA pol gene, the main target for all anti-herpetic drug actually available, could lead to a multidrug resistance phenotype. However, the distinction between viral mutations (TK and DNA pol) involved in antiviral resistance or part of viral polymorphism can be difficult to evaluate with current methodologies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research project is thus to evaluate the role of particular mutations within the HSV TK and DNA pol gene with regard to drug-resistance patterns and viral fitness, by designing new gene expression systems. METHODS: The protozoan parasite Leishmania stably transfected with a TK expression vector (pSP72αNEOα) was used as an heterologous system to evaluate the role of several different point mutations within the coding region of the TK gene in conferring resistance to nucleoside analogs. Susceptibility of TK-expressing parasites to nucleoside analogs can thus be tested very easily by a simple measurement of the optic density of cultures grown in the presence or in the absence of the drug. Finally, a set of overlapping viral cosmids and plasmids for the rapid generation of recombinant HSV-1 DNA pol mutants have been developed. RESULTS: Expression of the TK gene from ACV-susceptible clinical isolates resulted in Leishmania susceptibility to the antiviral, whereas expression of a TK gene with frameshift mutations or nucleotide substitutions from ACV-resistant isolates gave rise to parasites with high levels of antiviral resistance. Twenty HSV-1 recombinants with single or dual mutations within the DNA pol gene were successfully generated with the cosmid/plasmid based approach. Mutations within the central part of the enzyme’s catalytic domain (regions II and VI) were associated with resistance to ACV, FOS, and ADV, whereas mutations inserted within extremities (δ-region C, I, V, and VII) were mostly related to the replicative activity of the enzyme. CONCLUSION: Such new strategies provide an easy, reliable, and sensitive means of evaluating the functional role of viral mutations which should translate in improved management of drug-resistant HSV infections.

Mass spectrometry is being increasingly used in biomarker research mainly due to its ability to achieve high selectivity coupled with high sensitivity. This dissertation focuses on quantitative mass spectrometric investigations of two protein biomarkers i.e. serum thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) and human osteopontin (OPN). First part of this research was focused on developing a liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for measuring the activity of TK1 in serum by monitoring the conversion of a TK1 specific exogenous substrate, 3’-deoxy-3’-fluorothymidine (FLT), to its mono-phosphorylated form 3’-deoxy-3’-fluorothymidine monophosphate (FLT-MP). A method to quantify FLT-MP on LC-MS/MS was developed and validated. The method was linear over the range of 2.5-2000 ng/mL with a mean correlation coefficient of 0.9935. Using the developed method, serum TK1 activity was measured in serum from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and age-matched controls under standardized conditions. A sub-population of the HCC patient samples showed an almost 20-fold enhanced TK1 activity compared to the controls. A method was developed and validated for quantifying human osteopontin from plasma using immunoaffinity isolations coupled with microflow liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (MFLC-MS/MS). A biologically relevant tryptic peptide ‘GDSVVYGLR’ which is unique to hOPN was identified and used as a signature peptide for this method. The method was validated over a range of 25-600 ng/mL. The performance of the method was compliant with USFDA validation guidance. In addition, a stable isotope labeled (SIL) peptide GDSVVYGLR* and an extended SIL peptide TYDGRGDSVV*YGLRSKSKKF’ were evaluated as internal standards (IS) to account for signature peptide digestion instability and variability. In the digestion variability studies, the use of extended SIL peptide as internal standard limited the total variability within ±30%. Alternatively, when SIL peptide was used as internal standard the variability ranged from -67.4% to +50.6 %. The applicability of the validated method was demonstrated by analyzing plasma samples obtained from 10 healthy individuals and 10 breast cancer patients. More than 9-fold increase in the mean plasma hOPN concentration was seen in 30% of the breast cancer patient samples (n=10) in comparison to the healthy volunteer samples. In a proof of concept investigation, a stable isotope labeled signature peptide was evaluated as an internal standard to compensate for immunocapture variability during quantification of human osteopontin (hOPN) by immunoaffinity coupled LC-MS/MS. Immunocapture variability was induced by varying the antibody amount per well. The immunocapture variability ranged from -80.9 % to +77.0 % when the IS was added after immunocapture and from -37.5% to +20.3% when the IS was added before immunocapture. The lower variability demonstrates the ability of SIL-IS peptide to compensate for variation during immunocapture.

O melanoma maligno é um tipo de câncer com grande risco de produzir metástases e com altas taxas de mortalidade resultantes de diagnósticos tardios e falta de tratamentos eficazes. Ao longo dos últimos anos, a terapia gênica voltada para o câncer e o desenvolvimento de métodos capazes de visualizar processos moleculares e celulares ao longo da terapia, tem recebido especial atenção. Diante deste quadro, nossos objetivos foram utilizar o sistema de Tomografia por Emissão de Pósitrons (PET) para diagnosticar precocemente tumores e investigar a eficácia terapêutica de uma nova imunoterapia em um modelo animal de melanoma metastático. Visando atingir esses objetivos, padronizou-se a síntese e realizou-se o controle de qualidade do 9- [4-18F-fluoro-3-hidroximetil-butil) guanina, [18F] FHBG, considerado o padrão-ouro em estudos clínicos, para acompanhamento de terapia gênica por PET. Métodos: Sintetizou-se o [18F] FHBG, por substituição nucleofílica tipo 2 do precursor tosilato com [18F-] fluoreto de potássio /Kryptofix 2.2.2, seguido de desproteção com HCl 1 M e purificação por HPLC. A identidade química, pureza radioquímica e atividade específica do [18F] FHBG foram determinadas por Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência (CLAE). Introduziu-se o gene de timidina quinase (TK) com o vetor retroviral pCL-TK nas linhagens B16F10 (melanoma murino) e LLC (carcinoma de pulmão murino). Os estudos de captação in vitro dos radiotraçadores [18F] FHBG e [18F] FDG foram realizados nas linhagens celulares tumorais murinas transduzidas ou não com a proteína TK. Para os estudos in vivo, camundongos C57BL6 previamente inoculados intravenosamente com células de melanoma expressando a enzima TK, foram imageados subsequentemente utilizando os radiotraçadores [18F] FDG e [18F] FHBG. A eficácia da imunoterapia foi testada em modelo profilático e terapêutico animal de melanoma metastático. Resultados: O tempo de síntese total do [18F] FHBG variou entre 80-150 minutos. O rendimento radioquímico variou entre 1-4%, (n = 19) decaimento corrigido. A pureza radioquímica foi superior a 99% e a atividade específica variou entre 0,14GBq/μmoL-0,21GBq/μmoL. Com a introdução do gene timidina quinase (TK), obtiveram-se as linhagens repórter B16F10-TK e LLC-TK, para os estudos in vitro. As células B16F10 e LLC, expressando GFP foram utilizadas como linhagens controles. Estudos in vitro com o [18F] FHBG revelaram uma captação cerca de 4 vezes maior em células que expressam TK (B16-TK e LLC-TK) em comparação com as células controle GFP. O [18F] FDG apenas captou cerca de duas vezes mais em células TK do que em células que expressam GFP. A detecção de tumores em modelo animal de metástase pulmonar com o [18F] FDG ocorreu a partir de 15 dias do estabelecimento das lesões. No entanto, nos estudos in vivo com [18F] FHBG, houve captação apenas na região intestinal, durante as três semanas em que os animais foram acompanhados. A imunoterapia com células tratadas pela combinação de p19Arf e IFNβ, em camundongos C57BL6 com metástase pulmonar, conferiu redução do tamanho dos focos metastáticos aos animais tratados. Conclusões: Neste trabalho padronizou-se a síntese manual do [18F] FHBG, o qual foi avaliado em estudos in vitro e in vivo. Os estudos in vitro confirmaram a especificidade do [18F] FHBG no monitoramento da expressão de HSV1-tk em linhagens celulares. No entanto, o [18F] FHBG não se acumulou nas lesões metastáticas in vivo e estudos posteriores serão necessários para uma melhor caracterização utilizando o [18F] FHBG. O resultado do tratamento combinado de p19Arf e IFNβ foi promissor para o tratamento de lesões metastáticas. / Malignant melanoma is a type of cancer with a great risk of producing metastases and with high mortality rates resulting from late diagnosis and lack of effective treatments. Over the past few years, directed gene therapy for cancer and the development of methods to visualize molecular and cellular processes throughout therapy, have received special attention. In this context, our aim was to use the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) system, as a tool, for early detection of tumors and investigate the therapeutic efficacy of a new immunotherapy in an animal model of metastatic melanoma. To achieving these goals, the synthesis of [18F] FHBG, the gold standard in clinical studies for monitoring gene therapy by PET, was standardized and the quality control was performed. We also present the results of in vitro uptake and in vivo evaluation of [18F] FHBG, compared to [18F] FDG, the most commonly used radiopharmaceutical for diagnosis in oncology by PET. The vaccine was derived from transduced B16F10-TK cells with the adenoviral vectors AdRGDPGp19Arf and AdRGDPGIFNβ. Methods: [18F] FHBG was synthesized by type 2 nucleophilic radiofluorination of a tosylate precursor with [18F-] potassium fluoride / Kryptofix 2.2.2, followed by deprotection with 1N HCl and purification by HPLC. The chemical identity, radiochemical purity and specific activity of [18F] FHBG were determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The thymidine kinase (TK) gene was introduced with the pCL-TK retroviral vector into the B16F10 (murine melanoma) and LLC (murine lung carcinoma) lines. In vitro uptake studies of [18F] FHBG and [18F] FDG were performed on cell lines transduced or not with TK protein. For in vivo studies, C57BL6 mice, previously injected with HSV1tk expressing tumors, were subsequently imaged using the [18F] FDG and [18F] FHBG radiotracers. The efficacy of immunotherapy was tested in a prophylactic and therapeutic animal model of metastatic melanoma. Results: The total synthesis time of [18F] FHBG ranged from 80-150 min. The radiochemical yield ranged from 1-4%, (n = 19) corrected decay. Radiochemical purity was greater than 99% and the specific activity ranged from 0.14GBq / μmoL- 0.21GBq / μmoL. With the introduction of the thymidine kinase (TK) gene, the B16F10-TK and LLC-TK reporter lines were obtained for in vitro studies, B16F10 cells and LLC, expressing GFP, were used as controls. In vitro studies with [18F] FHBG revealed about 4-fold uptake in TK-expressing cells (B16-TK and LLC-TK) compared to GFP control cells. [18F] FDG binds only about twice as much in TK cells as in cells expressing GFP. The detection of tumors in an animal model of pulmonary metastasis with [18F] FDG occurred 15 days after lesion establishment. However, the in vivo studies with [18F] FHBG, the uptake was only found in the intestinal region, over the 3 weeks in which the mice were followed. Immunotherapy with cells treated by the combination of p19Arf and IFNβ, in C57BL6 mice with pulmonary metastasis, reduced the size of the metastatic foci in treated animals. Conclusions: In this study we demonstrate the standardization of [18F] FHBG synthesis and its use in in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro studies have confirmed the specificity of [18F] FHBG to monitor HSV1-tk expression in cell lines. However, [18F] FHBG did not accumulate in the metastatic lesions in vivo and further studies will be required for a better characterization using [18F] FHBG. The outcome of the combined treatment of p19Arf and IFNβ was promising for the treatment of metastatic lesions.