For the treatment of cancer, Auger-electron emitting radionuclides are strongly dependent on their close proximity to DNA to utilize the local therapeutic potential of the Auger electrons. This thesis investigates a two-step targeting approach that uses targeting liposomes for the delivery of an Auger-electron emitter, 125I, coupled to a DNA-binding compound, Comp1, to the tumour-cell DNA. In the first step the liposome targets overexpressed cell-surface receptors. Receptors belonging to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family are overexpressed in a number of different cancers and are therefore suitable targets. The second step is transportation of the radionuclide to the cell nucleus utilizing a DNA-binding compound. The DNA-binder used in this thesis is a daunorubicin derivative called Comp1. Papers I and II are in vitro characterizations of the targeting liposomes. Both EGFR- and HER2-targeting liposomes delivered 125I-Comp1 receptor specifically to tumour cells, and were efficient in decreasing growth of cultured tumour cells. Paper II also included a biodistribution of 125I-Comp1 delivered by HER2-targeting liposomes in tumour-bearing mice. The results gave a time-dependent uptake in tumours differed from when non-targeting liposomes encapsulating 125I-Comp1 were given. Paper III investigates the therapeutic effect of 125I-Comp1 delivered by HER2-targeting liposomes, in an animal model that mimics a situation of disseminated tumour cells in the abdomen. 125I-Comp1 delivered by HER2-targeting liposomes effectively prolonged survival of the mice in a dose-dependent relation. Several mice in the groups receiving the highest doses were tumour-free at the end of the study. Paper IV compares different lipid compositions of the liposomes with respect to leakage, cellular uptake and therapeutic efficacy of delivered 125I-Comp1on cultured cells. Liposomes containing sphingomyelin or dihydrosphingomyelin retained drug more efficiently and exhibited more receptor specific delivery properties than distearoylglycerophosphatidylcholine (DSPC) containing liposomes. However, it was the DSPC-containing liposomes that displayed best growth inhibition on cultured tumour cells. The thesis concludes that 125I-Comp1 delivered by targeting liposomes is a promising candidate for effective radionuclide therapy.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-159365 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Fondell, Amelie |
| Publisher | Uppsala universitet, Enheten för biomedicinsk strålningsvetenskap, Uppsala : Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary, info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Relation | Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Medicine, 1651-6206 ; 708 |
Page generated in 0.002 seconds