Binding of 125I after administration of 125I-EGF-dextran, 125I-EGF or 125I to human bladder cancer spheroids.

Abstract

The binding of a targeting agent, 125I-EGF-dextran, to epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors in tumour spheroids of a human bladder cancer cell line was studied. The accumulation of radioactivity was continuous up to at least 48 h in the peripheral cells of the spheroids, which in comparison with the binding pattern of 125I-EGF indicated that the cells had a limited capacity to degrade the EGF-dextran. The 125I-EGF-dextran was of two different sizes, 28 and 76 kDa, but this did not affect the binding patterns and the results were very similar. The EGF-dextran conjugates had qualities that are of interest for tumour targeting.