Evaluation of the radiosensitizing effects of RK28 intravenous, intraarterial, and intratumoral injections on the rabbit VX2 tumor system

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the differences in the radiosensitizing effects of itnravenous (i.v.) injection, intraarterial (i.a.) injection, and intratumoral (i.t.) injections of the hypoxic cell radiosensitizer RK28 ([1-[4′-hydroxy-2′-butenoxy)methyl-2-nitroimidazole, 1 2-nitroimidazole with an acyclic sugar analogue substituted at the N-1 position of the imidazole ring) using an animal experimental syste.Methods and Materials: Rabbit VX2 tumors, which were implanted in the muscle of left hind legs and grown to 3 cm in diameter, were treated with RK28 (80 mg/kg·b.wt) before 15 Gy of local x-ray irradiation. The auricular vein and the left saphenous artery were used for systemic injection and regional injection, respectively. For i.t. injection, a 21-gauge needle with three lateral holes was positioned in the central area of the tumor. Tumor regression was precisely evaluated by computed tomography (CT), and survival time was also studied. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), pharmacokinetic studies for RK28 and its seven major metabolites were performed in tumor and serum at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min after drug injection was completed.Results: Radiosensitizing effects of RK28 were considered present after i.a. injection (p < 0.05) and i.t. injection (p < 0.05) after analyzing tumor volumes on day 21 after treatment. Increased survival was not observed in any group with RK28 injection compared with survival in the group treated by x-ray irradiation alone. Pharmacokinetic studies showed the average concentration of RK28 in the tumor during x-ray irradiation was 1.3 times higher after i.a. injection and 3.5 times higher after i.t. injection than that after i.v. injection. The time modifying factor50 (TMF50:ratio of time for tumor to decrease by 50%, radiation alone vs. radiation plus drug) was calculated to be 1.5 after i.v. injection, 1.7 after i.a. injection, and 2.3 after i.t. injection. The values of TMF50 correlated to the average concentrations of RK28 in the tumor. As to metabolites of RK28, β-glucoronated compound and cysteine conjugate were highly detected. The concentrations of cysteine conjugate were higher in the tumor than in serum via i.v. injection.Conclusions: Radiosensitizing effects of RK28 were observed on the rabbit VX-2 tumor system after i.a. or i.t. injection. Pharmacokinetic studies proved that radiosensitizing effects depended on the concentration in the tumor, though the administration routes were different. Combined forms with nonprotein thiols were detected. However, survival benefits were not obtained by RK28. For clinical applications of RK28, i.a. or i.t. injection could facilitate better local of cancer.