Sodium-iodine Symporter Gene Expression Controlled by the EGR-1 Promoter: Biodistribution, Imaging and in vitro Radionuclide Therapy with Na131I

The objective of this study is to explore the feasibility of radioiodine treatment for cervical cancer using the early growth response (Egr-1) promoter to control sodium-iodine symporter (hNIS) gene expression. The hNIS gene was previously transfected into Hela cells under the control of either the cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Egr-1 promoters. (NaI)-I-125 uptake was measured in the presence or absence of NaClO4. (NaI)-I-125 efflux was measured. The effects of external beam radiation on iodine uptake and retention were studied. The cytotoxic effects of I-131 were measured by clonogenic assay. The (NaI)-I-125 biodistribution was obtained using mice bearing control and transfected cells. The % ID/g of tumor and major organs were obtained for a range of times up to 48 hours post injection and the ratio of tumor to non-tumor activity (T/NT) was calculated. Tumors were imaged with (NaI)-I-131 and (TcO4-)-Tc-99m, and the ratio of tumor to background activity (T/B) was calculated. (NaI)-I-125 uptake in Hela cells was minimal in the absence of hNIS. Uptake in the transfected cells was strong, and could be blocked by NaClO4. The iodine uptake of Hela-Egr-1-hNIS cells increased after the irradiation, and the magnitude of this effect approximately matched the radiation dose delivered. The efflux of I-125 was affected by neither the promoter sequence nor pre-irradiation. 131I reduced the clonogenic survival of symporter expressing cells, relative to the parental line. The effect was greatest in cells where hNIS was driven by the CMV promoter. Tumors formed from Hela-Egr-1-hNIS concentrated (NaI)-I-125 over a 12 hour period, in contrast to untransfected cells. These tumors could also be successfully imaged using either (NaI)-I-131 or (TcO4-)-Tc-99m. I-131 uptake peaked at 4h, while (TcO4-)-Tc-99m accumulated over approximately 20 hours. In vivo uptake of I-131 and (TcO4-)-Tc-99m was slightly higher in cells transfected with the Egr-1 promoter, compared to CMV. Hela-Egr-1-hNIS cells demonstrate highly enhanced iodine uptake, and this effect is further augmented by radiation, creating a positive feedback loop which may bolster -radionuclide therapy in vivo.