Cytotoxic and genotoxic effect of the [166Dy]Dy/166 Ho-EDTMP in vivo generator system in mice

Multiple myeloma and other hematological malignancies have been treated by myeloablative radiotherapy/chemotherapy and subsequent stem cell transplantation. [Dy-166]Dy/Ho-166-ethylenediaminetetramethylene phosphonate (EDTMP) forms a stable in vivo generator system with selective skeletal uptake in mice; therefore, it could work as a potential and improved agent for marrow ablation. Induced bone marrow cytotoxicity and genotoxicity are determined by the reduction of reticulocytes (RET) and elevation of micronucleated reticulocyte (MN-RET) in peripheral blood and ablation by bone marrow histological studies. The aim of this study was to determine the bone marrow cytotoxic and genotoxic effect of the [Dy-166]Dy/Ho-166-EDTMP in vivo generator system in mice and to evaluate by histopathology its myeloablative potential. Enriched (DY2O3)-D-166 was irradiated and [Dy-166]DyCl3 was added to EDTMP in phosphate buffer (pH 8.0) in a molar ratio of 1:1.75. QC was determined by TLC. Dy-EDTMP complex was prepared the same way with nonirradiated dysprosium oxide. A group of BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally injected with the radiopharrnaceutical and two groups of control animals were injected with the cold complex and with 0.9% sodium chloride, respectively. A blood sample was taken at the beginning of the experiments and every 48h for 12 days postinjection. The animals were sacrificed, organs of interest taken out and the radioactivity determined. The femur was used for histological studies. Flow cytometry analysis was used to quantity the frequency of RET and MN-RET in the blood samples. The MCNP4B Monte Carlo computer code was used for dosimetry calculations. Radiochemical purity was 99% and the mean specific activity was 1.3 MBq/mg. The RET and MN-RET frequency were statistically different in the treatment at the end of the 12-day period demonstrating cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by the in vivo generator system. The histology studies show that there was complete, or almost complete, acellularity, which means significant suppression of the bone marrow activity. Bone marrow absorbed dose was 18-23 Gy. [Dy-166]Dy/Ho-166-EDTMP induces cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and severe myelosuppression in mice. Potentially, it is a good agent for use in humans. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.