TY - GEN
T1 - Receptor-targeted Radionuclide Therapy of Glioblastoma
AU - Gammelsrød, Vigga Sand
PY - 2024/6/24
Y1 - 2024/6/24
N2 - Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive form of primary brain cancer and is associated with a high mortality rate, with median survival typically ranging from 12 to 15 months despite aggressive treatment strategies. The current standard therapy for glioblastoma involves maximal safe surgical resection followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy with Temozolomide, supplemented by adjuvant Temozolomide. However, the infiltrative nature of glioblastoma and its resistance to conventional therapies often lead to tumour recurrence and limited treatment options, highlighting the urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches.
This thesis focuses on the development and evaluation of new Auger electron targeting radiopharmaceuticals, with a specific emphasis on targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), both of which are overexpressed in glioblastoma. Auger electron therapy holds promise due to its ability to induce localized DNA damage, making it particularly suitable for targeting tumours with high precision while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. By harnessing the specificity of EGFR and NK1Roverexpression in glioblastoma, novel radiopharmaceuticals have been designed to selectively deliver Auger electron emitters to tumour cells. The ligands hEGF and SP4 are utilized for targeting EGFR and NK1R, respectively, whilecobalt-58m, a promising Auger electron emitter, is employed in this study. Together they create the receptor-targeting Auger electron-emitting radiopharmaceutical: [58mCo]CoDOTA-hEGF and [58mCo]Co-SP4. Cobalt-58m, in conjunction with its PET-isotope counterpart cobalt-55, forms a theranostic pair, enabling both therapy and imaging.
Through in vitro studies, the specificity and efficacy of EGFR and NK1R-targeted Auger electron therapy have been elucidated, providing valuable insights into their potential as therapeutic agents for glioblastoma. Moreover, in vivo experiments using relevant animal models have provided crucial data on pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and therapeutic efficacy, laying the groundwork for future clinical trials and underscoring the translational potential of Auger electron targeting radiopharmaceuticals in glioblastoma treatment.
Despite these advancements, challenges have arisen, such as difficulty in establishing a NK1R-positive model and the rapid degradation of SP4 in physiological conditions. Addressing these hurdles, novel cell models for NK1R-targeted therapy are proposed, along with investigations into inhibiting SP4 metabolism.
In conclusion, this thesis contributes to the growing body of knowledge in the field of targeted cancer therapy, offering novel insights and promising avenues for the development of effective treatments for glioblastoma.
AB - Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive form of primary brain cancer and is associated with a high mortality rate, with median survival typically ranging from 12 to 15 months despite aggressive treatment strategies. The current standard therapy for glioblastoma involves maximal safe surgical resection followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy with Temozolomide, supplemented by adjuvant Temozolomide. However, the infiltrative nature of glioblastoma and its resistance to conventional therapies often lead to tumour recurrence and limited treatment options, highlighting the urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches.
This thesis focuses on the development and evaluation of new Auger electron targeting radiopharmaceuticals, with a specific emphasis on targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), both of which are overexpressed in glioblastoma. Auger electron therapy holds promise due to its ability to induce localized DNA damage, making it particularly suitable for targeting tumours with high precision while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. By harnessing the specificity of EGFR and NK1Roverexpression in glioblastoma, novel radiopharmaceuticals have been designed to selectively deliver Auger electron emitters to tumour cells. The ligands hEGF and SP4 are utilized for targeting EGFR and NK1R, respectively, whilecobalt-58m, a promising Auger electron emitter, is employed in this study. Together they create the receptor-targeting Auger electron-emitting radiopharmaceutical: [58mCo]CoDOTA-hEGF and [58mCo]Co-SP4. Cobalt-58m, in conjunction with its PET-isotope counterpart cobalt-55, forms a theranostic pair, enabling both therapy and imaging.
Through in vitro studies, the specificity and efficacy of EGFR and NK1R-targeted Auger electron therapy have been elucidated, providing valuable insights into their potential as therapeutic agents for glioblastoma. Moreover, in vivo experiments using relevant animal models have provided crucial data on pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and therapeutic efficacy, laying the groundwork for future clinical trials and underscoring the translational potential of Auger electron targeting radiopharmaceuticals in glioblastoma treatment.
Despite these advancements, challenges have arisen, such as difficulty in establishing a NK1R-positive model and the rapid degradation of SP4 in physiological conditions. Addressing these hurdles, novel cell models for NK1R-targeted therapy are proposed, along with investigations into inhibiting SP4 metabolism.
In conclusion, this thesis contributes to the growing body of knowledge in the field of targeted cancer therapy, offering novel insights and promising avenues for the development of effective treatments for glioblastoma.
KW - Auger electron therapy
KW - Radiotherapy
KW - Cobalt
KW - EGFR
KW - NK1R
KW - Theranostics
U2 - 10.21996/b0d8-3d19
DO - 10.21996/b0d8-3d19
M3 - Ph.D. thesis
PB - Syddansk Universitet. Det Sundhedsvidenskabelige Fakultet
ER -