The Open Nuclear Medicine Journal

2011, 3 : 19-24
Published online 2011 October 7. DOI: 10.2174/1876388X01103010019
Publisher ID: TONMEDJ-3-19

I-Iododeoxyuridine for the Treatment of a Brain Tumor Model: Selection of Conditions for Optimal Effectiveness

Shirley Lehnert , Yongbiao Li , Ed Bump , Bill Riddoch , Abdellatif Chenite and Matthew Shive
Radiation Oncology, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada.

ABSTRACT

The intent of this study was to optimise conditions for the use of 125IUdR in the treatment of cancer. The radiopharmaceutical plus a biomodulator, methotrexate (MTX) was delivered by intra-tumoral injection of a thermosensitive hydrogel forming a slow release depot of 125IUdR and MTX in the tumor.

Methods:

The C6 rat glioblastoma was implanted intra-cranially. A chitosan polymer was used to formulate a biodegradable and biocompatible implant for controlled intra-tumoral delivery of 125IUdR plus MTX.

Results:

Intratumoral implant of hydrogel loaded with 7.0 -7.4 MBq of 125IUdR resulted in survival of 20% of treated animals to 180 days after tumor implant. Simultaneous delivery of MTX increased the number of rats that were effectively cured, to 40%.

Conclusion:

Using an injectable thermolabile hydrogel as vehicle for 125IUdR delivery a higher level of tumor control was achieved in a rat glioma model than had been previously reported.