Efficacy of Intracerebral Microinfusion of Trastuzumab in an Athymic Rat Model of Intracerebral Metastatic Breast Cancer

  • Peter M. Grossi
  • , Hidenobu Ochiai
  • , Gary E. Archer
  • , Roger E. McLendon
  • , Michael R. Zalutsky
  • , Allan H. Friedman
  • , Henry S. Friedman
  • , Darell D. Bigner
  • , John H. Sampson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: The monoclonal antibody (MAb) trastuzumab (Herceptin) effectively treats HER2-overexpressing extracerebral breast neoplasms. Delivery of such macromolecule therapeutic agents to intracerebral metastases, however, is limited by the tight junctions characteristic of the cerebral vasculature. Direct intracerebral microinfusion (ICM) is a technique that bypasses this blood-brain barrier and allows for a greater delivery of drugs directly into intracerebral tumors. Experimental Design: A human breast cancer cell line transfected to overexpress HER2, MCF-7/HER2-18, was transplanted into the cerebrum of athymic rats. Saline, trastuzumab, or an isotype-matched control MAb was delivered systemically or by ICM to assess toxicity and efficacy. Results: No clinical or histological toxicity related to trastuzumab was evident under any of the conditions studied. Delivery of trastuzumab (2 mg/kg) i.p. led to a median survival of 26.5 days, whereas treatment with trastuzumab (2 mg/kg) by ICM increased the median survival by 96% to 52 days, with two of nine rats surviving > 120 days (P = 0.009). Treatment with an isotype-matched control MAb (16 mg/kg) resulted in a median survival of 21 days, which did not differ significantly from the survival of rats treated by ICM with saline (16 days; P = 0.42). Treatment by ICM with trastuzumab (16 mg/kg) led to a median survival of 45 days, with 2 of 10 rats surviving >120 days. These results represent 181% and 114% increases in median survival over the saline and MAb controls, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusion: ICM of trastuzumab is safe and superior to systemic delivery as therapy for HER2-overexpressing intracerebral neoplasms in an athymic rat model.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5514-5520
Number of pages7
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume9
Issue number15
StatePublished - 15 Nov 2003
Externally publishedYes

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