111In-labeled trastuzumab-modified gold nanoparticles are cytotoxic in vitro to HER2-positive breast cancer cells and arrest tumor growth in vivo in athymic mice after intratumoral injection

Abstract

Introduction: Gold nanoparticles (AuNP; 30nm) were modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains linked to trastuzumab for binding to HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) cells and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) for complexing the Auger electron-emitter, ¹¹¹In (trastuzumab-AuNP-¹¹¹In). Our objective was to determine the cytotoxicity of trastuzumab-AuNP-¹¹¹In on HER2-positive BC cells in vitro and evaluate its tumor growth inhibition properties and normal tissue toxicity in vivo following intratumoral (i.t.) injection in mice with s.c. HER2-overexpressing BC xenografts.

Methods: Binding and internalization of trastuzumab-AuNP-¹¹¹In or non-targeted AuNP-¹¹¹In in SK-BR-3 (1-2×10⁶ HER2/cell) and MDA-MB-361 (5×10⁵ HER2/cell) human BC cells were studied. The surviving fraction (SF) of SK-BR-3 or MDA-MB-361 cells exposed to trastuzumab-AuNP-¹¹¹In or AuNP-¹¹¹In was determined. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) were assayed by probing for γ-H2AX. Tumor growth was monitored over 70days in CD1 athymic mice with s.c. MDA-MB-361 xenografts after i.t. injection of 10MBq (0.7mg; 2.6×10¹² AuNP) of trastuzumab-AuNP-¹¹¹In and normal tissue toxicity was assessed by monitoring body weight, complete blood cell (CBC) counts and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and creatinine (Cr).

Results: Trastuzumab-AuNP-¹¹¹In was specifically bound by SK-BR-3 and MDA-MB-361 cells. Trastuzumab-AuNP-¹¹¹In was more efficiently internalized than AuNP-¹¹¹In and localized to a peri-nuclear region. The SF fraction of SK-BR-3 cells was reduced by 1.8-fold by treatment with 3nM (7MBq/mL) of trastuzumab-AuNP-¹¹¹In. The SF of MDA-MB-361 cells was reduced by 3.7-fold at 14.4nM (33.6MBq/mL). In comparison, non-targeted AuNP-¹¹¹In at these concentrations reduced the SF of SK-BR-3 or MDA-MB-361 cells by 1.2-fold (P=0.03) and 1.7-fold (P<0.0001), respectively. DNA DSBs were greater in SK-BR-3 and MDA-MB-361 cells exposed to trastuzumab-AuNP-¹¹¹In compared to AuNP-¹¹¹In, but unlabeled trastuzumab-AuNP did not increase DNA DSBs. Local i.t. injection of trastuzumab-AuNP-¹¹¹In in CD1 athymic mice with s.c. MDA-MB-361 tumors arrested tumor growth for 70days. There was no apparent normal tissue toxicity. The radiation absorbed dose deposited in the tumor by trastuzumab-AuNP-¹¹¹In was 60.5Gy, while normal organs received <0.9Gy.

Conclusion: These results are promising for further development of trastuzumab-AuNP-¹¹¹In as a novel Auger electron-emitting radiation nanomedicine for local treatment of HER2-positive BC.

Advances in knowledge and implications for patient care: A local radiation treatment for HER2-positive BC based on AuNP modified with trastuzumab and labeled with the Auger electron-emitter, ¹¹¹In was developed and shown to arrest tumor growth with no normal tissue toxicity.

Keywords: Auger electrons; Breast cancer; Gold nanoparticles; HER2; Indium-111; Radiotherapy.