Cytogen's Quadramet for pain may increase effectiveness of radiation in osteosarcoma

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., April 5 - Cytogen Corp. said data from a preclinical study with Quadramet (samarium Sm-153 lexidronam injection) suggests that a novel method of administration of the product may increase local targeted exposure to the osteosarcoma tumor in a single limb and minimize systemic exposure to radioactivity.

The company presented the data in an abstract and in a poster "Targeted internal radiotherapy for osteosarcoma: Isolated limb perfusion using a bone seeking radiopharmaceutical (153Sm-EDTMP)," at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Quadramet is marketed for the relief of pain associated with cancer progression to bone in a variety of tumor types.

"Because it very specifically targets bone, Quadramet is ideally suited for treatment of a disease like osteosarcoma," said Pete Anderson, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center professor and one of the authors of the study, in a company news release.

"However, because osteosarcoma is sometimes relatively resistant to radiation, the large doses needed to control a tumor can be associated with bone marrow toxicity. This novel administration technique for Quadramet appears to facilitate delivery of large doses of radiation to the limb containing the primary tumor while largely sparing the rest of the body."

Cytogen said the data demonstrate that isolated limb perfusion can specifically target Quadramet to limbs of dogs with spontaneously occurring osteosarcomas. Isolated limb blood, peripheral blood and urine were then analyzed for radioactivity to determine gamma counts.

There was 14-fold more Quadramet in the isolated limb, with no damage to muscle or bone, as compared to the contralateral limb.

Osteogenic sarcoma (osteosarcoma) is the most common primary malignancy of the bone in the United States.

Cytogen is a biopharmaceutical company located in Princeton, N.J.

© 2015 Prospect News.
All content on this website is protected by copyright law in the U.S. and elsewhere. For the use of the person downloading only.
Redistribution and copying are prohibited by law without written permission in advance from Prospect News.
Redistribution or copying includes e-mailing, printing multiple copies or any other form of reproduction.