Background: Radioimmunotherapy of nude mice bearing human tumor xenografts using 90Y-labeled monoclonal antibodies has resulted in slower tumor growth, decreased tumor burden, and increased survival times. Dosimetry estimates in the murine model usually were based on biodistribution data and standard Medical Internal Radiation Dose approaches. A new dosimetric model for the mouse that takes into consideration the small dimensions, mass, and proximity of murine organs has been developed based on self-organ absorbed and cross-organ doses.
Methods: Nude mice bearing carcinoembryonic antigen-expressing WiDr human colon cancer xenografts were injected with 240 microCi 90Y-anti-carcinoembryonic-antigen monoclonal antibodies and then killed at 12, 24, 72, 120, and 168 hours. Tumors and major organs were removed, weighed, and counted on a gamma counter. Using the resulting biodistribution data, the radiation doses to tumor and normal organs were calculated using the new dosimetric model for the mouse.
Results: Three organs (the liver, kidneys, and large bowel) directly received > 50% of the total absorbed beta dose from radioactivity. Lungs, stomach, and marrow received the highest percentage (70-75%) of the total absorbed dose from adjacent organs. Tumor absorbed dose, estimated with the new dosimetric model, was three times less than that obtained with a MIRD-style calculation without correction for self-absorbed and cross-organ doses.
Conclusions: The new dosimetric model, which accounts more accurately for self-organ absorbed and cross-organ beta dose fraction, allows the calculation of tumor and organ doses in the murine model. Accurate estimation of radiation doses to tumor and critical organs, such as the marrow, spleen and kidneys, is important in determining the efficacy and toxicity of radioimmunotherapy regimens in animals and in subsequent human applications.