Aims: Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is in clinical use today to treat metastatic neuroendocrine tumors. Infused, radiolabeled, somatostatin analog peptides target tumors that are killed by irradiation damage. The peptides, however, are also retained in kidneys due to glomerular filtration, and the administered doses must be limited to avoid kidney damage. The human radical scavenger and antioxidant, α1-microglobulin (A1M), has previously been shown to protect bystander tissue against irradiation damage and has pharmacokinetic and biodistribution properties similar to somatostatin analogs. In this study, we have investigated if A1M can be used as a renal protective agent in PRRT.
Results: We describe nephroprotective effects of human recombinant A1M on the short- and long-term renal damage observed following lutetium 177 (177Lu)-DOTATATE (150 MBq) exposure in BALB/c mice. After 1, 4, and 8 days (short term), 177Lu-DOTATATE injections resulted in increased formation of DNA double-strand breaks in the renal cortex, upregulated expression of apoptosis and stress response-related genes, and proteinuria (albumin in urine), all of which were significantly suppressed by coadministration of A1M (7 mg/kg). After 6, 12, and 24 weeks (long term), 177Lu-DOTATATE injections resulted in increased animal death, kidney lesions, glomerular loss, upregulation of stress genes, proteinuria, and plasma markers of reduced kidney function, all of which were suppressed by coadministration of A1M. Innovation and Conclusion: This study demonstrates that A1M effectively inhibits radiation-induced renal damage. The findings suggest that A1M may be used as a radioprotector during clinical PRRT, potentially facilitating improved tumor control and enabling more patients to receive treatment.
Keywords: Lu-DOTATATE; PRRT; cancer; radionuclide therapy; renal protection; α-microglobulin.