A Systems Approach for Tumor Pharmacokinetics

Recent advances in genome inspired target discovery, small molecule screens, development of biological and nanotechnology have led to the introduction of a myriad of new differently sized agents into the clinic. The differences in small and large molecule delivery are becoming increasingly important in combination therapies as well as the use of drugs that modify the physiology of tumors such as anti-angiogenic treatment. The complexity of targeting has led to the development of mathematical models to facilitate understanding, but unfortunately, these studies are often only applicable to a particular molecule, making pharmacokinetic comparisons difficult. Here we develop and describe a framework for categorizing primary pharmacokinetics of drugs in tumors. For modeling purposes, we define drugs not by their mechanism of action but rather their rate-limiting step of delivery. Our simulations account for variations in perfusion, vascularization, interstitial transport, and non-linear local binding and metabolism. Based on a comparison of the fundamental rates determining uptake, drugs were classified into four categories depending on whether uptake is limited by blood flow, extravasation, interstitial diffusion, or local binding and metabolism. Simulations comparing small molecule versus macromolecular drugs show a sharp difference in distribution, which has implications for multi-drug therapies. The tissue-level distribution differs widely in tumors for small molecules versus macromolecular biologic drugs, and this should be considered in the design of agents and treatments. An example using antibodies in mouse xenografts illustrates the different in vivo behavior. This type of transport analysis can be used to aid in model development, experimental data analysis, and imaging and therapeutic agent design.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant T32 CA079443

Влияние N(фосфонометил)-глицина на фосфолиполитическую реакцию с участием фосфолипазы А2

The effect of N(phosphonomethyl)-glycine (glyphosate), the active ingredient of the «Squall» herbicide in a wide range of concentrations (1-1000 |ig/ml) on phospholipolysis catalyzed by pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA2, 3.1.1.4), under the conditions similar to digestion in the duodenum (pH 8.0, temperature S, micellar form PC), has been studied. It has been shown that a rapid method based on the use of in vitro phospholipolytic reaction as a simple model of the process of destruction of food and phospholipids of cell membranes, is promising for preliminary evaluation of the pesticide safety to humans and animals.Изучено влияние N(фосфонометил)-глицина (глифосата) - действующего вещества гербицида «Шквал» в широком диапазоне концентраций (1-1000 мкг/мл) на фосфолиполитическую реакцию, катализируемую панкреатической фосфолипазой А2 (ФЛА2, КФ 3.1.1.4), в условиях, близких к пищеварению в двенадцатиперстной кишке (рН 8,0, температура 37 °С, мицеллярная форма ФХ). Двумя независимыми методами, характеризующими накопление продуктов фосфолиполиза - лизофосфатилилхолина (с использованием ТСХ) и жирной кислоты (с регистрацией под ее действием спектральных изменений MetHb), установлено разнонаправленное действие глифосата на активность ФЛА2: в присутствии безопасных для человека и животных доз (до 100 мкг/мл) - активация в 1,4 раза, а под действием запредельных доз (до 1000 мкг/мл) - ингибирвание до 20% остаточной активности. Ингибиторная активность глифосата в концентрации 0,5 мМ при ферментативном гидролизе ФХ в мицеллярной фазе характеризуется величиной Кi равной 24 мМ, а ингибирование носит конкурентный характер. Показано, что экспресс-метод на основе использования in vitro фосфолиполитической реакции в качестве простой модели процесса разрушения фосфолипи-дов пищи и клеточных мембран перспективен в целях предварительной оценки безопасности пестицидов для человека и животных

PKQuest: a general physiologically based pharmacokinetic model. Introduction and application to propranolol

BACKGROUND: A "physiologically based pharmacokinetic" (PBPK) approach uses a realistic model of the animal to describe the pharmacokinetics. Previous PBPKs have been designed for specific solutes, required specification of a large number of parameters and have not been designed for general use. METHODS: This new PBPK program (PKQuest) includes a "Standardhuman" and "Standardrat" data set so that the user input is minimized. It has a simple user interface, graphical output and many new features: 1) An option that uses the measured plasma concentrations to solve for the time course of the gastrointestinal, intramuscular, intraperotineal or skin absorption and systemic availability of a drug – for a general non-linear system. 2) Capillary permeability limitation defined in terms of the permeability-surface area products. 4) Saturable plasma and tissue protein binding. 5) A lung model that includes perfusion-ventilation mismatch. 6) A general optimization routine using either a global (simulated annealing) or local (Powell) minimization applicable to all model parameters. RESULTS: PKQuest was applied to measurements of human propranolol pharmacokinetics and intestinal absorption. A meal has two effects: 1) increases portal blood flow by 50%; and 2) decreases liver metabolism by 20%. There is a significant delay in the oval propranolol absorption in fasting subjects that is absent in fed subjects. The oral absorption of the long acting form of propranolol continues for a period of more than 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: PKQuest provides a new general purpose, easy to use, freely distributed and physiologically rigorous PBPK software routine

Haemodynamics and Oxygenation of the Tumor Microcirculation

Abnormalities of the tumor vasculature and their consequences on the microenvironment of tumor cells impact on tumor progression and response to both blood-borne anti-cancer agents and radio-therapy, as well as making tumor blood vessels a target for therapy in their own right. Intravital microscopy of experimental tumors, most commonly grown in ‘window’ chambers, such as the dorsal skin fold chamber in mice and rats, enables investigations of tumor microcirculatory function. This is needed both to understand the molecular control of tumor vascular function and to measure the response of the vasculature to treatment. In particular, intravital microscopy enables parameters associated with blood supply, vascular permeability and oxygenation to be estimated, at high spatial and temporal resolution. In this chapter, methods used for measuring a range of these parameters, specific examples of their applications, the significance of findings and some of the limitations of the techniques are described