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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
An Orthotopic Bladder Cancer Model for Gene Delivery Studies
Published on: December 1, 2013
Intravesical administration of EGF- dextran conjugates in patients with superficial bladder cancer
P Bue1, A R Holmberg, M Márquez
1Department of Urology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Objectives:
Overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been reported in bladder cancer and is a potential target for therapy with radionuclides. In this study, we investigated the binding of EGF-dextran-(99m)Tc to the EGFR. The aim of this study was to determine if intravesically administered EGF-dextran conjungate selectively accumulated in the tumor tissue and to correlate the uptake to tumor characteristics.
Methods:
Eight patients received the conjugate intravesically for about 30 min followed by bladder irrigation and then transurethral resection. Radioactivity of the biopsy specimens from normal urothelium and tumor areas was measured in a gamma counter.
Results:
Five patients received EGF-dextran-(99m)Tc, three received dextran-(99m)Tc and one received only (99m)Tc. The 5 patients who received the complete conjugate had a mean ratio of radioactivity between tumor and normal urothelium of 664:1 (range: 2.4-1,710). The dextran-(99m)Tc showed a slightly increased ratio and (99m)Tc did not bind at all.
Conclusion:
The results are encouraging and further studies are warranted to investigate if EGF-dextran could be effective as intravesical therapy, either conjugated with cystostatic drugs or labeled with suitable radionuclides.
Insights
Intravesical administration of EGF-dextran-(99m)Tc shows selective accumulation in bladder tumors. This targeted delivery suggests potential for novel intravesical radionuclide therapy in bladder cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Bioconjugation
Background:
- Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in bladder cancer, presenting a therapeutic target.
- Radionuclide-based therapies offer potential for targeted cancer treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the selective tumor accumulation of intravesically administered EGF-dextran-(99m)Tc in bladder cancer patients.
- To correlate the uptake of the conjugate with specific tumor characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Eight patients received intravesical EGF-dextran-(99m)Tc, followed by bladder irrigation and transurethral resection.
- Radioactivity in biopsy specimens from normal urothelium and tumor tissue was quantified using a gamma counter.
Main Results:
- Patients receiving EGF-dextran-(99m)Tc demonstrated a mean tumor-to-normal urothelium radioactivity ratio of 664:1.
- Control groups (dextran-(99m)Tc and (99m)Tc alone) showed significantly lower or no specific binding.
Conclusions:
- EGF-dextran-(99m)Tc exhibits selective accumulation in bladder tumor tissue.
- These findings support further investigation into EGF-dextran conjugates for intravesical bladder cancer therapy, potentially with cytotoxic drugs or therapeutic radionuclides.
