Pharmacokinetics, lymph node uptake, and mechanistic PK model of near-infrared dye-labeled bevacizumab after IV and SC administration in mice

AAPS J. 2012 Jun;14(2):252-61. doi: 10.1208/s12248-012-9342-9. Epub 2012 Mar 6.

Abstract

Our objective was to determine the pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and lymph node uptake of the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab, labeled with the near-infrared (IR) dye 800CW, after intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) administration in mice. Fluorescence imaging and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assays were developed and validated to measure the concentration of bevacizumab in plasma. The bevacizumab-IRDye conjugate remained predominantly intact in plasma and in lymph node homogenate samples over a 24-h period, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and size exclusion chromatography. The plasma concentration vs. time plots obtained by fluorescence and ELISA measurements were similar; however, unlike ELISA, fluorescent imaging was only able to quantitate concentrations for 24 h after administration. At a low dose of 0.45 mg/kg, the plasma clearance of bevacizumab was 6.96 mL/h/kg after IV administration; this clearance is higher than that reported after higher doses. Half-lives of bevacizumab after SC and IV administration were 4.6 and 3.9 days, respectively. After SC administration, bevacizumab-IRDye800CW was present in the axillary lymph nodes that drain the SC site; lymph node uptake of bevacizumab-IRDye 800CW was negligible after IV administration. Bevacizumab exhibited complete bioavailability after SC administration. Using a compartmental pharmacokinetic model, the fraction absorbed through the lymphatics after SC administration was estimated to be about 1%. This is the first report evaluating the use of fluorescent imaging to determine the pharmacokinetics, lymphatic uptake, and bioavailability of a near-infrared dye-labeled antibody conjugate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacokinetics*
  • Bevacizumab
  • Fluorescent Dyes / administration & dosage*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / pharmacokinetics*
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Lymph Nodes / drug effects
  • Lymph Nodes / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological*
  • Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / methods

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Bevacizumab