Accelerator mass spectrometry in biomedical dosimetry: relationship between low-level exposure and covalent binding of heterocyclic amine carcinogens to DNA

Food-Borne Chemical Carcinogens and the Evidence for Human Cancer Risk

Commonly consumed foods and beverages can contain chemicals with reported carcinogenic activity in rodent models. Moreover, exposures to some of these substances have been associated with increased cancer risks in humans. Food-borne carcinogens span a range of chemical classes and can arise from natural or anthropogenic sources, as well as form endogenously. Important considerations include the mechanism(s) of action (MoA), their relevance to human biology, and the level of exposure in diet. The MoAs of carcinogens have been classified as either DNA-reactive (genotoxic), involving covalent reaction with nuclear DNA, or epigenetic, involving molecular and cellular effects other than DNA reactivity. Carcinogens are generally present in food at low levels, resulting in low daily intakes, although there are some exceptions. Carcinogens of the DNA-reactive type produce effects at lower dosages than epigenetic carcinogens. Several food-related DNA-reactive carcinogens, including aflatoxins, aristolochic acid, benzene, benzo[a]pyrene and ethylene oxide, are recognized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as causes of human cancer. Of the epigenetic type, the only carcinogen considered to be associated with increased cancer in humans, although not from low-level food exposure, is dioxin (TCDD). Thus, DNA-reactive carcinogens in food represent a much greater risk than epigenetic carcinogens.

In Utero Exposure to 3,3',4,4', 5-Pentachlorobiphenyl Dose-Dependently Induces N-butyl-4-(hydroxybutyl) Nitrosamine in Rats With Urinary Bladder Carcinoma

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are fat-soluble environmental pollutants that can accumulate in adipose tissue or be secreted in milk. N-butyl-4-(hydroxy butyl) (BBN), a rat bladder carcinogen, recruits the host metabolism to yield its ultimate carcinogenic form via CYP1s. Since estrogen receptors (ERs) mediate biological responses important for the growth of bladder carcinoma, we investigated PCNA, Cyclin D1, ERs, CYP1s, and AhR expression in BBN rat bladder carcinomas with prenatal PCB exposure. Female SD rats were treated with 7.5 μg, 250 ng, and 2.5 ng of 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126)/kg or vehicle on days 13 to 19 post-pregnancy. Six-week-old male offspring were treated with 0.05% BBN for 10 weeks before being anesthetized and the urinary bladder wall incised to expose the bladder carcinomas. N-butyl-4-(hydroxybutyl) bladder carcinoma incidence increased with prenatal PCB exposure dose-dependently. In bladder carcinoma, PCB126 exposure significantly increased PCNA, D1, ERα, CYPIA1, CYP1B1, and AhR expression dose-dependently, and increased ERα expression was particularly prominent. However, the expression of ERβ was low, independent of the volume of PCB126 given, indicating similarity to the Vehicle group. We conclude that prenatal PCB126 exposure in rats can induce PCB126 to dose-dependently metabolize BBN via CYP1A1, and contribute to bladder carcinogenesis with upregulation of ERα expression.

Multiplexed nanomaterial-assisted laser desorption/ionization for pan-cancer diagnosis and classification

As cancer is increasingly considered a metabolic disorder, it is postulated that serum metabolite profiling can be a viable approach for detecting the presence of cancer. By multiplexing mass spectrometry fingerprints from two independent nanostructured matrixes through machine learning for highly sensitive detection and high throughput analysis, we report a laser desorption/ionization (LDI) mass spectrometry-based liquid biopsy for pan-cancer screening and classification. The Multiplexed Nanomaterial-Assisted LDI for Cancer Identification (MNALCI) is applied in 1,183 individuals that include 233 healthy controls and 950 patients with liver, lung, pancreatic, colorectal, gastric, thyroid cancers from two independent cohorts. MNALCI demonstrates 93% sensitivity at 91% specificity for distinguishing cancers from healthy controls in the internal validation cohort, and 84% sensitivity at 84% specificity in the external validation cohort, with up to eight metabolite biomarkers identified. In addition, across those six different cancers, the overall accuracy for identifying the tumor tissue of origin is 92% in the internal validation cohort and 85% in the external validation cohort. The excellent accuracy and minimum sample consumption make the high throughput assay a promising solution for non-invasive cancer diagnosis.

As cancer is increasingly considered a metabolic disorder, it is postulated that serum metabolite profiling can be a viable approach for detecting the presence of cancer. Here, the authors report a machine learning model using mass spectrometry-based liquid biopsy data for pan-cancer screening and classification.

Metabolism and biomarkers of heterocyclic aromatic amines in humans

Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) form during the high-temperature cooking of meats, poultry, and fish. Some HAAs also arise during the combustion of tobacco. HAAs are multisite carcinogens in rodents, inducing cancer of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, mammary, and prostate glands. HAAs undergo metabolic activation by N-hydroxylation of the exocyclic amine groups to produce the proposed reactive intermediate, the heteroaryl nitrenium ion, which is the critical metabolite implicated in DNA damage and genotoxicity. Humans efficiently convert HAAs to these reactive intermediates, resulting in HAA protein and DNA adduct formation. Some epidemiologic studies have reported an association between frequent consumption of well-done cooked meats and elevated cancer risk of the colorectum, pancreas, and prostate. However, other studies have reported no associations between cooked meat and these cancer sites. A significant limitation in epidemiology studies assessing the role of HAAs and cooked meat in cancer risk is their reliance on food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) to gauge HAA exposure. FFQs are problematic because of limitations in self-reported dietary history accuracy, and estimating HAA intake formed in cooked meats at the parts-per-billion level is challenging. There is a critical need to establish long-lived biomarkers of HAAs for implementation in molecular epidemiology studies designed to assess the role of HAAs in health risk. This review article highlights the mechanisms of HAA formation, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, the metabolism of several prominent HAAs, and the impact of critical xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes on biological effects. The analytical approaches that have successfully biomonitored HAAs and their biomarkers for molecular epidemiology studies are presented.

Quantification of azacitidine incorporation into human DNA/RNA by accelerator mass spectrometry as direct measure of target engagement

We report an accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) assay to quantify azacitidine (Aza) incorporation into DNA and RNA from human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, mouse bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Aza, a cytidine nucleoside analogue, is a disease modifying pharmacological agent used for treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and AML. Our assay was able to directly quantify the complex of Aza incorporated into DNA/RNA, via isolation of DNA/RNA from matrix (i.e., cancer cells, BM and PBMC) and subsequent measurement of total radioactivity (i.e., ¹⁴C-Aza) by using AMS. The sensitivity of the method was able to quantify as little as a single Aza molecule incorporated into DNA with approximately 2 × 10⁷ nucleotides from PBMCs. An in vivo mouse model was used for establishing the lower limits of quantification (LLOQs) for Aza incorporated into DNA/RNA in mouse PBMCs (∼ 3.7 × 10⁵) and BM (∼27.8 mg) collected 24 h post-dose after total exposure of 18 nCi/mouse (Aza 1 mg/kg). The LLOQs for PBMC analysis were 2.5 picogram equivalents per microgram (pgEq/μg) DNA and 0.22 pgEq/μg RNA, and for BM analysis were 1.7 pgEq/μg DNA and 0.22 pgEq/μg RNA. A linear relationship (i.e., ∼10-fold) was established of radioactive dose from ¹⁴C-Aza 17 nCi/mouse to 188 nCi/mouse and AMS response (i.e., ¹⁴C/¹²C ratio ranging from 2.45 × 10^-11 to 2.50 × 10^-10), as Aza was incorporated into DNA in mouse BM. The current method enables the direct measurement of Aza incorporation into DNA and RNA from patient PBMCs and BM to provide dosing optimization, and to assess target engagement with as little as ∼5 mL whole blood and ∼3 mL of BM from patients.

Human ADME for YH12852 using wavelength scanning cavity ring-down spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) after a low radioactivity dose

Aim: Human ¹⁴C radiotracer studies provide information-rich data sets that enable informed decision making in clinical drug development. These studies are supported by liquid scintillation counting after conventional-sized ¹⁴C doses (50-200 μCi) or complex accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) after microtracer-sized doses (∼0.1-1 μCi). Mid-infrared laser-based 'cavity ring-down spectroscopy' (CRDS) is an emerging platform for the sensitive quantitation of ¹⁴C tracers. Results & methodology: We compared the total ¹⁴C concentrations in plasma and urine samples from a microtracer study using both CRDS and AMS technology. The data were evaluated using statistical and pharmacokinetic modeling. Conclusion: The CRDS method closely reproduced the AMS method for total ¹⁴C concentrations. With optimization of the automated sample interface and further testing, it promises to be an accessible, robust system for pivotal microtracer investigations.

DNA Adduct-Directed Synthetic Nucleosides

Chemical damage to DNA is a key initiator of adverse biological consequences due to disruption of the faithful reading of the genetic code. For example, O⁶-alkylguanine ( O⁶-alkylG) DNA adducts are strongly miscoding during DNA replication when the damaged nucleobase is a template for polymerase-mediated translesion DNA synthesis. Thus, mutations derived from O⁶-alkylG adducts can have severe adverse effects on protein translation and function and are an early event in the initiation of carcinogenesis. However, the low abundance of these adducts places significant limitations on our ability to relate their presence and biological influences with resultant mutations or disease risk. As a consequence, there is a critical need for novel tools to detect and study the biological role of alkylation adducts. Incorporating DNA bases with altered structures that are derived synthetically is a strategy that has been used widely to interrogate biological processes involving DNA. Such synthetic nucleosides have contributed to our understanding of DNA structure, DNA polymerase (Pol) and repair enzyme function, and to the expansion of the genetic alphabet. This Account describes our efforts toward creating and applying synthetic nucleosides directed at DNA adducts. We synthesized a variety of nucleosides with altered base structures that complement the altered hydrogen bonding capacity and hydrophilicity of O⁶-alkylG adducts. The heterocyclic perimidinone-derived nucleoside Per was the first of such adduct-directed synthetic nucleosides; it specifically stabilized O⁶-benzylguanine ( O⁶-BnG) in a DNA duplex. Structural variants of Per were used to determine hydrogen bonding and base-stacking contributions to DNA duplex stability in templates containing O⁶-BnG as well as O⁶-methylguanine ( O⁶-MeG) adducts. We created synthetic probes able to stabilize damaged over undamaged templates and established how altered hydrogen bonding or base-stacking properties impact DNA duplex stability as a function of adduct structures. This knowledge was then applied to devise a hybridization-based detection strategy involving gold nanoparticles that distinguish damaged from undamaged DNA by colorimetric changes. Furthermore, synthetic nucleosides were used as mechanistic tools to understand chemical determinants such as hydrogen bonding, π-stacking, and size and shape deviations that impact the efficiency and fidelity of DNA adduct bypass by DNA Pols. Finally, we reported the first example of amplifying alkylated DNA, accomplished by combining an engineered polymerase and synthetic triphosphate for which incorporation is templated by a DNA adduct. The presence of the synthetic nucleoside in amplicons could serve as a marker for the presence and location of DNA damage at low levels in DNA strands. Adduct-directed synthetic nucleosides have opened new concepts to interrogate the levels, locations, and biological influences of DNA alkylation.

Phase 0, including microdosing approaches: Applying the Three Rs and increasing the efficiency of human drug development

Phase 0 approaches, including microdosing, involve the use of sub-therapeutic exposures to the tested drugs, thus enabling safer, more-relevant, quicker and cheaper first-in-human (FIH) testing. These approaches also have considerable potential to limit the use of animals in human drug development. Recent years have witnessed progress in applications, methodology, operations, and drug development culture. Advances in applications saw an expansion in therapeutic areas, developmental scenarios and scientific objectives, in, for example, protein drug development and paediatric drug development. In the operational area, the increased sensitivity of Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), expansion of the utility of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging, and the introduction of Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS), have led to the increased accessibility and utility of Phase 0 approaches, while reducing costs and exposure to radioactivity. PET has extended the application of microdosing, from its use as a predominant tool to record pharmacokinetics, to a method for recording target expression and target engagement, as well as cellular and tissue responses. Advances in methodology include adaptive Phase 0/Phase 1 designs, cassette and cocktail microdosing, and Intra-Target Microdosing (ITM), as well as novel modelling opportunities and simulations. Importantly, these methodologies increase the predictive power of extrapolation from microdose to therapeutic level exposures. However, possibly the most challenging domain in which progress has been made, is the culture of drug development. One of the main potential values of Phase 0 approaches is the opportunity to terminate development early, thus not only applying the principle of 'kill-early-kill-cheap' to enhance the efficiency of drug development, but also obviating the need for the full package of animal testing required for therapeutic level Phase 1 studies. Finally, we list developmental scenarios that utilised Phase 0 approaches in novel drug development.

Dietary Carcinogens and DNA Adducts in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most commonly diagnosed non-cutaneous cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related to death in men. The major risk factors for PC are age, family history, and African American ethnicity. Epidemiological studies have reported large geographical variations in PC incidence and mortality, and thus lifestyle and dietary factors influence PC risk. High fat diet, dairy products, alcohol and red meats, are considered as risk factors for PC. This book chapter provides a comprehensive, literature-based review on dietary factors and their molecular mechanisms of prostate carcinogenesis. A large portion of our knowledge is based on epidemiological studies where dietary factors such as cancer promoting agents, including high-fat, dairy products, alcohol, and cancer-initiating genotoxicants formed in cooked meats have been evaluated for PC risk. However, the precise mechanisms in the etiology of PC development remain uncertain. Additional animal and human cell-based studies are required to further our understandings of risk factors involved in PC etiology. Specific biomarkers of chemical exposures and DNA damage in the prostate can provide evidence of cancer-causing agents in the prostate. Collectively, these studies can improve public health research, nutritional education and chemoprevention strategies.

Impact of DNA repair on the dose-response of colorectal cancer formation induced by dietary carcinogens

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers, which is causally linked to dietary habits, notably the intake of processed and red meat. Processed and red meat contain dietary carcinogens, including heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs) and N-nitroso compounds (NOC). NOC are agents that induce various N-methylated DNA adducts and O⁶-methylguanine (O⁶-MeG), which are removed by base excision repair (BER) and O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), respectively. HCAs such as the highly mutagenic 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) cause bulky DNA adducts, which are removed from DNA by nucleotide excision repair (NER). Both O⁶-MeG and HCA-induced DNA adducts are linked to the occurrence of KRAS and APC mutations in colorectal tumors of rodents and humans, thereby driving CRC initiation and progression. In this review, we focus on DNA repair pathways removing DNA lesions induced by NOC and HCA and assess their role in protecting against mutagenicity and carcinogenicity in the large intestine. We further discuss the impact of DNA repair on the dose-response relationship in colorectal carcinogenesis in view of recent studies, demonstrating the existence of 'no effect' point of departures (PoDs), i.e. thresholds for genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. The available data support the threshold concept for NOC with DNA repair being causally involved.

Quantifying Carbon-14 for Biology Using Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy

A cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) instrument was developed using mature, robust hardware for the measurement of carbon-14 in biological studies. The system was characterized using carbon-14 elevated glucose samples and returned a linear response up to 387 times contemporary carbon-14 concentrations. Carbon-14 free and contemporary carbon-14 samples with varying carbon-13 concentrations were used to assess the method detection limit of approximately one-third contemporary carbon-14 levels. Sources of inaccuracies are presented and discussed, and the capability to measure carbon-14 in biological samples is demonstrated by comparing pharmacokinetics from carbon-14 dosed guinea pigs analyzed by both CRDS and accelerator mass spectrometry. The CRDS approach presented affords easy access to powerful carbon-14 tracer techniques that can characterize complex biochemical systems.

Disposition of the Dietary Mutagen 2-Amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline in Healthy and Pancreatic Cancer Compromised Humans

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Once diagnosed, prognosis is poor with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. Exposure to carcinogenic heterocyclic amines (HCAs) derived from cooked meat has been shown to be positively associated with pancreatic cancer risk. To evaluate the processes that determine the carcinogenic potential of HCAs for human pancreas, 14-carbon labeled 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), a putative human carcinogenic HCA found in well-done cooked meat, was administered at a dietary relevant dose to human volunteers diagnosed with pancreatic cancer undergoing partial pancreatectomy and healthy control volunteers. After (14)C-MeIQx exposure, blood and urine were collected for pharmacokinetic and metabolite analysis. MeIQx-DNA adducts levels were quantified by accelerator mass spectrometry from pancreatic tissue excised during surgery from the cancer patient group. Pharmacokinetic analysis of plasma revealed a rapid distribution of MeIQx with a plasma elimination half-life of approximately 3.5 h in 50% of the cancer patients and all of the control volunteers. In 2 of the 4 cancer patients, very low levels of MeIQx were detected in plasma and urine suggesting low absorption from the gut into the plasma. Urinary metabolite analysis revealed five MeIQx metabolites with 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline-8-carboxylic acid being the most abundant accounting for 25%-50% of the recovered 14-carbon/mL urine. There was no discernible difference in metabolite levels between the cancer patient volunteers and the control group. MeIQx-DNA adduct analysis of pancreas and duodenum tissue revealed adduct levels indistinguishable from background levels. Although other meat-derived HCA mutagens have been shown to bind DNA in pancreatic tissue, indicating that exposure to HCAs from cooked meat cannot be discounted as a risk factor for pancreatic cancer, the results from this current study show that exposure to a single dietary dose of MeIQx does not readily form measurable DNA adducts under the conditions of the experiment.

Opportunities in low-level radiocarbon microtracing: applications and new technology

¹⁴C-radiolabeled (radiocarbon) drug studies are central to defining the disposition of therapeutics in clinical development. Concerns over radiation, however, have dissuaded investigators from conducting these studies as often as their utility may merit. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), originally designed for carbon dating and geochronology, has changed the outlook for in-human radiolabeled testing. The high sensitivity of AMS affords human clinical testing with vastly reduced radiative (microtracing) and chemical exposures (microdosing). Early iterations of AMS were unsuitable for routine biomedical use due to the instruments' large size and associated per sample costs. The situation is changing with advances in the core and peripheral instrumentation. We review the important milestones in applied AMS research and recent advances in the core technology platform. We also look ahead to an entirely new class of ¹⁴C detection systems that use lasers to measure carbon dioxide in small gas cells.

The adverse outcome pathway for rodent liver tumor promotion by sustained activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor

An Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) represents the existing knowledge of a biological pathway leading from initial molecular interactions of a toxicant and progressing through a series of key events (KEs), culminating with an apical adverse outcome (AO) that has to be of regulatory relevance. An AOP based on the mode of action (MOA) of rodent liver tumor promotion by dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) has been developed and the weight of evidence (WoE) of key event relationships (KERs) evaluated using evolved Bradford Hill considerations. Dioxins and DLCs are potent aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligands that cause a range of species-specific adverse outcomes. The occurrence of KEs is necessary for inducing downstream biological responses and KEs may occur at the molecular, cellular, tissue and organ levels. The common convention is that an AOP begins with the toxicant interaction with a biological response element; for this AOP, this initial event is binding of a DLC ligand to the AHR. Data from mechanistic studies, lifetime bioassays and approximately thirty initiation-promotion studies have established dioxin and DLCs as rat liver tumor promoters. Such studies clearly show that sustained AHR activation, weeks or months in duration, is necessary to induce rodent liver tumor promotion--hence, sustained AHR activation is deemed the molecular initiating event (MIE). After this MIE, subsequent KEs are 1) changes in cellular growth homeostasis likely associated with expression changes in a number of genes and observed as development of hepatic foci and decreases in apoptosis within foci; 2) extensive liver toxicity observed as the constellation of effects called toxic hepatopathy; 3) cellular proliferation and hyperplasia in several hepatic cell types. This progression of KEs culminates in the AO, the development of hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas and cholangiolar carcinomas. A rich data set provides both qualitative and quantitative knowledge of the progression of this AOP through KEs and the KERs. Thus, the WoE for this AOP is judged to be strong. Species-specific effects of dioxins and DLCs are well known--humans are less responsive than rodents and rodent species differ in sensitivity between strains. Consequently, application of this AOP to evaluate potential human health risks must take these differences into account.

Specific incorporation of an artificial nucleotide opposite a mutagenic DNA adduct by a DNA polymerase

The ability to detect DNA modification sites at single base resolution could significantly advance studies regarding DNA adduct levels, which are extremely difficult to determine. Artificial nucleotides that are specifically incorporated opposite a modified DNA site offer a potential strategy for detection of such sites by DNA polymerase-based systems. Here we investigate the action of newly synthesized base-modified benzimidazole-derived 2'-deoxynucleoside-5'-O-triphosphates on DNA polymerases when performing translesion DNA synthesis past the pro-mutagenic DNA adduct O(6)-benzylguanine (O(6)-BnG). We found that a mutated form of KlenTaq DNA polymerase, i.e., KTqM747K, catalyzed O(6)-BnG adduct-specific processing of the artificial BenziTP in favor of the natural dNTPs. Steady-state kinetic parameters revealed that KTqM747K catalysis of BenziTP is 25-fold more efficient for template O(6)-BnG than G, and 5-fold more efficient than natural dTMP misincorporation in adduct bypass. Furthermore, the nucleotide analogue BenziTP is required for full-length product formation in O(6)-BnG bypass, as without BenziTP the polymerase stalls at the adduct site. By combining the KTqM747K polymerase and BenziTP, a first round of DNA synthesis enabled subsequent amplification of Benzi-containing DNA. These results advance the development of technologies for detecting DNA adducts.

Use of microdosing and accelerator mass spectrometry to evaluate the pharmacokinetic linearity of a novel tricyclic GyrB/ParE inhibitor in rats

Determining the pharmacokinetics (PKs) of drug candidates is essential for understanding their biological fate. The ability to obtain human PK information early in the drug development process can help determine if future development is warranted. Microdosing was developed to assess human PKs, at ultra-low doses, early in the drug development process. Microdosing has also been used in animals to confirm PK linearity across subpharmacological and pharmacological dose ranges. The current study assessed the PKs of a novel antimicrobial preclinical drug candidate (GP-4) in rats as a step toward human microdosing studies. Dose proportionality was determined at 3 proposed therapeutic doses (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg of body weight), and PK linearity between a microdose and a pharmacological dose was assessed in Sprague-Dawley rats. Plasma PKs over the 3 pharmacological doses were proportional. Over the 10-fold dose range, the maximum concentration in plasma and area under the curve (AUC) increased 9.5- and 15.8-fold, respectively. PKs from rats dosed with a (14)C-labeled microdose versus a (14)C-labeled pharmacological dose displayed dose linearity. In the animals receiving a microdose and the therapeutically dosed animals, the AUCs from time zero to infinity were 2.6 ng · h/ml and 1,336 ng · h/ml, respectively, and the terminal half-lives were 5.6 h and 1.4 h, respectively. When the AUC values were normalized to a dose of 1.0 mg/kg, the AUC values were 277.5 ng · h/ml for the microdose and 418.2 ng · h/ml for the pharmacological dose. This 1.5-fold difference in AUC following a 300-fold difference in dose is considered linear across the dose range. On the basis of the results, the PKs from the microdosed animals were considered to be predictive of the PKs from the therapeutically dosed animals.

Iodine-129 microdosing for protein and peptide drug development: erythropoietin as a case study

BACKGROUND

Microdosing is a technique for studying the behavior of compounds in vivo at 1/100th of the dose of a test substance calculated, based on animal data, to yield a pharmacologic effect. In microdosing, use is made of accelerator MS (AMS). In this study, we investigated whether (129)I-labeling of proteins with subsequent AMS measurements is a suitable method to perform microdose studies with therapeutic proteins. We used erythropoietin (EPO) as a case study.

RESULTS

In an animal study with (129)I-labeled EPO in Han-Wistar rats, an increase of (129)I-EPO is observed after dose administration. The half-life was found to be 2 and 5.5 h for two different EPOs. These results are in accordance with expected values.

CONCLUSION

Although further research is required, (129)I-labeling of proteins seems a feasible method for AMS microdose studies with peptide and protein drugs, such as biosimilars.

Biological and biomedical (14)C-accelerator mass spectrometry and graphitization of carbonaceous samples

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is the ultimate technique for measuring rare isotopes in small samples. Biological and biomedical applications of (14)C-AMS (bio-(14)C-AMS) commenced in the early 1990s and are now widely used in many research fields including pharmacology, toxicology, food, and nutrition. For accurate, precise, and reproducible bio-(14)C-AMS analysis, the graphitization step in sample preparation is the most critical step. So, various sample preparation methods for a process called graphitization have been reported for specific applications. Catalytic graphitization using either a flame-sealed borosilicate tube or a septa-sealed vial is a popular sample preparation method for bio-(14)C-AMS. In this review, we introduce the AMS system, especially for bio-(14)C-AMS. In addition, we also review the graphitization method for bio-(14)C-AMS to promote further understanding and improvement of sample preparation for this technique. Examples of catalytic graphitization methods over the past two decades are described.

The Application of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry to Absolute Bioavailability Studies in Humans: Simultaneous Administration of an Intravenous Microdose of14C-Nelfinavir Mesylate Solution and Oral Nelfinavir to Healthy Volunteers

The absolute bioavailability of nelfinavir was determined in 6 healthy volunteers following simultaneous administration of 1250 mg oral nelfinavir and an intravenous infusion of (14)C-nelfinavir mesylate on day 1 and at steady state. Nelfinavir oral bioavailability decreased from 0.88 to 0.47 over the 11-day study period. The moderate bioavailability of nelfinavir was due to significant first-pass metabolism rather than low absorption, limiting the potential of formulation improvement to decrease pill burden. Human absolute bioavailability studies with accelerator mass spectrometry microdosing, in which an intravenous microdose is given along with a conventional oral dose of the same drug, can differentiate between gastrointestinal absorption and the first-pass metabolism of new drug candidates. Accelerator mass spectrometry allowed a several thousand-fold dose reduction of (14)C-nelfinavir relative to that required for liquid scintillation counting. Accelerator mass spectrometry microdosing reduces potential safety issues around dosing radioactivity to humans and prevents the need to formulate high intravenous doses.

Determining the pharmacokinetics and long-term biodistribution of SiO2 nanoparticles in vivo using accelerator mass spectrometry

Biodistribution is an important factor in better understanding silica dioxide nanoparticle (SiNP) safety. Currently, comprehensive studies on biodistribution are lacking, most likely due to the lack of suitable analytical methods. Accelerator mass spectrometry was used to investigate the relationship between administered dose, pharmacokinetics (PK), and long-term biodistribution of (14)C-SiNPs in vivo. PK analysis showed that SiNPs were rapidly cleared from the central compartment, were distributed to tissues of the reticuloendothelial system, and persisted in the tissue over the 8 week time course, raising questions about the potential for bioaccumulation and associated long-term effects.

European Bioanalysis Forum recommendation: scientific validation of quantification by accelerator mass spectrometry

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is being used more widely to provide PK data for early decision making or to generate absolute bioavailability data in later phases of development. Presently, there is no clear consensus on the level of the scientific validation required for these assays. The European Bioanalysis Forum (EBF) has conducted two surveys with its members and presented the results at its 4th Open Symposium. With AMS being used for discrete scientific assessment, method establishment of AMS assays should focus on science rather than trying to fit the assay parameters into validation criteria used for Regulated Bioanalysis guidance, and an amount of freedom of execution and interpretation is needed. Hence, the EBF focuses their recommendation on introducing terminology around scientific qualification or validation to be used in relation to AMS. Guidance is given on which parameters should be investigated when a qualified method is required. The recommendations of the EBF for scientific validation are described herein. The scientific validation of AMS assays will be different to that applied for LC–MS/MS assays, and an example is that accuracy and precision limits, as used for ligand-binding assays, would be more appropriate.

Furan carcinogenicity: DNA binding and genotoxicity of furan in rats in vivo

SCOPE

Furan is a potent hepatotoxicant and liver carcinogen in rodents. However, short-term tests for genotoxicity of furan are inconclusive. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of furan to covalently bind to DNA, and to assess furan genotoxicity in rats in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Accelerator mass spectrometry was used to determine the (14) C-content in DNA following administration of [3,4-(14) C]-furan (0.1 and 2.0 mg/kg bw) to F344 rats. DNA damage, micronuclei, chromosomal aberrations, and sister chromatid exchanges were analyzed in F344 rats treated with furan for up to 28 days.

CONCLUSION

The (14) C-content in liver DNA was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner, with mean concentrations of 7.9 ± 3.5 amol (14) C/μg DNA and 153.3 ± 100.2 amol (14) C/μg DNA, corresponding to 16.5 ± 7.4 and 325.2 ± 212.7 adducts/10(9) nucleotides at 0.1 and 2.0 mg/kg bw, respectively. There was no evidence for genotoxicity of furan in peripheral blood and bone marrow cells. However, a dose-related increase in the incidence of chromosomal aberrations in rat splenocytes and some indication of DNA damage in liver were observed. Collectively, results from this study indicate that furan may operate-at least in part-by a genotoxic mode of action.

Bioanalytical aspects of clinical mass balance studies in oncology

Clinical mass balance studies aim to investigate the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) of a(n) (often radiolabeled) drug, following a single administration to humans. They are perfectly suited to determine the disposition and major metabolic pathways of a drug, the exposure to the parent drug and its metabolites, and the rate and route of elimination. A mass balance study, however, poses interesting challenges to the analysis of parent drug and metabolites in different biological matrices. Using recent clinical mass balance studies in oncology as an example, this review focuses on the aspects of mass balance studies, from bioanalytical assay development, analysis of clinical samples to reporting of study results. Along the way, it discusses bioanalytical problems and practical solutions.

Cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism and DNA binding of 2-amino-1,7-dimethylimidazo[4,5-g]quinoxaline and its carcinogenic isomer 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline in mice

2-Amino-1,7-dimethylimidazo[4,5-g]quinoxaline (MeIgQx) is a recently discovered heterocyclic aromatic amine (HAA) that is formed during the cooking of meats. MeIgQx is an isomer of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylmidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), a rodent carcinogen and possible human carcinogen that also occurs in cooked meats. MeIgQx is a bacterial mutagen, but knowledge about its metabolism and carcinogenic potential is lacking. Metabolism studies on MeIgQx and MeIQx were conducted with human and mouse liver microsomes, and recombinant human P450s. DNA binding studies were also investigated in mice to ascertain the genotoxic potential of MeIgQx in comparison to MeIQx. Both HAAs underwent comparable rates of N-oxidation to form genotoxic N-hydroxylated metabolites with mouse liver microsomes (0.2-0.3 nmol/min/mg protein). The rate of N-oxidation of MeIQx was 4-fold greater than the rate of N-oxidation of MeIgQx with human liver microsomes (1.7 vs 0.4 nmol/min/mg protein). The rate of N-oxidation, by recombinant human P450 1A2, was comparable for both substrates (6 pmol/min/pmol P450 1A2). MeIgQx also underwent N-oxidation by human P450s 1A1 and 1B1 at appreciable rates, whereas MeIQx was poorly metabolized by these P450s. The potential of MeIgQx and MeIQx to form DNA adducts was assessed in female C57BL/6 mice given [(14)C]-MeIgQx (10 μCi, 9.68 mg/kg body wt) or [(14)C]-MeIQx (10 μCi, 2.13 mg/kg body wt). DNA adduct formation in the liver, pancreas, and colorectum was measured by accelerator mass spectrometry at 4, 24, or 48 h post-treatment. Variable levels of adducts were detected in all organs. The adduct levels were similar for both HAAs, when adjusted for dose, and ranged from 1 to 600 adducts per 10(7) nucleotides per mg/kg dose. Thus, MeIgQx undergoes metabolic activation and binds to DNA at levels that are comparable to MeIQx. Given the high amounts of MeIgQx formed in cooked meats, further investigations are warranted to assess the carcinogenic potential of this HAA.

Methods for the detection of DNA adducts

The detection and characterisation of DNA adducts can provide mechanistic information on mode of action for genotoxic chemicals and in this context is vital for human risk assessments. Adducts are measured extensively in biomonitoring studies to examine exposure to environmental, dietary, and occupational chemicals and as biomarkers of efficacy for cancer chemotherapeutic drugs and chemopreventive agents. Methods used for adduct analysis must possess a certain degree of specificity and be sufficiently sensitive to detect lesions in the model system under investigation. A variety of techniques have been established for this purpose, which are capable of detecting and quantifying adducts in DNA isolated from animal or human tissues, cells, and biofluids as well as naked DNA from in vitro studies. These can be grouped as those involving (32)P-post-labelling, mass spectrometry, physical detection methods, immunological assays and radiolabelled compounds. Each approach presents different advantages and limitations and the most appropriate method depends on the type of sample, level of damage, and nature of the investigation as well as practical considerations. In this chapter, the basic principles of the most commonly used quantitative methods are described and their strengths and weaknesses discussed.

Accelerator MS: its role as a frontline bioanalytical technique

Accelerator MS (AMS) is an ultrasensitive technique that can be used to quantify 14C in biological samples. Prior to analysis, the carbon in samples is selectively isolated, with the result that the technique is independent of compound structure and nonsusceptible to matrix effects. AMS is a tracer technique and therefore can be used to quantify all compound-related material without the need to develop extraction or chromatographic separation methods. Thus AMS has some distinct advantages over conventional assay techniques, such as LC–MS/MS. AMS also complements conventional techniques, facilitating innovative, cost-effective clinical study designs. Thus, metabolism data can be obtained from early clinical trials, identifying any human metabolites that may raise safety concerns. By administration of an intravenous 14C microtracer dose concomitantly with an extravascular dose of nonradiolabeled compound, AMS can also be used to determine absolute bioavailability and intravenous pharmacokinetic parameters without the need for intravenous toxicology or formulation development.

Application of accelerator mass spectrometry to macromolecules: preclinical pharmacokinetic studies on a polybisphosphonate

Data on the use of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) in conjunction with in vivo studies of macromolecular drugs are scarce. The present study shows the versatility of this technique when investigating the pharmacokinetics (PK) of a macromolecular drug candidate, a polybisphosphonate conjugate (ODX). The aforementioned is a polymer (molecular weight ~30 kDa) constituting a carbohydrate backbone with covalently linked ligands (aldendronate and aminoguanidine) and is intended for treatment of osteoporosis and the therapy of bone metastasis from prostate cancer. The conjugate is prepared through partial oxidation of the carbohydrate and sequential coupling of the ligands by reductive amination. (14)C was incorporated in the conjugate by means of coupling a commercially available (14)C-lysine in the conjugation sequence. Fifteen rats were injected intravenously with (14)C-labelled ODX (150 µg, 14 Bq/rat) and blood samples were collected at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 24 h post-injection (3 rats/time point). Liver, spleen and kidney samples were collected at 4 and 24 h post-injection. Blood from each time point (triplicate) were collected for AMS measurement determining the isotopic ratio ((14)C/(12)C) and consequently the drug concentration in blood. ODX showed a transient presence in blood circulation; 93% of the total dose was cleared from the circulation within 1 h. The half-life after 1 h was estimated to be about 3 h; 0.7% of the administered (14)C dose of ODX remained in circulation after 24 h. The major (14)C accumulation was in the liver, the spleen and the kidneys indicating the probable route of metabolism and excretion. This study demonstrates the versatility of AMS for pharmacological in vivo studies of macromolecules. Labelling with (14)C is relatively simple, inexpensive and the method requires minimal radioactivity, eliminating the need for radioprotection precautions in contrast to methods using scintillation counting.

Metabolism and biomarkers of heterocyclic aromatic amines in molecular epidemiology studies: lessons learned from aromatic amines

Aromatic amines and heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are structurally related classes of carcinogens that are formed during the combustion of tobacco or during the high-temperature cooking of meats. Both classes of procarcinogens undergo metabolic activation by N-hydroxylation of the exocyclic amine group to produce a common proposed intermediate, the arylnitrenium ion, which is the critical metabolite implicated in toxicity and DNA damage. However, the biochemistry and chemical properties of these compounds are distinct, and different biomarkers of aromatic amines and HAAs have been developed for human biomonitoring studies. Hemoglobin adducts have been extensively used as biomarkers to monitor occupational and environmental exposures to a number of aromatic amines; however, HAAs do not form hemoglobin adducts at appreciable levels, and other biomarkers have been sought. A number of epidemiologic studies that have investigated dietary consumption of well-done meat in relation to various tumor sites reported a positive association between cancer risk and well-done meat consumption, although some studies have shown no associations between well-done meat and cancer risk. A major limiting factor in most epidemiological studies is the uncertainty in quantitative estimates of chronic exposure to HAAs, and thus, the association of HAAs formed in cooked meat and cancer risk has been difficult to establish. There is a critical need to establish long-term biomarkers of HAAs that can be implemented in molecular epidemioIogy studies. In this review, we highlight and contrast the biochemistry of several prototypical carcinogenic aromatic amines and HAAs to which humans are chronically exposed. The biochemical properties and the impact of polymorphisms of the major xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes on the biological effects of these chemicals are examined. Lastly, the analytical approaches that have been successfully employed to biomonitor aromatic amines and HAAs, and emerging biomarkers of HAAs that may be implemented in molecular epidemiology studies are discussed.

Quantifying exploratory low dose compounds in humans with AMS

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry is an established technology whose essentiality extends beyond simply a better detector for radiolabeled molecules. Attomole sensitivity reduces radioisotope exposures in clinical subjects to the point that no population need be excluded from clinical study. Insights in human physiochemistry are enabled by the quantitative recovery of simplified AMS processes that provide biological concentrations of all labeled metabolites and total compound related material at non-saturating levels. In this paper, we review some of the exploratory applications of AMS (14)C in toxicological, nutritional, and pharmacological research. This body of research addresses the human physiochemistry of important compounds in their own right, but also serves as examples of the analytical methods and clinical practices that are available for studying low dose physiochemistry of candidate therapeutic compounds, helping to broaden the knowledge base of AMS application in pharmaceutical research.

Carbon isotopes profiles of human whole blood, plasma, red blood cells, urine and feces for biological/biomedical 14C-accelerator mass spectrometry applications

Radiocarbon ((14)C) is an ideal tracer for in vivo human ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination) and PBPK (physiological-based pharmacokinetic) studies. Living plants peferentially incorporate atmospheric (14)CO(2) versus (13)CO(2) versus (12)CO(2), which result in unique signature. Furthermore, plants and the food chains they support also have unique carbon isotope signatures. Humans, at the top of the food chain, consequently acquire isotopic concentrations in the tissues and body fluids depending on their dietary habits. In preparation of ADME and PBPK studies, 12 healthy subjects were recruited. The human baseline (specific to each individual and their diet) total carbon (TC) and carbon isotope (13)C (δ(13)C) and (14)C (F(m)) were quantified in whole blood (WB), plasma, washed red blood cell (RBC), urine, and feces. TC (mg of C/100 μL) in WB, plasma, RBC, urine, and feces were 11.0, 4.37, 7.57, 0.53, and 1.90, respectively. TC in WB, RBC, and feces was higher in men over women, P < 0.05. Mean δ(13)C were ranked low to high as follows: feces < WB = plasma = RBC = urine, P < 0.0001. δ(13)C was not affected by gender. Our analytic method shifted δ(13)C by only ±1.0 ‰ ensuring our F(m) measurements were accurate and precise. Mean F(m) were ranked low to high as follows: plasma = urine < WB = RBC = feces, P < 0.05. F(m) in feces was higher for men over women, P < 0.05. Only in WB, (14)C levels (F(m)) and TC were correlated with one another (r = 0.746, P < 0.01). Considering the lag time to incorporate atmospheric (14)C into plant foods (vegetarian) and or then into animal foods (nonvegetarian), the measured F(m) of WB in our population (recruited April 2009) was 1.0468 ± 0.0022 (mean ± SD), and the F(m) of WB matched the (extrapolated) atmospheric F(m) of 1.0477 in 2008. This study is important in presenting a procedure to determine a baseline for a study group for human ADME and PBPK studies using (14)C as a tracer.

Accelerator mass spectrometry-enabled studies: current status and future prospects

Accelerator mass spectrometry is a detection platform with exceptional sensitivity compared with other bioanalytical platforms. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is widely used in archeology for radiocarbon dating applications. Early exploration of the biological and pharmaceutical applications of AMS began in the early 1990s. AMS has since demonstrated unique problem-solving ability in nutrition science, toxicology and pharmacology. AMS has also enabled the development of new applications, such as Phase 0 microdosing. Recent development of AMS-enabled applications has transformed this novelty research instrument to a valuable tool within the pharmaceutical industry. Although there is now greater awareness of AMS technology, recognition and appreciation of the range of AMS-enabled applications is still lacking, including study-design strategies. This review aims to provide further insight into the wide range of AMS-enabled applications. Examples of studies conducted over the past two decades will be presented, as well as prospects for the future of AMS.

Analytical validation of accelerator mass spectrometry for pharmaceutical development

The validation parameters for pharmaceutical analyses were examined for the accelerator mass spectrometry measurement of (14)C/C ratio, independent of chemical separation procedures. The isotope ratio measurement was specific (owing to the (14)C label), stable across samples storage conditions for at least 1 year, linear over four orders of magnitude with an analytical range from 0.1 Modern to at least 2000 Modern (instrument specific). Furthermore, accuracy was excellent (between 1 and 3%), while precision expressed as coefficient of variation was between 1 and 6% determined primarily by radiocarbon content and the time spent analyzing a sample. Sensitivity, expressed as LOD and LLOQ was 1 and 10 attomoles of (14)C, respectively (which can be expressed as compound equivalents) and for a typical small molecule labeled at 10% incorporated with (14)C corresponds to 30 fg equivalents. Accelerator mass spectrometry provides a sensitive, accurate and precise method of measuring drug compounds in biological matrices.

A microdosing approach for characterizing formation and repair of carboplatin-DNA monoadducts and chemoresistance

Formation and repair of platinum (Pt)-induced DNA adducts is a critical step in Pt drug-mediated cytotoxicity. Measurement of Pt-DNA adduct kinetics in tumors may be useful for better understanding chemoresistance and therapeutic response. However, this concept has yet to be rigorously tested because of technical challenges in measuring the adducts at low concentrations and consistent access to sufficient tumor biopsy material. Ultrasensitive accelerator mass spectrometry was used to detect [(14)C]carboplatin-DNA monoadducts at the attomole level, which are the precursors to Pt-DNA crosslink formation, in six cancer cell lines as a proof-of-concept. The most resistant cells had the lowest monoadduct levels at all time points over 24 hr. [(14)C]Carboplatin "microdoses" (1/100th the pharmacologically effective concentration) had nearly identical adduct formation and repair kinetics compared to therapeutically relevant doses, suggesting that the microdosing approach can potentially be used to determine the pharmacological effects of therapeutic treatment. Some of the possible chemoresistance mechanisms were also studied, such as drug uptake/efflux, intracellular inactivation and DNA repair in selected cell lines. Intracellular inactivation and efficient DNA repair each contributed significantly to the suppression of DNA monoadduct formation in the most resistant cell line compared to the most sensitive cell line studied (p < 0.001). Nucleotide excision repair (NER)-deficient and -proficient cells showed substantial differences in carboplatin monoadduct concentrations over 24 hr that likely contributed to chemoresistance. The data support the utility of carboplatin microdosing as a translatable approach for defining carboplatin-DNA monoadduct formation and repair, possibly by NER, which may be useful for characterizing chemoresistance in vivo.

Salvage of oxidized guanine derivatives in the (2'-deoxy)ribonucleotide pool as source of mutations in DNA

Recent evidence suggests that salvage of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-guanine (8-oxoGua) can contribute substantially to levels of 8-oxoGua in DNA and RNA. However, it remains to be determined if this mechanism contributes to mutagenesis and disease. This review covers the predominant methods for detecting 8-oxoGua and its derivatives, summarizes some of the relevant recent DNA repair studies and discusses the mechanisms for metabolism of oxidized guanine derivatives in the (2'-deoxy)ribonucleoside and (2'-deoxy)ribonucleotide pools.

Calculating radiation exposures during use of (14)C-labeled nutrients, food components, and biopharmaceuticals to quantify metabolic behavior in humans

(14)C has long been used as a tracer for quantifying the in vivo human metabolism of food components, biopharmaceuticals, and nutrients. Minute amounts (< or =1 x 10 (-18) mol) of (14)C can be measured with high-throughput (14)C-accelerator mass spectrometry (HT (14)C-AMS) in isolated chemical extracts of biological, biomedical, and environmental samples. Availability of in vivo human data sets using a (14)C tracer would enable current concepts of the metabolic behavior of food components, biopharmaceuticals, or nutrients to be organized into models suitable for quantitative hypothesis testing and determination of metabolic parameters. In vivo models are important for specification of intake levels for food components, biopharmaceuticals, and nutrients. Accurate estimation of the radiation exposure from ingested (14)C is an essential component of the experimental design. Therefore, this paper illustrates the calculation involved in determining the radiation exposure from a minute dose of orally administered (14)C-beta-carotene, (14)C-alpha-tocopherol, (14)C-lutein, and (14)C-folic acid from four prior experiments. The administered doses ranged from 36 to 100 nCi, and radiation exposure ranged from 0.12 to 5.2 microSv to whole body and from 0.2 to 3.4 microSv to liver with consideration of tissue weighting factor and fractional nutrient. In comparison, radiation exposure experienced during a 4 h airline flight across the United States at 37000 ft was 20 microSv.

Challenging developments in three decades of accelerator mass spectrometry at ETH: from large particle accelerators to table size instruments

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) was invented for the detection of radiocarbon at natural isotopic concentrations (10(-12) to 10(-15)) more than 30 years ago. Meanwhile this method has also been applied for the analysis of many other long-lived radioisotopes, which are found at very low concentrations. The first investigations were made at large tandem accelerators originally built for nuclear physics research and operating at voltages of 6-12 MV. Today dedicated instruments are mostly used for AMS, which are optimized for associated applications. In the past 15 years, a new generation of much smaller instruments has been developed. For many years it was believed that accelerators with voltages of 2 MV or higher are needed to eliminate the molecular interferences. At these energies the ions are predominantly stripped to charge state 3+, thereby removing the binding electrons of the molecules. In contrast, the new compact facilities use 1+ or 2+ ions. In this case the molecular destruction process is based on molecule-atom collisions in the gas cell. The cross sections for this destruction are sufficiently large that the intensity of molecular components such as (12)CH(2) and (13)CH can be reduced by 10 orders of magnitude. These new facilities can be built much smaller due to the lower energies. Universal instruments providing analysis for many isotopes over the whole range of periodic table have a space requirement of about 4 x 6 m(2); dedicated radiocarbon facilities based on a 200 kV accelerator have a footprint of about 2.5 x 3 m(2). This smallest category of instruments use special technologies: The high voltage terminal with the gas stripper canal is vacuum insulated and the gas is pumped to ground potential through a ceramic pipe. A conventional 200 kV power supply provides the terminal voltage from outside. A review of this new generation of compact AMS facilities is given. Design considerations and performance of these new instruments will be presented. With these developments, new AMS instruments are not much larger than conventional mass spectrometers, allowing a significant reduction in cost.

Investigating the biochemical impact of DNA damage with structure-based probes: abasic sites, photodimers, alkylation adducts, and oxidative lesions

DNA sustains a wide variety of damage, such as the formation of abasic sites, pyrimidine dimers, alkylation adducts, or oxidative lesions, upon exposure to UV radiation, alkylating agents, or oxidative conditions. Since these forms of damage may be acutely toxic or mutagenic and potentially carcinogenic, it is of interest to gain insight into how their structures impact biochemical processing of DNA, such as synthesis, transcription, and repair. Lesion-specific molecular probes have been used to study polymerase-mediated translesion DNA synthesis of abasic sites and TT dimers, while other probes have been developed for specifically investigating the alkylation adduct O(6)-Bn-G and the oxidative lesion 8-oxo-G. In this review, recent examples of lesion-specific molecular probes are surveyed; their specificities of incorporation opposite target lesions compared to unmodified nucleotides are discussed, and limitations of their applications under physiologically relevant conditions are assessed.

Recent advances in biomedical applications of accelerator mass spectrometry

The use of radioisotopes has a long history in biomedical science, and the technique of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), an extremely sensitive nuclear physics technique for detection of very low-abundant, stable and long-lived isotopes, has now revolutionized high-sensitivity isotope detection in biomedical research, because it allows the direct determination of the amount of isotope in a sample rather than measuring its decay, and thus the quantitative analysis of the fate of the radiolabeled probes under the given conditions. Since AMS was first used in the early 90's for the analysis of biological samples containing enriched ¹⁴C for toxicology and cancer research, the biomedical applications of AMS to date range from in vitro to in vivo studies, including the studies of 1) toxicant and drug metabolism, 2) neuroscience, 3) pharmacokinetics, and 4) nutrition and metabolism of endogenous molecules such as vitamins. In addition, a new drug development concept that relies on the ultrasensitivity of AMS, known as human microdosing, is being used to obtain early human metabolism information of candidate drugs. These various aspects of AMS are reviewed and a perspective on future applications of AMS to biomedical research is provided.

Biological significance of DNA adducts: comparison of increments over background for various biomarkers of genotoxicity in L5178Y tk(+/-) mouse lymphoma cells treated with hydrogen peroxide and cumene hydroperoxide

DNA is affected by background damage of the order of one lesion per one hundred thousand nucleotides, with depurination and oxidative damage accounting for a major part. This damage contributes to spontaneous mutation and cancer. DNA adducts can be measured with high sensitivity, with limits of detection lower than one adduct per one billion nucleotides. Minute exposures to an exogenous DNA-reactive agent may therefore result in measurable adduct formation, although, as an increment over total DNA damage, a small increment in mutation cannot be measured and would be considered negligible. Here, we investigated whether this discrepancy also holds for adducts that are present as background induced by oxidative stress. L5178Y tk(+/-) mouse lymphoma cells were incubated for 4h with hydrogen peroxide (0, 0.8, 4, 20, 100, 500muM) or cumene hydroperoxide (0, 0.37, 1.1, 3.3, 10muM). Five endpoints of genotoxicity were measured in parallel from aliquots of three replicates of large batches of cells: Two DNA adducts, 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) and 1,N(6)-etheno-2'-deoxyadenosine (varepsilondAdo) measured by LC-MS/MS, as well as strand breaks assessed with the comet assay and in vitro micronucleus test, and gene mutation as assessed using the thymidine kinase gene mutation assay. Background measures of 8-oxodGuo and varepsilondAdo were 500-1000 and 50-90 adducts per 10(9) nucleotides. Upon treatment, neither hydrogen peroxide nor cumene hydroperoxide significantly increased the DNA adduct levels above control. In contrast, dose-related increases above background were observed with both oxidants in the comet assay, the micronucleus test and the gene mutation assay. Differences in sensitivity of the assays were quantified by estimating the concentration of oxidant that resulted in a doubling of the background measure. We conclude that the increase in DNA breakage and mutation induced by hydrogen peroxide and cumene hydroperoxide observed in our in vitro experimental set-up was no direct consequence of the measured DNA adducts. In comparison with data obtained with the methylating agent methyl methanesulfonate we further conclude that the assumption of DNA adducts being oversensitive biomarkers is adduct-specific.

Use of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry to Measure the Pharmacokinetics and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Concentrations of Zidovudine

The remarkable sensitivity of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is finding many new applications in pharmacology. In this study AMS was used to measure [(14)C]-Zidovudine (ZDV) concentrations at the drug's site of action (peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PBMCs) following a dose of 520 ng (less than one-millionth of the standard daily dose) to a healthy volunteer. In addition, the pharmacokinetics of this microdose were determined and compared to previously published parameters for therapeutic doses. Microdose ZDV pharmacokinetic parameters fell within reported 95% confidence intervals or standard deviations of most previously published values for therapeutic doses. Blood, urine, stool, saliva, and isolated PBMCs were collected periodically through 96 h postdose and analyzed for ZDV and metabolite concentrations. The results showed that ZDV is rapidly absorbed and eliminated, has one major metabolite, and is sequestered in PBMCs. (14)C mass balance assessments indicated a significant portion of ZDV remained after 96 h with a much prolonged elimination half-life. Results of this study demonstrate the usefulness of microdosing and AMS as a tool for studying the pharmacokinetic characteristics, including PBMC concentrations, of ZDV and underscore the value of AMS as a tool with which to perform pharmacokinetic and mass balance studies using trace amounts of radiolabeled compound.

Adduction of DNA with MTBE and TBA in mice studied by accelerator mass spectrometry

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is a currently worldwide used octane enhancer substituting for lead alkyls and gasoline oxygenate. Our previous study using doubly (14)C-labeled MTBE [(CH(3))(3) (14)CO(14)CH(3)] has shown that MTBE binds DNA to form DNA adducts at low dose levels in mice. To elucidate the mechanism of the binding reaction, in this study, the DNA adducts with singly (14)C-labeled MTBE, which was synthesized from (14)C-methanol and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA), or (14)C-labeled TBA in mice have been measured by ultra sensitive accelerator mass spectrometry. The results show that the methyl group of MTBE and tert-butyl alcohol definitely form adducts with DNA in mouse liver, lung, and kidney. The methyl group of MTBE is the predominant binding part in liver, while the methyl group and the tert-butyl group give comparable contributions to the adduct formation in lung and kidney.