Texaphyrins: New drugs with diverse clinical applications in radiation and photodynamic therapy

The texaphyrins are quintessential metal-coordinating expanded porphyrins. They constitute a new series of synthetic porphyrin analogues that show promise as drugs for use in a range of medical therapies. Currently, two different water-solubilized lanthanide(III) texaphyrin complexes, namely the gad...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemical pharmacology 2000-04, Vol.59 (7), p.733-739
Main Authors: Sessler, Jonathan L, Miller, Richard A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arteriosclerosis - drug therapy
Biological and medical sciences
Clinical Trials as Topic
Humans
Macular Degeneration - drug therapy
Medical sciences
Metalloporphyrins - therapeutic use
Neoplasms - drug therapy
photoangioplasty
Photochemotherapy
photodynamic therapy
Photoradiation therapy and photosensitizing agent
Photosensitizing Agents - therapeutic use
radiation sensitization
Radiation therapy and radiosensitizing agent
Radiation Tolerance
texaphyrins
Treatment with physical agents
Treatment. General aspects
Tumors
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Summary:The texaphyrins are quintessential metal-coordinating expanded porphyrins. They constitute a new series of synthetic porphyrin analogues that show promise as drugs for use in a range of medical therapies. Currently, two different water-solubilized lanthanide(III) texaphyrin complexes, namely the gadolinium(III) and lutetium(III) derivatives 1 and 2 (Gd-Tex and Lu-Tex, respectively), are being tested clinically. The first of these, XCYTRIN™, is in a pivotal Phase III clinical trial as a potential enhancer of radiation therapy for patients with metastatic cancers to the brain receiving whole brain radiation therapy. The second, in various formulations, is being tested as a photosensitizer for use in: (i) the photodynamic treatment of recurrent breast cancer (LUTRIN™; Phase II clinical trials complete), (ii) photoangioplastic reduction of atherosclerosis involving peripheral arteries (ANTRIN™; now in Phase II testing), and (iii) light-based treatment of age-related macular degeneration (OPTRIN™; currently in Phase I clinical trials), a vision-threatening disease of the retina. Taken in concert, these two metallotexaphyrins provide a powerful new class of experimental drugs whose diverse potential utility is abetted by a combination of well-optimized physical features, favorable tissue biolocalization characteristics, and novel mechanisms of action. Interestingly, these mechanisms may alter conventional wisdom regarding mechanisms of radiation therapy and the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.
ISSN:0006-2952
1873-2968
DOI:10.1016/S0006-2952(99)00314-7