Aims: Delineate the feasibility of simultaneous, dual selective “targeted” chemotherapeutic delivery and determine if this molecular strategy can promote higher levels anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity than if only one covalent immunochemotherapeutic is selectively “targeted” for delivery at a single membrane associated receptor over-expressed by chemotherapeutic- resistant mammary adenocarcinoma.

Methodology: Gemcitabine and epirubicin were covalently bond to anti-EGFR and anti-HER2/neu utilizing a rapid multi-phase synthetic organic chemistry reaction scheme. Determination that 96% or greater gemcitabine or epirubicin content was covalently bond to immunoglobulin fractions following size separation by micro-scale column chromatography was established by methanol precipitation analysis. Residual binding-avidity of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] applied in dual-combination with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] was determined by cell-ELIZA utilizing chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) populations. Lack of fragmentation or polymerization was validated by SDS-PAGE/immunodetection/chemiluminescent autoradiography. Anti-neoplastic cytotoxic potency was determined by vitality stain analysis of chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) monolayers known to uniquely over-express EGFR (2 x 105/cell) and HER2/neu (1 x 106/cell) receptor complexes. The covalent immunochemotherapeutics gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] were applied simultaneously in dual-combination to determine their capacity to collectively evoke elevated levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity. Lastly, the tubulin/microtubule inhibitor mebendazole evaluated to determine if it’s potential to complemented the anti-neoplastic cytotoxic properties of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] in dual-combination with epirubicin- (C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu].

Results: Dual-combination of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] produced greater levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity than either of the covalent immunochemotherapeutics alone. The benzimidazole microtubule/tubulin inhibitor, mebendazole complemented the anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of gemcitabine-( C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] in dual-combination with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu].

Conclusions: The dual-combination of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti- HER2/neu] produced higher levels of selectively “targeted” anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity against chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) than either covalent immunochemotherapeutic alone. The benzimidazole tubulin/ microtubule inhibitor, mebendazole also possessed anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity against chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) and complemented the potency and efficacy of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] in dual-combination with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu].

The anthracycline class chemotherapeutics intercalate between DNA strands to exert their mechanism-of-action that in turn inhibits DNA and RNA synthesis in addition to triggers topoisomerasae II mediated DNA cleavage resulting in the promotion of cell death. Binding to cell membranes and plasma proteins may also be involved in the cytotoxic properties of the anthracyclines which is complemented by outright injury to neoplastic cells secondary to the generation of highly reactive free radicals species. Each of these mechanisms-of-action collectively promotes apoptosis. In their clinical usage, the anthracycline are among the most potent and clinically effective class of chemotherapeutics for the treatment of mammary carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, colon carcinoma, and acute myeloid leukemia.

Gemcitabine is a deoxycytadine nucleotide analog that intracellularly has a mechanism-of-action that involves it being triphosphoralated in a manner that allows it to substitute for cytadine during DNA transcription resulting in incorporation into DNA strands and inhibit the biochemical activity of DNA polymerase. A second mechanism-of-action for gemcitabine involves inhibition and inactivation of ribonucleotide reductase and ultimately the suppression of deoxyribonucleotide synthesis in concert with diminished DNA repair and reduced DNA transcription. Each of these mechanisms-of-action collectively promotes cellular apoptosis. Features of the pharmacokinetic profile for gemcitabine include a brief plasma halflife because it is rapidly deaminated to an inactive metabolite that is rapidly eliminated through renal excretion into the urine[1-3].

In clinical oncology, the anthracycline chemotherapeutics are commonly administered to treat breast cancer and many other neoplastic conditions due to their superior level of potency. Gemcitabine is administered for the treatment certain leukemias and potentially lymphoma conditions in addition to a spectrum of adenocarcinomas and carcinomas affecting the lung (e.g. non-small cell), pancreas, urinary bladder and esophagus. Gemcitabine has a brief plasma half-life because it is rapidly deaminated to an inactive metabolite that is rapidly eliminated through renal excretion into the urine[1-3]. Despite their superior clinical effectiveness in modern clinical oncology, the anthracyclines, gemcitabine, and many other chemotherapeutic agents often have relatively low marginsof- safety largely because almost invariably they impose a high risk for inducing serious sequelae especially when administered as a component of a long-term treatment regimen. The most common and dose-limiting side effect of anthracycline administration is cardiotoxicity which is more prominent with doxorubicin compared to epirubicin which is excreted more rapidly than doxorubicin presumably due to a difference in the spatial orientation of the hydroxyl (-OH) group at the C4- carbon of the carbohydrate-like moiety.

Although the anthracyclines and gemcitabine exert high levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity, when applied as a monotherapy they are still usually incapable of completely resolving most types of neoplastic disease such as resistant and aggressive forms of breast cancer. Mono-therapy treatment regimens also pose a higher risk chemotherapeutic-resistance in neoplastic cell populations which is a confounding variable that can either be induced de-novo or acquired through selective pressure. Transformations of neoplastic cells of this type has many implications in clinical oncology for the management breast cancer where 20-30% of all affected cases develop metastatic brain lesions that characteristically display moderate-to-high levels of resistance to chemotherapeutic intervention[4]. Combination chemotherapeutic regimens are almost invariably more potent and effective in suppressing growth and metastasis, delaying the onset of disease relapse, prolonging the onset of disease remission, and improving the probability of complete neoplastic disease elimination. Despite the advantages of combination regimens, anytime conventional chemotherapeutics are administered in-vivo in “free form” they still pose a high risk frequency for toxic sequelae that can ultimately limit the extent and duration of therapeutic intervention[5-14].

Alternative “newer generation” treatment modalities such as monoclonal immunoglobulin that inhibit the function of trophic receptor complexes uniquely or highly over-expressed by populations of a given neoplastic cell type offer an opportunity for avoiding many of the common side effects associated with conventional chemotherapeutics. Monoclonal immunoglobulin fractions with binding-avidity for trophic membrane receptors that are over-expressed by neoplastic cell types including HER2/neu (e.g. anti-HER2/neu: trastuzumab, pertuzumab),[ 15-19] EGFR (e.g. anti-EGFR: cetuximab, gefitinib), [20-23] both HER2/neu and EGFR (e.g. anti-HER2/neu and anti-EGFR: panitumumab),[22-25] and IGFR (e.g. figitumumab, dalotuzumab)[26-29] can all be effective treatment options for cancer including forms of neoplasia affecting the breast, intestinal tract, lung and prostate. One obvious advantage of these preparations is their ability to function as anti-cancer treatment modalities that avoid many of the sequelae associated with conventional chemotherapeutics. Unfortunately, most monoclonal immunoglobulin-based therapies that inhibit the function of trophic membrane receptors are usually only capable of exerting cytostatic properties and are almost invariably plagued by an inability to evoke cytotoxic activity sufficient to independently resolve most aggressive or advanced forms of neoplastic disease.[15,16,30-44] Increases in cell-cycle G1- arrest, cellular transformation to states of apoptosis-resistance,[ 31] and selection for resistant sub-populations[15,16] in part are a reflection of the lack of cytotoxic efficacy of antitrophic receptor immunoglobulins that can be further complicated by frequent reversal of tumor growth inhibition[15] and relapse trophic receptor over-expression[30] following therapeutic withdrawl. However, additive or synergistic levels of anti-neoplastic potency can be attained with anti-trophic receptor immunoglobulin fractions when they are applied in dual-combination with conventional chemotherapeutics. [45-47] Inhibition of HER2/neu function with anti-HER2/ neu results in enhanced levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity when it is applied in concert with cyclophosphamide,[46,48] docetaxel,[48] doxorubicin,[46;48] etoposide,[48] methotrexate,[ 48] paclitaxel,[46,48] or vinblastine.[48] Similar to anti- HER2/neu,[46,48-52] other trophic receptor site inhibitors including anti-EGFR,[53-55] anti-IGFR-1,[56,57] and antiVEGFR[45,58,59] also create additive and synergistic levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity when applied in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic agents.

Covalent immunochemotherapeutics that possess properties of selective “targeted” delivery have traditionally been synthesized utilizing the anthracyclines[60-85]. where doxorubicin[ 86-90] has been most commonly been utilized to date, and to a lesser extent, daunorubicin[91-93] and epirubicin[ 66,85,94 ,95]. Covalent immunochemotherapeutics of this type utilize monoclonal immunoglobulin fractions, and occasionally receptor ligands, receptor ligand fragments or synthetic ligands that recognize and physically bind to specific antigens or receptor complexes uniquely over-expressed on the exterior surface membrane of neoplastic cell populations[66,85,88,89,96>,97]. Gemcitabine chemotherapeutic has been covalently bonded to large molecular weight platforms much less frequently compared to the anthracyclines and a very limited number of published reports have described the synthesis and anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of covalent gemcitabine immunochemotherapeutics capable of facilitating selective “targeted” delivery[97-99]. Despite rather extensive familiarity with biological effect of anti-HER2/neu and anti-EGFR on the vitality of cancer cell populations and it’s application in clinical oncology, there has correspondingly been surprisingly little research devoted to the molecular design, chemical synthesis and potency evaluation of covalent anthracycline and especially gemcitabine immunochemotherapeutics[97]. Even less knowledge currently exists about the potential for dual covalent immunochemotherapeutic combinations to additively and synergistically attain enhanced levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity[97]. Given this perspective, gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu] were applied simultaneously in a dual-combination to detect their potential to evoke additive or synergistic levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity against chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3). Complementary investigations delineated the potential for benzimidazole tubulin/ microtubule inhibitors to complement the anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] applied in dual-combination with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu]. Investigations ultimately demonstrated how gemcitabine-( C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)- [anti-HER2/neu] can selectively “target” the delivery of two different chemotherapeutic agents at two different unique or over-expressed receptors over-expressed by neoplastic cell types. The anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu] is complemented by the biological activity of benzimidazole tubulin/microtubule inhibitors.

Phase-I Synthesis Scheme for UV-Photoactivated Chemotherapeutic Intermediates- The cytosine-like C4-amine of gemcitabine (0.738mg, 2.80 x 10-3mMoles) or the C3 α-monoamine on the carbohydrate-type moiety of epirubicin was reacted at a 2.5:1 molar-ratio with the amine-reactive N-hydroxysuccinimide ester “leaving” complex of succinimidyl 4,4-azipentanoate (0.252mg, 1.12 x 10-3mMoles) in the presence of triethylamine (TEA: 50mM final concentration) utilizing dimethylsulfoxide as an anhydrous organic solvent system (Figure 1). Formulated from stock solutions, the reaction mixture containing gemcitabine and succinimidyl 4,4-azipentanoate, or epirubicin and succinimidyl 4,4-azipentanoate was continually stirred gently at 250 C over a 4-hour incubation period in the dark and protected from exposure to light. The relatively long incubation period of 4 hours was utilized to maximize degradation of the ester group associated with any residual succinimidyl 4,4-azipentanoate that may not of reacted during the first 30 to 60 minutes with the C4 cytosine-like mono-amine group of gemcitabine or the C3 α-monoamine of the epirubicin carbohydrate- type moiety.

Phase-II Synthesis Scheme for Covalent Gemcitabine and Epirubicin Immunochemotherapeutics Utilizing a UV-Photoactivated Chemotherapeutic Intermediate- Immunoglobulin fractions of anti-HER2/neu or anti-EGFR (1.5mg, 1.0 x 10-5mMoles) in buffer (PBS: phosphate 0.1, NaCl 0.15M, EDTA 10mM, pH 7.3) were combined at a 1:10 molar-ratio with either the UV-photoactivated gemcitabine-(C4-amide) or epirubicin-(C3-amide) intermediate (Phase-1 end product) and were initially allowed to gently mix by constant stirring for 5 minutes at 25O C in the dark. The photoactivated group of the gemcitabine-(C4-amide) or epirubicin-(C3-amide) reactive intermediates was covalently bonded to chemical groups associated with sides chains of amino acid residues in the sequence of anti-EGFR or anti-HER2/neu monoclonal immunoglobulin fractions during a 15 minute exposure to UV light at 354 nm (reagent activation range 320-370 nm) in combination with constant gentle stirring (Figure 1). Residual un-reacted (“free” non-protein associated) gemcitabine or epirubicin was removed from covalent immunochemotherapeutic microscale column chromatography following pre-equilibration of exchange media with PBS (phosphate 0.1M, NaCl 0.15M, pH 7.3).

General analysis: Quantification of the amount of non-covalently bound gemcitabine or epirubicin contained within gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3- amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] preparations respectively entailed initial protein precipitation of the covalent immunochemotherapeutics with methanol:acetonitrile (1:9 v/v) and subsequent measurement of gemcitabine (absorbance: 265- 268nm),[98,100,101] or epirubicin (Ex/Em: 485nm/538nm) [17,66,102] in the resulting supernatant.

Quantification of the amount of covalently bound gemcitabine or epirubicin was performed at previously described for gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR][97-99] and epirubicin- (C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu][66,85,102]. Measurements from these analyses were utilized to calculate the gemcitabine and epirubicin molar-incorporation-indexes for gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu].

Determination of the immunoglobulin concentration for the covalent gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-( C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] immunochemotherapeutics was determined by measuring absorbance at 280nm in combinations with utilizing a 235nm -vs- 280nm standardized reference curve in order to accommodate for any potential absorption profile over-lap at 280nm between immunoglobulin and the chemotherapeutic moieties of gemcitabine and epirubicin.

Mass/size-dependent separation of gemcitabine-immunochemotherapeutics by non-reducing SDS-PAGE: Covalent gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3- amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] immunochemotherapeutics in addition to reference control anti-EGFR and anti-HER2/neu immunoglobulin fractions were adjusted to a standardized protein concentration of 60μg/ml and then combined 50/50 v/v with conventional SDS-PAGE sample preparation buffer (Tris/glycerol/bromphenyl blue/SDS) formulated without 2- mercaptoethanol or boiling. Each covalent immunochemotherapeutic, the reference control immunoglobulin fraction (0.9μg/well) and a mixture of pre-stained reference control molecular weight markers were then developed by non-reducing SDS-PAGE (11% acrylamide) performed at 100 V constant voltage at 30C for 2.5 hours.

Western-blot immunodetection analyses: Covalent gemcit gemcitabine-( C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)- [anti-HER2/neu] immunochemotherapeutics following mass/ size-dependent separation by non-reducing SDS-PAGE were equilibrated in tank buffer devoid of methanol. Mass/sizeseparated gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-( C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] contained in acrylamide SDS-PAGE gels were then transferred laterally onto sheets of nitrocellulose membrane at 20 volts (constant voltage) for 16 hours at 20 to 30C with the transfer manifold packed in crushed ice.

Nitrocellulose membranes with laterally-transferred immunochemotherapeutics were then equilibrated in Tris buffered saline (TBS: Tris HCl 0.1M, NaCl 150mM, pH 7.5, 40ml) at 40C for 15 minutes followed by incubation in TBS blocking buffer solution (Tris 0.1M, pH 7.4, 40ml) containing bovine serum albumin (5%) for 16 hours at 2for 16 hours at 20 to 30C applied in combination with gentle horizontal agitation. Prior to further processing, nitrocellulose membranes were vigorously rinsed in Tris buffered saline (Tris 0.1M, pH 7.4, 40ml, n = 3x).

Nitrocellulose membranes following BSA-block and serial rinsing were then incubated with biotinylated goat anti-murine IgG (1:10,000 dilution) at 40C for 18 hours applied in combination with gentle horizontal agitation. Nitrocellulose membranes were then vigorously rinsed in TBS (pH 7.4, 40 C, 50ml, n = 3) followed by incubation in blocking buffer (Tris 0.1M, pH 7.4, with BSA 5%, 40ml). Blocking buffer was decanted from nitrocellulose membrane blots which were then rinsed in TBS (pH 7.4, 40 C, 50ml, n = 3) before incubation with strepavidin-HRPO (1:100,000 dilution) at 40C for 2 hours applied in combination with gentle horizontal agitation. Prior to chemiluminescent development nitrocellulose membranes were vigorously rinsed in Tris buffered saline (Tris 0.1M, pH 7.4, 40ml, n = 3). Following development with conjugated HRPO- strepavidin each nitrocellulose membrane was then incubated with HRPO chemiluminescent substrate (250C; 5-to-10 minutes). Chemiluminescent autoradiography images were acquired by exposing radiographic film (Kodak BioMax XAR) to nitrocellulose membranes sealed within transparent ultraclear re-sealable plastic bags.

Mammary adenocarcinoma tissue culture cell culture: The human mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) was utilized as an ex-vivo model for neoplastic disease. Populations of the mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) were propagated at >85% level of confluency in 150-cc2 tissue culture flasks containing McCoy's 5a Modified Medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum (10% v/v) and penicillin-streptomycin at a temperature of 37O C under a gas atmosphere of air (95%) and carbon dioxide (5% CO2). Trypsin or any other biochemically active enzyme fraction were not used to facilitate harvest of mammary adenocarcinoma SKBr-3 cell suspensions for seeding of tissue culture flasks or multi-well tissue culture plates. Growth media was not supplemented with growth factors, growth hormones or any other type of growth stimulant. Characteristic features and biological properties of the mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) cell line includes chemotherapeutic-resistance, over expression of epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR, ErbB-1, HER1: at 2.2 x 105/cell), and high over-expression of epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (EGFR2, HER2/neu, ErbB- 2, CD340, p185: at 1 x 106/cell).

Cell-ELISA total membrane-bound immunoglobulin assay: Cell suspensions of mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) were seeded into 96-well microtiter plates in aliquots of 2 x 105 cells/well and allowed to form a confluent adherent monolayer over a period of 48 hours. The growth media content of each individual well was removed manually by pipette and cellular monolayers were then serially rinsed (n = 3) with PBS followed by their stabilization onto the plastic surface of 96- well plates with paraformaldehyde (4% in PBS, 15 minutes). Stabilized cellular monolayers were then incubated with covalent gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin- (C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] immunochemotherapeutics formulated at gradient concentrations of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 and 10μg/ml in tissue culture growth media (200μl/well). Direct contact incubation between (SKBr-3) cellular monolayers and gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin- (C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] was performed at 37O C over an incubation period of 3-hours using a gas atmosphere of air (95%) and carbon dioxide (5% CO2). Following serial rinsing with PBS (n = 3), development of stabilized mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) monolayers entailed incubation with β-galactosidase conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG (1:500 dilution) for 2 hours at 25O C with residual unbound immunoglobulin removed by serial rinsing with PBS (n = 3). Final cell ELISA development required serial rinsing (n = 3) of stabilized (SKBr-3) monolayers with PBS followed by incubation with nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside substrate (100μl/well of ONPG formulated fresh at 0.9 mg/ml in PBS pH 7.2 containing MgCl2 10mM, and 2-mercaptoethanol 0.1M). Absorbance within each individual well was measured at 410nm (630nm reference wavelength) after incubation at 37O C for a period of 15 minutes.

Anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity: Individual preparations of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3- amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] were formulated in growth media at standardized chemotherapeutic-equivalent concentrations of 10-10, 10-9, 10-8, 10-7, and 10-6 M (final concentration). Each chemotherapeutic-equivalent concentration of covalent immunochemotherapeutic was then transferred in triplicate into 96-well microtiter plates containing mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) monolayers and growth media (200μl/well). Covalent immunochemotherapeutics where then incubated in direct contact with monolayer populations of mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) for a period of 182-hours (37O C under a gas atmosphere of air (95%) and carbon dioxide/ CO2 (5%). Following the initial 96-hour incubation period, mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) populations were replenished with fresh tissue culture media with or without covalent immunochemotherapeutics or benzimidazole tubulin/microtubule inhibitors.

Cytotoxic potencies for gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] were measured by removing all contents within the 96-well microtiter plates manually by pipette followed by serial rinsing of monolayers (n = 3) with PBS and incubation with 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide vitality stain reagent formulated in RPMI-1640 growth media devoid of pH indicator or bovine fetal calf serum (MTT: 5mg/ml). During an incubation period of 3-4 hours at 37O C under a gas atmosphere of air (95%) and carbon dioxide (5% CO2) the enzyme mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase was allowed to convert the MTT vitality stain reagent to navy-blue formazone crystals within the cytosol of mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) populations (some reports suggest that NADH/NADPH dependent cellular oxidoreductase enzymes may also be involved in the biochemical conversion process). Contents of the 96- well microtiter plate was then removed, followed by serial rinsing with PBS (n = 3). The resulting blue intracellular formazone crystals were dissolved with DMSO (300μl/well) and then the spectrophotometric absorbance of the blue-colored supernatant measured at 570nm using a computer-integrated microtiter plate reader.

Molar-incorporation index: Size-separation of gemcitabine- (C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti- HER2/neu] by micro-scale desalting/buffer exchange column chromatography consistently yields covalent immunochemotherapeutic preparations that contained < 4.0% of residual chemotherapeutic that was not covalently bound to immunoglobulin[ 66,85,97,98,102]. Small residual amounts of non-covalently bound chemotherapeutic remaining within covalent immunochemotherapeutic preparations is generally accepted to not be available for further removal through any additional sequential column chromatography separations.[103] The calculated estimate of the molar-incorporation-index for the covalent gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] immunochemotherapeutic was 2.78 utilizing the organic chemistry reaction scheme to form an amide bond at the cytosine-like mono-amine of gemcitabine and synthesis of the UV-photoactivated gemcitabine-(C4-amide) intermediate (Figure 1). The molar-incorporation-ration of 2.78-to-1 for gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] was relatively larger than the 1.1-to- 1 gemcitabine molar-incorporation-index attained during the synthesis of gemcitabine-(C5-methylcarbamate)-[anti-HER2/ neu][97].

Molecular weight profile analysis: Mass/size separation of covalent gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin- (C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] immunochemotherapeutics by SDS-PAGE in combination with immunodetection analysis (Western blot) and chemiluminescent autoradiography recognized a single primary condensed band of 150-kDa between a molecular weight range of 5.0-kDa to 450-kDa (Figure. 2) Patterns of low-molecular-weight fragmentation (proteolytic/ hydrolytic degradation) or large-molecular-weight immunoglobulin polymerization were not detected (Figure 2). The observed molecular weight of 150-kDa for both gemcitabine- (C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti- HER2/neu] directly corresponds with the known molecular weight/mass of reference control anti-HER2/neu monoclonal immunoglobulin fractions (Figure 2). Analogous results have been reported for similar covalent immunochemotherapeutics[ 61,66,85, 97,98,102, 104].

Cell-Binding Analysis: Total bound immunoglobulin in the form of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin- (C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] on the external surface membrane of adherent mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) populations was measured by cell-ELISA (Figure 3). Greater total membrane-bound gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] was detected with progressive increases in standardized total immunoglobulinequivalent concentrations formulated at 0.010, 0.025, 0.050, 0.250, and 0.500μg/ml (Figure 3). Collectively each of these sets of cell-ELISA findings serve to validate the retained selective binding-avidity of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] for over-expressed EGFR (2.2 x 105 per cell) and highly over-expressed HER2/neu (1 x 106 per cell) trophic receptor sites on the exterior surface membrane of mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr- 3) populations (Figure 3)[97].

Anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity: Anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] after 182-hours was consistently greater than epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu] following a 96-hour incubation period against chemotherapeutic resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) at and between chemotherapeutic-equivalent concentrations of 10-13 M and 10-7 M (Figure 4). Based on the difference in contact incubation periods applied and the levels of anti-neoplastic potency acquired, it can be assumed that epirubicin- (C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] is relatively more potent than gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] over a direct contact incubation period of 96-hours (Figure 4). Gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-EGFR] produced progressively higher levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of 0.0% at 10-14 M (100% residual survival) to 41.4% at 10-8 M (58.6% residual survival) followed by a relatively more rapid increase from 41.4% to 90.1% at and between 10-8 M and 10-6 M (58.6% and 9.86% residual survival) respectively (Figure 4). Alternatively, relatively rapid increases in anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity from 0.0% to 88.5% were detected for epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-R2/neu] at and between chemotherapeutic-equivalent concentrations of 10-9 M and 10-6 M (100% to 11.5% residual survival) respectively (Figure 4). Epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] following a 182-hour incubation period produced essentially identical levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity that varied between 7.7%and 9.3% residual survival for chemotherapeutic-equivalent concentrations at and between 10-14 M and 10-6 M (Figure 4).

The anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity profiles for gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-EGFR] in dual-combination with epirubicin- (C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] compared to gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-EGFR] alone were somewhat similar. Rapid progressive increases in anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity for gemcitabine-( C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] in dual-combination with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] from 0.0% to 91.9% were detected at and between the chemotherapeutic-equivalent concentrations of 10-11 M and 10-6 M (100% and 8.1% residual survival) respectively (Figure 4 and Figure 5). Alternatively, gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] created progressive and substantial increases in anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity from 0.0% to 90.1% at and between the chemotherapeutic-equivalent concentrations of 10-14 M and 10-6 M (100% to 9.9% residual survival) respectively (Figure 4 and Figure 5). Levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity for gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] in dual-combination with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu] were very similar to gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] at and between the chemotherapeutic concentrations of 10-10 M (79.5% -vs- 70.6% residual survival) and the maximum concentration of 10-6 M (8.1% -vs- 9.9% residual survival) respectively (Figure 4 and Figure 5).

The anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity profiles for gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu] formulated as a chemotherapeutic-standardized 50/50 dual-combination following a 182-hour incubation period appeared distinctly different than those detected for only epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] after a 96-hour incubation period especially at the chemotherapeutic-equivalent concentrations of 10-10 M, 10-9 M and 10-8 M (Figure 4). Anti- neoplastic cytotoxicity levels for gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] at 182-hours and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] after a 96-hour at and between the chemotherapeutic-equivalent concentrations of 10-14 M and 10-11 M were essentially identical based on values of 5.6% and 0.4% (94.4% -vs- 99.6% residual survival) respectively (Figure 4). Gemcitabine-(C4-amide)- [anti-EGFR] in dual-combination with epirubicin-(C3-amide)- [anti-HER2/neu] produced greater levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity compared to epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu] alone based on the measured values of 20.5% -vs-0.4% at 10-10 M (79.5% -vs- 99.6% residual survival); 49.5% -vs- 0.0% at 10-9 M (50.5% -vs- 100% residual survival); 51.3% -vs- 9.8% at 10-8 M (48.7% -vs- 90.2% residual survival); and 89.1% -vs- 66.9% at 10-7 (10.9% -vs- 33.1% residual survival) respectively (Figure 4). Both gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] in dual-combination with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu], and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] alone had nearly identical maximum values of 88.5% -vs- 91.9% at 10-6 M (11.5% -vs- 8.1% residual survival) respectively (Figure 4). Epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] following a 182-hour incubation period produced nearly identical levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity that varied between 7.7% and 9.3% residual survival for chemotherapeutic-equivalent concentrations at and between 10-14 M and 10-6 M (Figure 4).

In the comparison of two different dual selective “targeted” delivery strategies, the combination of gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu] consistently displayed a trend for exerting greater selectively “targeted” anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity against chemotherapeutic- resistant mammary adenocarcinoma than did gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] with gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] at and between the chemotherapeutic- equivalent concentrations of 10-9 M and 10-6 M (Figure 5). Relative anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity for gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu] compared to gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] with gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] was 49.5% -vs- 24.5% (50.5% -vs- 75.5% residual survival) at 10-9 M; 51.3% -vs- 66.7% (48.7% -vs- 67.2% residual survival) at 10-8 M; 11.6% -vs- 69.9% (10.9% -vs- 30.1% residual survival) at 10-7 M; and 91.9% -vs- 83.7.5% (8.1% -vs- 16.3% residual survival) at 10-6 M respectively (Figure 5). Essentially identical levels of selectively “targeted” anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity was measured at 10-10 M (79.5% -vs- 75.7% residual survival) for the dual- combinations of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] and gemcitabine- (C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] with gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti- HER2/neu] respectively (Figure 5).

The anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of individual covalent epirubicin and gemcitabine immunochemotherapeutics is detectably different against chemotherapeutic resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) populations (Figure 6) [66,85,97, 98,102]. Gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C4-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] each possessed potent levels of anti-neoplastic potency as a function of both chemotherapeutic-quivalent concentration and the duration of the contact incubation period (Figure 4, 5 and Figure 6). Comparative evaluation reveals that gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[antiEGFR] was relatively more potent than many if not most analogous epirubicin[66;85;102] and especially gemcitabine[97,98] covalent immunochemotherapeutics (Figure 6).

The relative anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of gemcitabine against chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) following an incubation period of 96-hours was lower than levels detected following a 182-hour incubation period particularly at the chemotherapeutic-equivalent concentrations of 10-8 M (92.3% -vs-75.3% residual survival), 10-7 M (64.8% -vs- 11.7% residual survival) and 10-6 M (52.0% -vs- 7.5% residual survival) respectively (Figure 7). Epirubicin after a 96-hour incubation period was more potent than gemcitabine following a 96-hour incubation period which was most prominent at the chemotherapeutic-equivalent concentrations of 10-8 M (86.6% -vs- 92.3% residual survival), 10-7 M (37.9% -vs- 64.8% residual survival) and 10-6 M (18.5% -vs- 52.0% residual survival) respectively (Figure 7). Gemcitabine following a 182-hour incubation period produced higher levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity than epirubicin following a 96- hour incubation period which was most prominent at 10-8 M (75.3% -vs- 86.6% residual survival), 10-7 M (11.7% -vs- 37.9%residual survival) and 10-6 M (7.5% -vs- 18.5% residual survival) respectively (Figure 7).

The anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)- [anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] formulated as a 50/50 dual-combination following a 182-hour incubation period was increased when evaluated in combination with mebendazole (0.15μM fixed final concentration) following a 96-hour incubation period (Figure 8). The combination of mebendazole with gemcitabine-(C4-amide)- [anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] was detectably more potent at the chemotherapeutic-equivalent concentrations of 10-10 M (8.7% -vs- 79.5% residual survival), 10-9 M (8.7% -vs- 50.5% residual survival), and 10-8 M (7.7% -vs- 48.7% residual survival) respectively (Figure 8. Essentially identical levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity were detected for of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] in dual-combination with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu] with and without mebendazole at the chemotherapeuticequivalent concentrations of 10-7 M (8.1% -vs- 10.9% residual survival) and 10-6 M (8.6% -vs- 8.1% residual survival) respectively (Figure 8).

The benzimadazole tubulin/microtubule inhibitors, albendazole, flubendazole and mebendazole exerted substantial antineoplastic cytotoxicity against chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) at final concentrations formulated at and between the range of 0.05μM to 2.5μM (Figure 9). Mean anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity profiles for both flubendazole and mebendazole revealed progressive and substantial increases from approximately 0% and 0% (100% and 100% residual survival) at 0.05μM to 70.2% and 63.1% (29.8% and 36.9% residual survival) at the benzimidazole-equivalent concentration of 0.4 M respectively (Figure 9). Mean antineoplastic cytotoxicity profiles for albendazole revealed a progressive increase in anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity from 6.2% (93.8% residual survival) at a benzimidazole-equivalent concentration of 0.4μM, to a near maximum of 65.4% (34.6% residual survival) at 2.0mM respectively (Figure 9). Mean maximum cytotoxic anti-neoplastic potencies for albendazole, flubendazole and mebendazole were 64.8%, 68.7% and 70.9% (35.2%, 31.3.% and 29.1% residual survival) at the highest benzimidazole-equivalent concentration of 2.5μM (Figure 9). Challenge of chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) with mebendazole over a longer incubation period of 182-hours compared to 96-hours resulted in substantially greater levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity that were most prominent at concentrations of 0.2μM (25.2% -vs- 69.6% residual survival) and 0.3μM (9.2% -vs- 48.0% residual survival) but was also evident for formulations at and between 0.4μM (7.5% -vs- 36.9% residual survival) and 2.5μM (6.4% -vs- 29.1% residual survival) respectively (Figure 10).

Covalent immunochemotherapeutics can be synthesized that promote both selective “targeted” chemotherapeutic delivery, and through a variety of mechanisms exert greater levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity compared to the “free” non-covalently bound form of the chemotherapeutic moeity. [66,85,89, 92,96,102,105-107] Covalent anthracycline immunochemotherapeutics have been designed that selectively “target” chemotherapeutic delivery to, and evoke potent ex-vivo anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity against several different cancer cell types including mammary adenocarcinoma (anti-HER2/neu, anti-EGFR),[66,85] colon adenocarcinoma (anti-CEA);[93] multiple myeloma (CD38+, MC/CAR),[88] B-lymphoma,[87] melanoma,[89,92,96] gastric carcinoma,[108] colon carcinoma94] pulmonary carcinoma,[104] and other neoplastic cell types (CEA).[91,92] In direct accord with their level of in-vitro efficacy, similar covalent anthracycline immunochemotherapeutics reduce in-vivo tumor burden and prolong survival against human xenografts of gastric carcinoma,[108] breast cancer,[90] CD38 positive MC/CAR multiple myeloma,[ 88] B-lymphoma,[87] T-cell lymphoma,[109] colon carcinoma,[ 90,105,106,110] ovarian carcinoma,[105] pulmonary carcinoma,[90] metastatic melanoma,[89,96] hepatocellular carcinoma,[86] and intracerebral small-cell lung carcinoma[ 111-113].

The molecular design, synthetic organic chemistry reaction schemes, and anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of gemcitabine covalently bound to large molecular weight delivery platforms has been described on a limited scale compared to analogous covalent anthracycline immunochemotherapeutics. Still fewer published investigations exist describe organic chemistry synthesis reactions for covalently bonding gemcitabine to monoclonal immunoglobulin or other fractions of biologically active protein/polypeptide[97,98]. Due to the type and relatively low number of chemical groups (sites) available within the molecular structure of gemcitabine there are only a limited number of heterobifunctional organic chemistry reaction schemes that can be been utilized to covalently bond gemcitabine to large molecular weight platforms. One potential methodology involves the creation of a covalent bond structure at the cytosinelike monoamine group of gemcitabine[80,114-117] either as a direct link to a ligand or for the purpose of creating a gemcitabine reactive intermediate. Similar molecular strategies have been employed to synthesize covalent anthracycline immunochemotherapeutics through the creation of a covalent bond at the α-monoamine (C3-amino) group of the carbohydrate moiety within the molecular composition of doxorubicin, daunorubicin, epirubicin and related anthracycline class chemotherapeutics[ 64,66,68,70-75,77,78,82,98,118]. Generation of a covalent bond at the C5-methylhydroxy group of gemcitabine represents an alternative molecular strategy for the synthesis covalent gemcitabine-ligand conjugates[97,114, 117,119-123].

Gemcitabine has been covalent bonded to a number of biologically relevant ligands with binding avidity for trophic receptors like HER2/neu and EGFR that are frequently overexpressed by many carcinomas and adenocarcinomas including those affecting the breast. Most prominent in this regard are poly-L-glutamic acid (polypeptide configuration);[122] cardiolipin;[119,120] 1-dodecylthio-2-decyloxypropyl-3-phophatidic acid;[121,123] lipid-nucleosides;[124] N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide polymer (HPMA);[80] benzodiazepine receptor ligand;[114,117] 4-(N)-valeroyl, 4-(N)-lauroyl, 4-(N)-stearoyl,[116] and anti-HER2/neu;[97,98] in addition to 4-fluoro[18F]-benzaldehyde derivative[115] for application as a diagnostic positron emitting radionuclide.

A trend was recognized for the dual-combination of gemcitabine-( C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-(C3-amide)- [anti-HER2/neu] to exert slightly greater levels of selectively “targeted” anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity against chemotherapeutic- resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) at the chemotherapeutic- equivalent concentrations of 10-9 M, 10-8 M and 10-7 M compared to gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[EGFR] alone (Figure 4). The dual-combination of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)- [anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] also produced greater levels of selectively “targeted” antineoplastic cytotoxicity compared to the dual-combination of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] with gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] at the chemotherapeutic-equivalent concentrations 10-9 M, 10-8 M, 10-7 M and 10-6 M although the results at 10-6 M were not significantly different (Figure 5).

A variety of molecular mechanisms and cellular processes likely account for the levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity produced by dual-combinations of covalent immunochemotherapeutics. Most notable in this regard is the interdependent interactions between aspects related to cancer cell biology, and properties of the corresponding immunoglobulin component of covalent immunochemotherapeutics. Cancer cell biology variables that are influential in this regard include; [i] expression density of the external membrane-associated trophic receptor “targets” relative to normal tissues and organ systems; [ii] extent that a site on the external surface of cancer cell membranes chosen to facilitate selective “targeted” chemotherapeutic delivery ultimately undergoes internalization by mechanisms of receptor- mediated-endocytosis following the physical binding of a receptor ligand or specific immunoglobulin; [iii] rate at which membrane trophic receptor complexes are re-expressed and replenished following (ligand or immunoglobulin induced) internalization by mechanisms of receptor-mediated-endocytosis; and the [vi] degree that neoplastic cell vitality and proliferation characteristics are dependent upon over-expression of specific membrane trophic receptor complexes.

In the molecular design and organic chemistry synthesis of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR], epirubicin-(C3-amide)- [anti-HER2/neu] and similar covalent immunochemotherapeutics, their corresponding immunoglobulin component can innately exert an array of properties that contribute significantly to their capacity to achieve maximum anti-neoplastic cytotoxic potency. Covalent immunochemotherapeutics like gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR][98] and epirubicin- (C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu][102] that possess binding-avidity for EGFR, HER2/neu, IGF-1R, VEGFR or other trophic membrane receptors uniquely or highly expressed by a neoplastic cell then their immunoglobulin component is capable of directly or indirectly suppressing neoplastic cell vitality, proliferation rate, metastatic potential, and chemotherapeutic resistance. Inhibiting the function of trophic receptors over-expressed by neoplastic cells by the immunoglobulin component of covalent immunochemotherapeutics is in part achieved through competitive inhibition of endogenous ligand binding at membrane receptor sites (e.g. (e.g. EGF ⇉| IgG::EGFR). Inhibitory effects of this type are complemented by a transient down-regulated expression, or rather a partial or complete depletion of trophic membrane receptor expression secondary to mechanisms of immunoglobulin-induced receptor-mediated-endocytosis[125].

In parallel with suppression of trophic membrane receptor function the IgG immunoglobulin component of gemcitabine- (C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR], epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu], and analogous covalent immunochemotherapeutics effectively facilitates selective “targeted” chemotherapeutic delivery and continual deposition of the chemotherapeutic moiety onto the exterior surface membrane of neoplastic cell populations. The decision regarding which site or sites on the external surface membrane of neoplastic cells is to be selected to facilitate selective “targeted” chemotherapeutic delivery is important because it determines several critical attributes. In general theory and practice the immunoglobulin component of covalent immunochemotherapeutics can promote selective “targeted” chemotherapeutic delivery only if it possesses binding-avidity specifically for an antigenic “site” that is either uniquely expressed or relatively over-expressed on the external surface membrane of cancer cells compared to normal healthy tissues and organ systems. In mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) EGFR (2.2 x 105/cell) is over-expressed and HER2/neu (1 x 106/cell) is highly over-expressed compared to normal/healthy tissues and organ systems. Similar membraneassociated antigenic “sites” that are over-expressed by neoplastic cell types include CD19 (B-cell lymphoma), CD20 (chronic lymphocytic leukemia), CD22 (Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, CD30 (Hodgkin lymphoma), CD33 (acute myelogenous leukemia), CD52 (chronic lymphocytic leukemia), CD74 (multiple myeloma, B-cell lymphoma), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA: LoVo colon carcinoma), cervical carcinoma cell-surface antigen (cervical carcinoma), chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (metastatic melanoma), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR: mammary adenocarcinoma/carcinoma, metastatic melanoma, oral epidermoid carcinoma).

Due to their relatively massive size (molecular weight), gemcitabine-( C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)- [anti-HER2/neu] are essentially incapable of passively diffusing across the intact structure of the lipid bilayer membrane in neoplastic cell populations. The immunoglobulin component of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR], epirubicin-(C3-amide)- [anti-HER2/neu] and other covalent immunochemotherapeutics can facilitate not only the selective “targeted” delivery and deposition of chemotherapeutics on the external surface membrane of neoplastic cell types, but it can also initiate active trans-membrane intracellular transport of chemotherapeutic moieties. Trans-membrane intracellular transport of covalent immunochemotherapeutics is possible if their immunoglobulin component physically binds to (antigenic) “sites” on the exterior surface membrane of neoplastic cells that are known to be internalized by mechanisms similar or identical to those observed following selective binding of endogenous receptor ligands or immunoglobulin fraction (e.g. EGF or anti-EGFR → EGFR). Such qualities are often a characteristic of trophic membrane receptor complexes like EGFR, HER2/neu, IGF- 1R, and VEGFR that are each over-expressed by several neoplastic cell types including adenocarcinomas and carcinomas that affect the breast, ovary, prostate, lung and intestine. Selective binding of endogenous receptor ligands and immunoglobulin fractions at their corresponding receptor “sites” on the external surface membrane of neoplastic cells initiates internalization by receptor-mediated-endocytosis phenomenon. [125] Given this perspective, the immunoglobulin component of covalent immunochemotherapeutics like gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu] affords several important outcomes and attributes. First, receptor-mediated-endocytosis stimulated by the binding of the immunoglobulin component reduces the risk of covalent immunochemotherapeutics like gemcitabine-(C4-amide)- [anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] from simply coating the exterior surface membrane of neoplastic cell populations. Such a prerequisite is only necessary if the chemotherapeutic moiety exerts a mechanism-of-action that is dependent upon entry into the cytosol or nuclear environments. Second, internalization of covalent immunochemotherapeutics by receptor-mediated-endocytosis at endogenous trophic receptor “sites” aids in facilitating progressive and continual active trans-membrane transport and subsequent intracellular accumulation of the chemotherapeutic moiety.

In concept, a uniquely high “target” expression density on the exterior surface membrane is assumed to represent a distinctly desirable characteristic for the purpose of facilitating selective “targeted” chemotherapeutic delivery because it theoretically maximizes the amount of a covalent immunochemotherapeutic deposited on the external surface membrane of a given cancer cell populations. However, from the perspective of immunoglobulin fractions with binding-avidity for trophic membrane receptors, there has been some speculation that has proposed that immunotherapeutics like anti-EGFR, anti-HER2/ neu, anti-IGF-1R, and anti-VEGFR may be most effective when their corresponding “targets” are expressed by neoplastic cell types at intermediate instead of high or ultra-high levels. A second assumption has proposed that high “target” membrane expression densities also accelerates the rate and extent that chemotherapeutic moieties of covalent immunochemotherapeutics like gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-( C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] are actively transported across intact external membrane structures of neoplastic cell types. Given a single trophic membrane receptor type in a single neoplastic cell type this assumption is largely considered to be relatively accurate. However, EGFR, HER2/neu, IGF-1R, VEGFR and other trophic membrane receptor sites in different neoplastic cell types are likely internalized by mechanisms of receptor-mediated-endocytosis at relatively unequal rates and are also subsequently re-expressed and replenished at different rates following internalization. Specific data remains rather limited about the receptor-mediated-endocytosis of covalent immunochemotherapeutics like epirubicin-[anti-HER2/ neu][66,85,102] epirubicin-[anti-EGFR],[66] gemcitabine- [anti-HER2/neu],[97,98] or gemcitabine-[anti-EGFR] following their physical binding to the trophic receptors, EGFR or HER2/neu over-expressed by mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3). However, metastatic multiple myeloma cell types are known to internally transport and subsequently metabolize approximately 8 x 106 molecules of anti-CD74 monoclonal antibody per day[126]. Acknowledgement of this consideration correlates with the basic concept that selective “targeted” chemotherapeutic delivery at a single membrane-associated receptor complex and its subsequent internalization by receptor- mediated-endocytosis can result in increases in intracellular chemotherapeutic concentrations that approach and exceed levels 8.5x[106] to >100x[127] fold greater than those capable of being attaining by simple passive chemotherapeuticdiffusion from the extracellular fluid compartment (e.g. following intravenous injection of “free” chemotherapeutic). Assumed advantages of promoting higher cytosol chemotherapeutic concentrations at least in theory is that it accelerates the rate at which neoplastic cells are resolved in-situ thereby reducing the frequency and time frame during which certain forms of chemotherapeutic-resistance can develop. In concert with these considerations, it would logically be anticipated that total overall dosage requirements would also be reduced.

Several pharmaceutical strategies exist for increasing the total amount of chemotherapeutic moiety actively transported across intact membranes of neoplastic cells and into the intracellular cytosol environment of neoplastic cells in the form of a covalent immunochemotherapeutic. Simultaneous selective “targeted” chemotherapeutic delivery of dual covalent immunochemotherapeutic combinations like gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-EGFR] or epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu] that are directed at more than one receptor (antigenic) “site” expressed on the exterior surface membrane of neoplastic cell populations represents one potential approach to achieving this objective (Figure 4and 5). Alternatively, the expression densities of one or more membrane receptor “sites” utilized for the purpose of selectively “targeted” chemotherapeutic delivery can be enhanced by up-regulating their translation[ 128;129]. Complementary cancer cell biology based strategies include accelerating the rate at which trophic receptor “sites” are replenishment (re-expression) on the exterior surface membrane following internalization by receptor-mediated- endocytosis during the time period when neoplastic cell sub-populations remain viable. Lastly, elevating the amount of chemotherapeutic actively transported into the cytosol of individual neoplastic cells by mechanisms of receptor-mediated- endocytosis can also be increased by utilizing synthetic organic chemistry reactions and conditions that elevate the molar-incorporation index of the chemotherapeutic moiety of covalent immunochemotherapeutics.

The covalent bonding of chemotherapeutics to delivery platforms provides several somewhat passive but none the less important attributes that are directly related to molecular weight. Enhanced levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity for gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] or epirubicin-(C3- amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] against chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) and potentially other chemotherapeutic-resistant cancer populations can be attributed to covalent bonding of the chemotherapeutic moieties to a delivery platform that has a much larger molecular weight (e.g. IgG MW = 150,000 Da -vs- gemcitabine MW = 263.198 Da). Covalent bonding of chemotherapeutics to large molecular weight platforms of this size imparts physical alterations that through mechanisms of steric hinderance inhibit the biological function of entities that can utilize the “free” form of chemotherapeutics as a substrate. In this manner, the biochemical activity of degradative enzymes is suppressed (e.g. gemcitabine inactivation by cytosine deaminase) as is the capacity of Pglycoprotein (MDR-1: multi-drug resistance protein)[121] to extracellular chemotherapeutic transport when it functions as a non-selective trans-membrane efflux “pump” complex (commonly associated with mechanisms of chemotherapeutic-resistance)[130-135]. Such a phenomenon may in part reflect the observation that 24-hours post selective “targeted” delivery, a relatively large proportion of an anthracycline (>50%) is retained intracellularly[106] where it becomes primarily associated with membrane structures or it can be found distributed throughout the cytosol environment[125,136]. In this context, “free” non-conjugated anthracycline following passive diffusion across intact lipid bi-layer membranes is primarily detected within complexes associated with nuclear DNA less than 30 minutes after initial exposure[125] while anthracycline liberated from covalent anthracycline immunochemotherapeutics reportedly distributes to, and accumulates within the nucleus, mitochondria and golgi compartments.[103] Acknowledgement that chemotherapeutic moieties of most, if not all covalent immunochemotherapeutics are less affected by P-glycoprotein associated extracellular transport is important from a clinical perspective because a high percentage of aggressive and resistant forms of breast cancer over-express EGFR and/or HER2/neu[137-139] and this characteristic is frequently associated with chemotherapeutic-resistance, elevated cancer cell survival characteristics, and increased proliferation rates (e.g. relevant to local invasiveness and metastatic dissemination) [140,141]. Resistant forms of breast cancer that over-expresses EGFR and HER2/neu often are less vulnerable to the cytotoxic properties of chemotherapeutics due to simultaneous overexpression of transmembrane P-glycoprotein[142-147].

Similar in concept to the large molecular weight immunoglobulin fractions decreasing the vulnerability of gemcitabine and epirubicin moieties within gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti- EGFR] or epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] to the influence of P-glycorpotein, this same attributes imposes steric hinderance phenomenon that suppresses chemotherapeutic metabolism. As a consequence, chemotherapeutic moieties like gemcitabine that are covalently bound to immunoglobulin are less vulnerable to biochemical degradation by enzyme fractions like cytadine deaminase, and deoxycytidylate deaminase (following gemcitabine phosphorylation) which both impose rapid deamination reactions. Lastly, the large mass size of immunoglobulin fractions is greater than the glomerular filtration molecular weight cut off (MWCO = 50-kDa) which in turn effectively decreases the renal clearance (rate and extent) of chemotherapeutic moieties associated with covalent immunochemotherapeutics in a manner that substantially prolongs their plasma pharmacokinetic profile.

The covalent immunochemotherapeutics, gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-HER2/neu],[98] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)- [anti-HER2/neu][102] both individually or in dual-combination with one another can potentially evoke additive and synergistic planes of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity.

Level-1: Additive or synergistic levels of selectively “targeted” anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity can be attained when two different chemotherapeutic moieties are utilized in the organic chemistry synthesis of two different covalent immunochemotherapeutics. Dual selective “targeted” delivery of gemcitabine and epirubicin at two different trophic membrane receptors over-expressed (EGFR) or highly over-expressed (HER2/neu) by chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) collectively serve as a prototype strategy for attaining similar properties through the simultaneous application of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-(C3- amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] based on the levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity detected at and between the chemotherapeutic equivalent concentrations of 10-9 M and 10-7 M (FFigure 4). In this example, additive and synergistic properties of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity are dependent upon the collective innate mechanisms-of-action associated with the dual gemcitabine and epirubicin combination of chemotherapeutics; their simultaneous or synchronized internalization by mechanisms of receptor-mediated-endocytosis; and the unique biological characteristics of chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3). The anthracyclines in general are a highly potent class of chemotherapeutic that have been coadministered with gemcitabine for the therapeutic management of several different forms of advanced neoplastic disease[ 148] including breast cancer,[149] renal carcinoma,[150] and leiomyosarcoma[151]. Gemcitabine exerts synergistic anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity when applied in combination with a number of conventional “small molecular weight” chemotherapeutics including oxaliplatin,[152] 5-fluorouracil (5- FU),[153] pemetrexed,[154,155] hydroxyurea,[156,157] bortezomib,[ 158] and sorafenib[159].

General pharmacology guidelines advocate that different chemotherapeutics should be utilized in dual-combinations that ideally possess mechanisms-of-action that are complementary in effect and distinctly different in order to avoid competitive inhibition phenomenon. However, chemotherapeutic moieties covalently bound to large molecular weight platforms that facilitate selective “targeted” delivery are usually associated with a decreased frequency and severity of sequelae that are commonly induced by the “free” non-protein bound form of the chemotherapeutic agent. Because covalent immunochemotherapeutics impose a lower frequency and severity of sequelae it then becomes possible to utilized combinations of two or more chemotherapeutic moieties that normally could not previously be administered together in a “free” non-protein bound form due to dose-limiting sequelae. In effect, covalently bonding multiple different chemotherapeutics to large molecular weight delivery platforms therefore functions as a strategy for broadening the therapeutic spectrum of different chemotherapeutic combinations (e.g. n = ≥2) because of their wider margin-of-safety. Given this perspective covalently bonding chemotherapeutics to large molecular weight delivery platforms provides a potential opportunity to also administer total chemotherapeutic dosage levels for the resolution of resistant forms of neoplastic disease that could not be safely resolved with the same total dosage of the “free” non-protein bound form of the chemotherapeutic agent.

Level-2: Simultaneous or staggered inhibition of EGFR (overexpressed) and HER2/neu (highly over-expressed) function on the external surface membrane of mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) utilizing multiple covalent immunochemotherapeutics represents an approach for attaining additive and synergistic levels of anti-neoplastic efficacy. Selectively “targeted” inhibition of different membrane trophic receptors with multiple covalent immunochemotherapeutics like the dualcombination of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] is important because EGFR, HER2/neu, IGFR, and VEGFR are over-expressed by many neoplastic cell types where they directly or indirectly regulate proliferation rate, metastatic characteristics, and chemotherapeutic resistance. Inhibiting the function of more than one trophic receptor over-expressed on the exterior surface membrane of neoplastic cell populations is also important because a single immunoglobulin fraction like anti-EGFR, anti-HER2/neu, anti-IGFR, and anti-VEGFR usually are only capable of reducing cancer cell vitality and decreasing rates of proliferation but are generally incapable of evoking cytotoxic resolution of neoplastic disease[15,16,30-34].

The opportunity to achieve synergistic levels of anti-neoplastic efficacy is at least theoretically greatest when two or more trophic receptors utilized to selectively “target” chemotherapeutic delivery has a distinctly different effect on neoplastic cell biology. Alternatively it is assumed that inhibiting the function of two different trophic receptors that each have essentially an identical influence or effect on cancer cell biology would probably not produce a synergistic effect but could promote greater suppression of neoplastic cell vitality and proliferation than is possible with just a single anti-trophic receptor immunoglobulin. Although the in-vivo immune-mediated anti-neoplastic properties of anti-trophic receptor immunoglobulins is highly relevant, such processes are unfortunately challenging to collectively simulate and difficult accurately detect during the relatively brief incubation periods employed for evaluating the ex-vivo potency of many if not most covalent immunochemotherapeutics[ 66,85,97-99,102,160].

Level-3: Additive and synergistic levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity can be attained when immunoglobulin fractions like anti-EGFR, anti-HER2/neu, anti-IGFR, and anti-VGFR are selected for the organic chemistry synthesis of covalent immunochemotherapeutics possesses because of their innate anti-neoplastic properties. Multiple levels of additive and synergistic anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity can ultimately be attained when two different covalent immunochemotherapeutics are applied in dual-combination within one another when they are composed of different chemotherapeutic moieties, and are selectively “targeted” for delivery at different membrane trophic receptor types. In instances where Simultaneous selective “targeted” chemotherapeutic delivery (e.g. gemcitabine and epirubicin) in dual-combination with inhibition of trophic-receptor function especially when they are over-expressed (e.g. SKBr-3: EGFR) or highly over-expressed (e.g. SKBr-3: HER2/neu) represents an opportunity for generating additive or synergistic levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity[ 10-12,52-55,58,59,161,162]. Additive or synergistic interactions of this type have been detected between anti- HER2/neu when applied in simultaneous combination with cyclophosphamide,[46,48] docetaxel,[48] doxorubicin,[46,48] etoposide,[48] methotrexate,[48] paclitaxel,[46;48] or vinblastine[ 48]. Similar to anti-HER2/neu,[46,48-52] other trophic receptor site inhibitors including anti-EGFR,[53-55] anti- IGFR-1,[56,57] and anti-VEGFR[45,58,59] also create additive and synergistic levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity when applied in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic agents. In the dual-combination of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)- [anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] the possible levels of additive or synergistic interactions between chemotherapeutic moieties and immunoglobulin fractions would include; [i] gemcitabine and anti-EGFR, [ii] gemcitabine and anti-HER2/neu; [iii] gemcitabine, anti-EGFR, and anti-HER2/neu; [iv] epirubicin and anti-EGFR, [v] epirubicin and anti-HER2/neu; [vi] epirubicin, anti-EGFR, and anti- HER2/neu; [vii] gemcitabine, epirubicin and anti-EGFR; [viii] gemcitabine, epirubicin and anti-HER2/neu; and/or [ix] gemcitabine, epirubicin, anti-EGFR and anti-HER2/neu.

Level-4: Simultaneous in-vivo selective “targeted” delivery of chemotherapeutic at trophic receptor sites (highly) over-expressed on the exterior surface membrane of neoplastic cell populations utilizing covalent immunochemotherapeutics provides affords attaining additional planes of additive and synergistic anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity. When dual-combinations of covalent immunochemotherapeutics like gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu] are selectively “targeted” in-vivo at EGFR and HER2/neu that are highly over-expressed by chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) it results in initiation of several innate immune responses that produce a variable degree of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity. Most prominent in this regard is an additive or synergistic levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity potentially attained through the combined interdependent effects of several immune-dependent processes that can include; [i] complement-mediated cytolysis; [ii] opsonization subsequent to the formation of IgG/receptor/complement complexes on the exterior surface of neoplastic cell membranes (e.g. macrophage mediated phagocytosis); and [iii] antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) which is classically mediated through natural killer lymphocytes (NK cells) but participation in this response can also include macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils. In ADCC responses the immune cells involved in this phenomenon release cytotoxic components that are known to additively and synergistically enhance the cytotoxic anti-neoplastic activity of conventional chemotherapeutic agents.[163] Recognition of the collective role that different immune-dependent responses have in contributing to additive and synergistic levels of anti- neoplastic potency at least in part delineates how covalent immunochemotherapeutics frequently evoke greater efficacy when implemented in-vivo compared to ex-vivo tissue culture based models for neoplastic disease even when the same identical cancer cell type (xenographs) are utilized[108,164,165].

Due to potential for complement-mediated lysis, ADCC and opsonization to all contribute to enhance the levels of antineoplastic cytotoxicity of covalent immunochemotherapeutics like gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin- (C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu], it is technically very difficult to simultaneously and accurately simulate these three immunedependent responses utilizing ex-vivo models for neoplastic disease. In clinical environments immunoglobulin fractions when utilized for selective “targeted” delivery of therapeutic pharmaceuticals or diagnostic imaging agents in nuclear medicine frequently are biochemically modified with enzymes like papain in order to cleave (remove) the Fc segment of the IgG molecule. In effect, such biochemical modifications minimize non-selective binding at Fc receptors expressed by cells within the RE system (mononuclear phagocytic system) physically residing within the spleen and liver. Unfortunately, such biochemical modifications create a covalent immunochemotherapeutic composed of just F(ab’)2 or Fab’ fragment which would have less of a capacity to induce activation of the complement cascade (e.g. C9 cytolysis, C3b/C4b opsonization), neoplastic cell opsonization (e.g. macrophage Fc receptor dependent binding), or ADCC phenomenon (e.g. NK lymphocyte Fc receptor dependent binding).

Level-5: Dual-combinations of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti- EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] in-vivo presents an opportunity to potentially attain still another plane of additive and synergistic anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity that involves; [i] gemcitabine, trophic membrane receptor inhibition, and innate immune response activation; and/or [ii] epirubicin, trophic membrane receptor inhibition, and innate immune response activation.In support of this concept, immune cell populations that are involved in ADCC phenomenon release cytotoxic components that are known to additively and synergistically enhance the cytotoxic anti-neoplastic activity of conventional chemotherapeutic agents[163]. Undoubtedly, other immune responses also contribute to the anti-neoplastic properties of many conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Recognition of the phenomenon where different immunedependent responses become a significant component of additive and synergistic anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity phenomenon in active partnership with chemotherapeutics and trophic receptor inhibition at least in part delineates how covalent immunochemotherapeutics frequently evoke greater efficacy when implemented in-vivo compared to their evaluation in ex-vivo tissue culture based models for neoplastic disease even when the same identical cancer cell type (xenographs) are utilized[108,164,165]. Each of the qualities and properties discussed for selective “targeted” chemotherapeutic delivery and additive or synergistic interactions that can be evoked by gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3- amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] collectively serve to explain how the dual-combination of these two covalent immunochemotherapeutics produced additive levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity against chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary-adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) when utilized as an ex-vivo model for neoplastic disease (Figure 4,5 and 7). Basis for this conclusion is based on the observation that when gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti- EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] were formulated as a 50:50 chemotherapeutic-equivalent combination the anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity levels were intermediate between levels detected for each of the two individual covalent immunochemotherapeutics (Figure 4).

Each of the qualities and properties of selective “targeted” chemotherapeutic delivery and complementary interactions afforded by gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] collectively serve to explain how the dual-combination of these two covalent immunochemotherapeutics have the potential to induced levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity that were greater than for either of the covalent immunochemotherapeutics alone (Figure 4). Such a consideration is particularly relevant in scenarios where neoplastic cell populations are in direct contact with gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3- amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] over a prolonged period of time and especially following in-vivo administration (e.g. IV injection).

Several variables could be have been modified to increase and maximize the anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-EGFR] in dual-combination with epirubicin- (C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu].

i. Almost invariably, levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity can be increased by prolonging the ex-vivo incubation period during which time neoplastic cells are in direct and simultaneous contact with each individual covalent immunochemotherapeutic.

ii. A different human neoplastic cell type could have been applied to access anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of gemcitabine-( C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] in dual-combination with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu]. In contrast to chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-EGFR] in dual-combination with epirubicin-( C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] would likely have been higher if it had been measured utilizing an entirely different neoplastic cell type such as pancreatic carcinoma,[166] small-cell lung carcinoma,[167] neuroblastoma,[168] or leukemia/lymphoid[123,169] populations because of their relatively higher gemcitabine sensitivity. Similarly, human promyelocytic leukemia,[121,123] T-4 lymphoblastoid clones,[123] glioblastoma;[121;123] cervical epitheliod carcinoma,[ 123] colon adenocarcinoma,[123] pancreatic adenocarcinoma,[ 123] pulmonary adenocarcinoma,[123] oral squamous cell carcinoma,[123] and prostatic carcinoma[80] have been found to be sensitive to gemcitabine and gemcitabine-( oxyether phopholipid) covalent chemotherapeutic conjugates. Within this array of neoplastic cell types, however, human mammary carcinoma (MCF-7/WT-2’)[123] and mammary adenocarcinoma (BG-1)[123] are known to be relatively more resistant to gemcitabine and gemcitabine-( oxyetherphopholipid) chemotherapeutic conjugate. Presumably this pattern of diminished gemcitabine sensitivity is directly relevant to the anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity detected for gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] in dualcombination with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] compared to gemcitabine in chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) populations (Figure 4).

iii. Analogous to the consideration that the utilization of a different neoplastic cell type could have been used that was more sensitive to epirubicin, and especially gemcitabine, a human cancer cell population could also have alternatively been selected to assess anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] in dual-combination with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] that was not chemotherapeutic-resistant. Majority of published descriptions to date that report in current literature the efficacy of covalent immunochemotherapeutics or analogous biopharmaceutical agents utilize human neoplastic cell populations that are chemotherapeutic-resistant. Rare exceptions have been the application of chemotherapeutic-resistant metastatic melanoma M21 (covalent daunorubicin immunochemotherapeutics synthesized using anti-chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 9.2.27 surface marker);[89,92,170] chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary carcinoma MCF- 7AdrR (covalent anthracycline-ligand chemotherapeutics utilizing epidermal growth factor (EGF) or an EDF fragment);[ 171] and chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) populations (epirubicin-anti- HER2/neu,[66,85,102] epirubicin-anti-EGFR,[66] gemcitabine- HER2/neu[97,98]) respectively.

iv. Anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)- [anti-EGFR] in dual-combination with epirubicin-(C3- amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] would likely have been substantially greater if either cellular proliferation had been assessed with [3H]-thymidine, or an ATP-based assay method was alternatively applied as an analysis modality because of their reportedly >10-fold greater sensitivity in detecting early cell injury compared to MTT vitality stain based assay methods.[172,173] Despite this consideration, MTT vitality stain based assays continue to be extensively applied for the routine assessment of true anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutics covalently incorporated synthetically into molecular platforms that provide properties of selective “targeted” delivery.[66,121-123,174-179] One of the significant advantages of MTT vitality stain based assays and methods applying similar reagents is that the ability to measure lethal cytotoxic anti-anti-neoplastic activity is generally considered to be superior to the detection of early-stage cellular injury that could potentially be reversible.

v. Lastly, as previously eluded to, a high degree of probability suggests that the anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of gemcitabine- (C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] in dual-combination with epirubicin-( C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] would likely of been greater if their efficacy had been delineated in-vivo against human neoplastic xenographs in animal hosts as a model for human cancer. In such a scenario, added levels of selective “targeted” anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity is attained through antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement mediated cytolysis, and immunoglobulin initiated opsonization similar to what has been observed with anti-CD20 and anti-CD52 administered for the treatment of certain forms of leukemia.

The benzimidazole tubulin/microtubule inhibitor, mebendazole in combination with gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] produced higher levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity against chemotherapeutic- resistant mammary adenocarcinoma than did the dual covalent immunochemotherapeutic combination alone (Figure 7). Such findings correlate with mebendazole additively or synergistically contributing to the anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu][160] and gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu][99]. Preliminary experimental investigations have detected vulnerability of adrenocortical carcinoma (xenographs),[180] colorectal cancer,[181,182] hepatocellular carcinoma,[182,183] leukemia,[ 184,185] lung cancer,[186] (non-small cell[186,187]),melanoma (chemo-resistant),[188] myeloma,[185] and ovarian cancer,[183,189-190] to benzimidazole tubulin/microtubule inhibitors. The anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity of the benzimidazole class of tubulin/microtubule inhibitors against breast cancer has previously remained largely unknown. In contrast to a single report for flubendazole, the creation of mammalian chromosomal aberrations has to date not been described for either albendazole[181,189] or mebendazole[192].

The dual-combination of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] presents several opportunities for inducing lower frequencies of severe in-vivo sequelae. The covalent bonding of chemotherapeutics to a high-molecular weight delivery platform to facilitate selective “targeted” delivery effectively avoids innocent highlevel exposure of normal tissues and organ systems to the chemotherapeutic moiety thereby reducing the risk and frequency of severe dose-dependent sequelae (e.g. anthracycline cardiotoxicity). Utilization of “carrier” platforms like immunoglobulin fractions that have a significantly larger mass/size (IgG MW ≅ 150-kDa) than gemcitabin, epirubicin and other conventional small molecular weight chemotherapeutics employed in the synthesis of covalent immunochemotherapeutics also decreases the risk of chemotherapy-associated toxicity by several mechanisms. The much large molecular weight of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3- amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] drastically reduces the rate and extent that gemcitabine and epirubicin are removed from the plasma compartment and excreted into the urine by renal glomerular filtration (MWCO ≅ 50-kDa). In this manner highly renal-toxic chemotherapeutics can potentially be covalently bound to large molecular weight “targeting” platforms (e.g. IgG, Fab’, EGF) to increase their utility as a form of systemic anti-cancer therapy. The substantially lower rate and extent that large molecular weight covalent immunochemotherapeutics like gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin- (C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] are eliminated from the intravascular compartment by renal excretion in turn significantly prolongs and extends the chemotherapeutic moiety pharmacokinetic profile (plasma T1/2) and therefore contact with neoplastic lesions for longer periods of time per systemic dose. The potential for covalent immunochemotherapeutics to promote greater cytosol concentrations of the chemotherapeutic moiety than can be achieved by simple passive diffusion of the “free” chemotherapeutic from the extracellular fluid compartment can provide a level of safety because they provide an opportunity for more rapid resolution of neoplastic conditions at lower total dose requirements. Lastly, selectively “targeted” chemotherapeutic delivery allows the use of additive or synergistic chemotherapeutic combinations that otherwise could not previously be utilized in combination with one another due to dose-limiting sequelae.

Covalent immunochemotherapeutics like the dual-combination of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-( C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] at least conceptually can therefore afford the attributes of greater anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity and prolongation of chemotherapeutic moiety pharmacokinetic profiles that can subsequently serve collectively as the basis for reducing individual and total dosage requirements. Improved margins-of-safety are therefore possible with gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR], epirubicin-(C3-amide)- [anti-HER2/neu] and analogous covalent immunochemotherapeutics through a combination of selective “targeted” anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity that avoids high-level innocent exposure of normal tissues and organ system, and reductions in total dosage requirements necessary for disease resolution when implemented for intervention in clinical oncology. The benzimidazole tubulin/microtubule inhibitor, mebendazole can potentially complement and enhance these properties of dual gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] with epirubicin- (C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] combinations in part because of it’s anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity and because it may have a wider margin-of-safety than many if not most conventional chemotherapeutic agents.

The covalent immunochemotherapeutics, gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-EGFR] and epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/ neu] both exerted selectively “targeted” anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity against chemotherapeutic-resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) populations (Figure 4 and 5). The simultaneous dual-combination of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)- [anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] exerted at least additive levels of anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity which during the relatively brief incubation periods applied is primarily a result of the mechanisms-of-action for the two chemotherapeutic moieties, and also the anti-trophic properties of both anti-EGFR and anti-HER2/neu (Figure 4 and 5). The biological integrity of the immunoglobulin component of the covalent gemcitabine and epirubicin immunochemotherapeutics not only directly facilitates selective “targeted” chemotherapeutic delivery, but it also initiates or induces internalization of covalent immunochemotherapeutics by mechanisms of receptor-mediated-endocytosis. Selection of an appropriate membrane-associated antigen that is known to undergo receptor-mediated-endocytosis maximizes the active transmembrane transport of chemotherapeutic moieties in covalent immunochemotherapeutics and many carcinoma and adenocarcinoma cell types highly over-express EGFR, HER2/neu and similar membrane associated receptor sites[125].

Simultaneous dual-combination of gemcitabine-(C4-amide)- [anti-EGFR] with epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] not only serves as a molecular strategy for increasing cytosol concentrations of small molecular weight chemotherapeutics beyond levels attainable by simple passive diffusion following intravenous infusion at clinically relevant dosages, it also represents an approach for reducing exposure of innocent tissues and organ systems. Mebendazole further complements these therapeutic attributes by evoking a higher level of anti-neoplastic cytotoxic against chemotherapeutic resistant mammary adenocarcinoma (SKBr-3) when applied in combination with both gemcitabine-(C4-amide)-[anti-EGFR] with epirubicin- (C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] compared to the dual-combination of only the two covalent immunochemotherapeutics. Collectively, research investigations with gemcitabine-(C4- amide)-[anti-EGFR], epirubicin-(C3-amide)-[anti-HER2/neu] and mebendazole demonstrate therapeutic options for more effectively resolving chemotherapeutic-resistant neoplastic conditions within a more expedient time frame at lower total dosage levels.

Funding from residual indirect costs allocated by extramural source that were devoted to the completion of an un-related investigation served to support conduction of the described research.

The research investigations described represent a component of organic chemistry synthesis schemes and biotechnology described in an application submitted to the U.S. Patent Office in December 2013.

Authors Bear and Jones assisted with implementing an organic chemistry reaction that represented one phase of a 2-stage synthesis method utilized for the production of the covalent immunochemotherapeutic agents. Author Coyne established the molecular design of the covalent gemcitabine and epirubicin immunochemotherapeutics and optimized 2-stage organic chemistry reaction scheme for synthesizing the two covalent gemcitabine and epirubicin immunochemotherapeutic described in these research investigations. Authors Jones and Coyne collaboratively were involved in the quality control analyses and measurement of potency for the covalent immunochemotherapeutics. Author Coyne interpreted the experimental data, generated the figure illustrations, and composed drafts of the research manuscript.

Human patients and animals were not utilized in an experimental manner during any course of investigation related to any of the described research.