yttrium Y 90 Lym-1

yttrium Y 90 Lym-1 (OncoLyM) is a radioimmunotherapy agent that consists of the murine monoclonal antibody Lym-1 conjugated to the high-energy beta-emitting radioisotope Yttrium-90. Lym-1 specifically targets a polymorphic epitope on the HLA-DR beta chain, often referred to as HLA-DR10, which is extensively expressed on the surface of malignant B lymphocytes in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Expression of this epitope on normal tissues and normal B-cells is significantly lower, providing a therapeutic window for targeted radiation. The Yttrium-90 isotope is linked to the antibody typically via a DOTA chelator, and once the conjugate binds to the tumor cell, it delivers localized ionizing radiation that induces double-stranded DNA breaks and subsequent apoptosis. This approach also benefits from a 'bystander effect,' where the emitted beta particles can kill adjacent tumor cells that may not have directly bound the antibody. Although it showed promise in Phase I/II trials conducted primarily at the University of California, Davis, commercial development was halted by Peregrine Pharmaceuticals in the early 2000s.

Brand names

OncoLyM

Other names

yttrium Y-90 Lym-190Y-Lym-1 monoclonal antibody90Y-DOTA-Lym-1 monoclonal antibodyyttrium Y 90-DOTA-Lym-1