Pharmacodynamic-mediated effects of the angiogenesis inhibitor SU5416 on the tumor disposition of temozolomide in subcutaneous and intracerebral glioma xenograft models

The objective of this study was to determine the tumor distribution of temozolomide, an alkylating agent, in the absence and presence of the angiogenesis inhibitor 3-[(2,4-dimethylpyrrol-5-yl)methylidenyl]indolin-2-one (SU5416), a specific vascular endothelial cell growth factor receptor 2 inhibitor. The study was conducted in nude rats bearing either subcutaneous or intracerebral tumors that overexpressed vascular endothelial cell growth factor. For both tumor locations, animals were assigned to either of two treatment groups, SU5416 (25 mg/kg, dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide) or vehicle control, dimethyl sulfoxide (710 microl/kg) administered i.p. every day for a total of nine doses. Twenty-four hours after the last dose of SU5416 or dimethyl sulfoxide, temozolomide was administrated as a steady-state infusion regimen designed to achieve target plasma concentrations (Cp) of 20 microg/ml. In addition to the measurement of temozolomide Cp, tumor interstitial fluid unbound concentrations of temozolomide were evaluated by microdialysis. In subcutaneous tumors, SU5416 treatment produced a 24% reduction in steady-state temozolomide Ct values (p < 0.05) as well as 21% reductions in tumor/plasma concentration ratios (Ct/Cp; p = 0.11) compared with controls. In intracerebral tumors, steady-state temozolomide Ct and Ct/Cp ratios were significantly increased by 2-fold in the SU5416 treatment group compared with control. The apparent paradoxical effect of SU5416 on the tumor disposition of temozolomide in subcutaneous and intracerebral tumors is discussed in the context of physiological changes (for example, interstitial fluid pressure and microvessel density) and the sampling region in the tumor. It is proposed that the net balance of antiangiogenic drug-mediated pharmacodynamic actions will determine how drug disposition in tumors may be affected.     

Antiangiogenic effect by SU5416 is partly attributable to inhibition of Flt-1 receptor signaling

Interaction between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its cognate receptors, KDR/Flk-1 and Flt-1, of vascular endothelial cells is expected to induce an angiogenesis "switch" in tumors and other angiogenesis-associated diseases. SU5416, a selective inhibitor of the KDR/Flk-1 tyrosine kinase, is known to be a potent inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis. In this study, we first observed that SU5416 inhibited Flt-1 tyrosine kinase activity at similar doses, in addition to inhibiting KDR/Flk-1 tyrosine kinase activity in response to VEGF. SU5416 inhibited cell migration of human vascular endothelial cells expressing both Flt-1 and KDR in response to VEGF and also inhibited the cell migration in response to placenta growth factor (PIGF), a specific ligand for Flt-1. Chemotaxis of monocytes expressing only Flt-1 was also inhibited by SU5416 in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, SU5416 was found to inhibit tyrosine kinase of Flt-1 in response to PIGF in vitro. And angiogenesis induced by PIGF in a Matrigel plug assay was inhibited by administration of SU5416. The antiangiogenic effects by this VEGF receptor-targeting compound appeared to be mediated through interference not only with KDR/Flk-1 but also with Flt-1. Cell migration of vascular endothelial cells and monocytic cells through Flt-1, thus, might play a key role in VEGF-induced tumor angiogenesis in concert with KDR/Flk-1.     

Gene transfer to induce angiogenesis in myocardial and limb ischaemia

Stimulation of angiogenesis/arteriogenesis by gene transfer methods offers hope for treating patients with myocardial and peripheral limb ischaemia who are not candidates for standard revascularisation procedures. Preclinical studies showed that adenoviral and plasmid vectors encoding various angiogenic cytokines were capable of inducing functionally significant angiogenesis in vitro and in animal models of chronic myocardial ischaemia. Early clinical studies using VEGF121-, FGF-4- and VEGF165-encoding vectors showed a reasonable safety profile with promising results. However, significant advances in vector technology including regulatable and longer-term expression, delivery strategies (local and organ/tissue specific), clinical trial design, and outcome measure development are needed before this investigational treatment becomes reality.     

Preeclampsia selectively impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation and leads to oscillatory activity in small omental arteries.

The vascular pathophysiology of preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder unique to human pregnancy, has been postulated to be due to endothelial dysfunction, primarily manifest as deficient nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. We evaluated contraction (KCl and arginine vasopressin [AVP]) and dilation (acetylcholine and bradykinin) in small resistance-size omental arteries obtained during surgery from women with preeclampsia, postulating that these vessels would exhibit augmented contraction and diminished endothelium-dependent relaxation, most likely due to decreased NO synthesis. For comparison, vessels were also obtained from normotensive gravidas, pregnant women with chronic hypertension, or with chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia, as well as from premenopausal nonpregnant controls. Vessels of approximately 200 micron in internal diameter were studied in vitro using a Mulvany-Halpern myograph. Maximal contraction due to either KCl or AVP was significantly augmented in vessels from women with preeclampsia; these vessels all exhibited endothelium- and cyclooxygenase-dependent phasic oscillations while vessels from all other groups exhibited only tonic contractions. Acetylcholine and bradykinin both led to dose- and endothelium-dependent relaxation which was unaffected by inhibitors of NO synthesis. Responses to bradykinin were similar in vessels from normal pregnant and preeclamptic women while those to acetylcholine were absent in vessels from women with preeclampsia. These data suggest specific defects in resistance-artery endothelium from women with preeclampsia.     

Blocking the alpha 4 integrin-paxillin interaction selectively impairs mononuclear leukocyte recruitment to an inflammatory site

Antagonists to alpha4 integrin show promise for several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases but may exhibit mechanism-based toxicities. We tested the capacity of blockade of alpha4 integrin signaling to perturb functions involved in inflammation, while limiting potential adverse effects. We generated and characterized mice bearing a Y991A mutation in alpha4 integrin [alpha4(Y991A) mice], which blocks paxillin binding and inhibits alpha4 integrin signals that support leukocyte migration. In contrast to the embryonic-lethal phenotype of alpha4 integrin-null mice, mice bearing the alpha4(Y991A) mutation were viable and fertile; however, they exhibited defective recruitment of mononuclear leukocytes into thioglycollate-induced peritonitis. Alpha4 integrins are essential for definitive hematopoiesis; however, the alpha4(Y991A) mice had intact lymphohematopoiesis and, with the exception of reduced Peyer's patches, normal architecture and cellularity of secondary lymphoid tissues. We conclude that interference with alpha4 integrin signaling can selectively impair mononuclear leukocyte recruitment to sites of inflammation while sparing vital functions of alpha4 integrins in development and hematopoiesis.     

Differential effects of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib on apoptosis and angiogenesis in human prostate tumor xenografts

Bortezomib (Velcade, PS-341) is a dipeptide boronate inhibitor of the 26S proteasome developed for use in cancer therapy. Here we examined the effects of bortezomib on apoptosis and angiogenesis in derivatives of two popular human prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP-Pro5 and PC3M-Pro4). Bortezomib strongly inhibited proliferation in both cell lines in vitro, but the PC3M-Pro4 cells were significantly more sensitive than the LNCaP-Pro5 cells to bortezomib-induced apoptosis. The compound also significantly inhibited the growth of LNCaP-Pro5 and LNCaP-Pro4 tumor xenografts, but the mechanisms involved in tumor growth inhibition differed in the two models. Bortezomib-treated LNCaP-Pro5 tumors displayed reduced microvessel densities and vascular endothelial cell growth factor secretion and high levels of endothelial cell apoptosis consistent with angiogenesis inhibition. In contrast, PC3M-Pro4 tumors were poorly vascularized at baseline, and bortezomib failed to induce significant changes in microvessel density, angiogenic factor secretion, or endothelial cell death in this model. Rather, growth inhibition in the PC3M-Pro4 tumors was associated with direct increases in tumor cell death. Together, our results confirm that bortezomib is active in preclinical models of human prostate cancer, but its effects on apoptosis versus angiogenesis are cell type dependent.     

67-kDa laminin receptor increases cGMP to induce cancer-selective apoptosis

The 67-kDa laminin receptor (67LR) is a laminin-binding protein overexpressed in various types of cancer, including bile duct carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, cervical cancer, and breast carcinoma. 67LR plays a vital role in growth and metastasis of tumor cells and resistance to chemotherapy. Here, we show that 67LR functions as a cancer-specific death receptor. In this cell death receptor pathway, cGMP initiated cancer-specific cell death by activating the PKCδ/acid sphingomyelinase (PKCδ/ASM) pathway. Furthermore, upregulation of cGMP was a rate-determining process of 67LR-dependent cell death induced by the green tea polyphenol (–)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), a natural ligand of 67LR. We found that phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), a negative regulator of cGMP, was abnormally expressed in multiple cancers and attenuated 67LR-mediated cell death. Vardenafil, a PDE5 inhibitor that is used to treat erectile dysfunction, significantly potentiated the EGCG-activated 67LR-dependent apoptosis without affecting normal cells and prolonged the survival time in a mouse xenograft model. These results suggest that PDE5 inhibitors could be used to elevate cGMP levels to induce 67LR-mediated, cancer-specific cell death.     

Doxorubicin-loaded mesoporous magnetic nanoparticles to induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells

Selective targeting of chemotherapeutic drugs toward the cancer cells overcomes the limitations involved in chemotherapy. Ideally, targeted delivery system holds great potential in cancer therapy due to specific release of drug in the cancer tissues. In this regard, DOX-loaded chitosan coated mesoporous magnetic nanoparticles (DOX-CMMN) were prepared and evaluated for its physicochemical and biological characteristics. Nanosized magnetic nanoparticles were observed with a high loading capacity for DOX. The drug-loaded nanoparticles exhibited a controlled and sustained release of drug without any burst release phenomenon. The DOX-DMMN showed a concentration-dependent cell proliferation inhibitory action against breast cancer cells. The blank nanoparticles showed excellent biocompatibility with cell viability >85% at the maximum tested concentration. Our results showed that chitosan coated magnetic system has high potential for breast cancer targeting under an alternating current magnetic field (ACMF). The present study showed that magnetic nanoparticles can be targeted to tumor cells under the presence of oscillating magnetic field. The combined effect of chemotherapy and thermotherapy can have a promising clinical potential for the treatment of breast cancer.     

Apoptotic vesicles activate autophagy in recipient cells to induce angiogenesis and dental pulp regeneration

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Radiation and inhibition of angiogenesis by canstatin synergize to induce HIF-1alpha-mediated tumor apoptotic switch

Tumor radioresponsiveness depends on endothelial cell death, which leads in turn to tumor hypoxia. Radiation-induced hypoxia was recently shown to trigger tumor radioresistance by activating angiogenesis through hypoxia-inducible factor 1-regulated (HIF-1-regulated) cytokines. We show here that combining targeted radioiodide therapy with angiogenic inhibitors, such as canstatin, enhances direct tumor cell apoptosis, thereby overcoming radio-induced HIF-1-dependent tumor survival pathways in vitro and in vivo. We found that following dual therapy, HIF-1alpha increases the activity of the canstatin-induced alpha(v)beta(5) signaling tumor apoptotic pathway and concomitantly abrogates mitotic checkpoint and tetraploidy triggered by radiation. Apoptosis in conjunction with mitotic catastrophe leads to lethal tumor damage. We discovered that HIF-1 displays a radiosensitizing activity that is highly dependent on treatment modalities by regulating key apoptotic molecular pathways. Our findings therefore support a crucial role for angiogenesis inhibitors in shifting the fate of radiation-induced HIF-1alpha activity from hypoxia-induced tumor radioresistance to hypoxia-induced tumor apoptosis. This study provides a basis for developing new biology-based clinically relevant strategies to improve the efficacy of radiation oncology, using HIF-1 as an ally for cancer therapy.     

Methylseleninic acid synergizes with tamoxifen to induce caspase-mediated apoptosis in breast cancer cells

Tamoxifen has efficacy as a breast cancer therapy and chemoprevention agent. However, toxicity and resistance to tamoxifen limit its clinical application. There is an urgent need to develop compounds that may be combined with tamoxifen to improve efficacy and overcome toxicity and resistance. We showed previously that the organoselenium compound methylseleninic acid (MSA) increased the growth-inhibitory effect of tamoxifen and reversed tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer cells. In this study, we examined the mechanism for induction of apoptosis by MSA combined with tamoxifen in tamoxifen-sensitive and tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells. 4-hydroxytamoxifen (TAM; 10(-7) mol/L) alone resulted in cell cycle arrest but no apoptosis, whereas MSA alone (10 mumol/L) induced apoptosis in tamoxifen-sensitive cells. Combination of MSA with TAM resulted in a synergistic apoptosis in both tamoxifen-sensitive and tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells compared with either agent alone. MSA and MSA combined with TAM induced apoptosis through the intrinsic, mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. MSA induced a sequential activation of caspase-9 and then caspase-8. These results indicate that the growth inhibition synergy and reversal of tamoxifen resistance by combination of selenium with tamoxifen occurs via a tamoxifen-induced cell cycle arrest, allowing more cells to enter the intrinsic apoptotic pathway elicited by selenium. [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(9):3056-63].     

Diltiazem enhances the apoptotic effects of proteasome inhibitors to induce prostate cancer cell death

Diltiazem is a calcium channel blocker used to treat cardiovascular ailments. In addition, reports suggest that diltiazem induces cell death, which could make it a drug of choice for the treatment of cancer associated with hypertension. The goal of this research was to determine whether diltiazem is capable of inducing apoptosis in prostate cancer cells, either alone or in combination with the proteasome inhibitors, lactacystin and bortezomib (Velcade). Bortezomib is approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma; unfortunately, it has side effects that limit its utility. Presumably these side effects could be decreased by reducing its dose in combination with another drug. We have previously shown that lactacystin induces apoptosis in LNCaP cells; here, we show that this effect was enhanced by diltiazem. Furthermore, in proteasome inhibitor-resistant DU145 cells, diltiazem alone did not induce apoptosis but decreased cytosolic calcium levels and induced mitochondrial fission; likewise, lactacystin did not induce apoptosis but up-regulated the proapoptotic protein Bik. However, increasing concentrations of diltiazem in combination with lactacystin or bortezomib induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent and synergistic manner. The combination of diltiazem and lactacystin also up-regulated the levels of Bik and released Bak from Bcl-xL, indicating the involvement of the Bcl2 family pathway in this apoptosis. In addition, the drug combination up-regulated GRP78, suggesting also the involvement of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the apoptotic response. Thus, our results demonstrate a potential therapeutic advantage of combining a frequently used calcium channel blocker with proteasome inhibitors in the treatment of prostate cancer.     

A proinflammatory peptide from Helicobacter pylori activates monocytes to induce lymphocyte dysfunction and apoptosis

Infection with Helicobacter pylori causes chronic gastritis, which is characterized by a dense mucosal infiltration by inflammatory cells such as monocytes/macrophages. H. pylori-induced inflammation is a risk factor for the development of gastric adenocarcinoma, but the mechanisms involved in H. pylori-associated carcinogenesis are poorly understood. A cecropin-like H. pylori peptide, Hp(2-20), was found to be a monocyte chemoattractant and activated the monocyte NADPH-oxidase to produce oxygen radicals. The receptors mediating monocyte activation were identified as FPRL1 and the monocyte-specific orphan receptor FPRL2. Hp(2-20)-activated monocytes inhibited lymphocytes with antitumor properties, such as CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells and CD3epsilon+ T cells. The changes observed in NK cells and T cells--a reduced antitumor cytotoxicity, downregulation of CD3zeta expression, and apoptosis--were mediated by Hp(2-20)-induced oxygen radicals. Histamine, a gastric mucosal constituent, rescued NK cells and T cells from inhibition and apoptosis by suppressing Hp(2-20)-induced oxygen radical formation. We conclude that H. pylori expression of this monocyte-activating peptide contributes to its ability to attract and activate monocytes and reduces the function and viability of antineoplastic lymphocytes. These novel mechanisms may be subject to local, histaminergic regulation in the gastric mucosa.     

Independent contributions of GR-1+ leukocytes and Fas/FasL interactions to induce apoptosis following interleukin-12 gene therapy in a metastatic model of prostate cancer

In a mouse model of prostate cancer, adenovirus-mediated interleukin-12 (Ad.mIL-12) gene therapy resulted in significant growth inhibition of both the injected primary tumor and synchronous metastases. Within 2 days of vector injection, two distinct patterns of apoptosis were detected within the primary tumor, the inhibition of which with a caspase inhibitor substantially negated growth suppression. The dominant pattern displayed localized sheets of apoptotic cells in close association with necrosis containing polymorphic neutrophils (PMNs). Depletion of PMNs resulted in the loss of this pattern of apoptosis and reduced growth suppression. A second major wave of growth suppression within the primary tumor was mediated by an immune response. Natural killer (NK) cell activity was detected within tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) by the eighth day post-vector injection, the depletion of which resulted in a significant loss of survival enhancement. A more modest role for T cells was identified, which in the absence of documented cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity may be related to a significant reduction in interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels found in mice depleted of T cells, thereby reducing the secondary influences of IFN-gamma. However, depletion of NK cells or T cells had no discernible negative effect on IL-12-mediated anti-metastatic activity. Attention focused on the role of IFN-gamma, observed following Ad.mIL-12 therapy, to mediate the diffuse pattern of apoptosis seen in the primary and metastatic lesions. In vitro studies noted the ability of IFN-gamma to up-regulate tumor cell expression of Fas and FasL to mediate apoptosis, whereas in vivo blockage of Fas/FasL interactions with soluble Fas resulted in a modest reduction in primary tumor growth suppression but complete abrogation within metastatic lesions.     

超声微泡靶向破坏转染shRNA沉默Survivin表达诱导裸鼠宫颈癌移植瘤凋亡的研究

目的 通过超声微泡靶向破坏(UTMD)对靶向存活素的短发夹状重组质粒(Survivin-shRNA)进行转染,探讨其凋亡诱导效应、增殖抑制作用及其安全性.方法 将荷人宫颈癌(Hela)裸鼠随机分为三组:质粒+超声辐照(P+US)组,注入质粒溶液后予以超声辐照;质粒+微泡+超声辐照(P+UTMD)组,注入质粒/微泡复合物后辐照;对照组,不予任何处理.对组织样本行组织学检查,采用免疫组化SABC法检测移植瘤增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)、Survivin、Bcl-2、Bax、Caspase-3、Ki-67、核干细胞因子(NS)、p53蛋白在各组肿瘤标本中的表达.结果 P+UTMD组的PCNA、Ki-67、Bcl-2、Survivin及NS蛋白表达下降,而Bax、Caspase-3、p53蛋白表达明显增加,与对照组及P+US组比较差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 UTMD联合Survivin-shRNA能有效沉默Survivin基因表达,具有抑制增殖和促分化的作用,并诱发细胞凋亡,无明显副作用,为癌症基因疗法提供一种高效、无创、有前景的新方法.     

Critical role of prostate apoptosis response-4 in determining the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to small-molecule inhibitor-induced apoptosis

Role of prostate apoptosis response-4 (PAR-4) has been well described in prostate cancer. However, its significance in other cancers has not been fully elucidated. For the current study, we selected four pancreatic cancer cell lines (BxPC-3, Colo-357, L3.6pl, and HPAC) that showed differential endogenous expression of PAR-4. We found that nonpeptidic small-molecule inhibitors (SMI) of Bcl-2 family proteins (apogossypolone and TW-37; 250 nmol/L and 1 mumol/L, respectively) could induce PAR-4-dependent inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis. Sensitivity to apoptosis was directly related to the expression levels of PAR-4 (R = 0.92 and R(2) = 0.95). Conversely, small interfering RNA against PAR-4 blocked apoptosis, confirming that PAR-4 is a key player in the apoptotic process. PAR-4 nuclear localization is considered a prerequisite for cells to undergo apoptosis, and we found that the treatment of Colo-357 and L3.6pl cells with 250 nmol/L SMI leads to nuclear localization of PAR-4 as confirmed by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining. In combination studies with gemcitabine, pretreatment with SMI leads to sensitization of Colo-357 cells to the growth-inhibitory and apoptotic action of a therapeutic drug, gemcitabine. In an in vivo setting, the maximum tolerated dose of TW-37 in xenograft of severe combined immunodeficient mice (40 mg/kg for three i.v. injections) led to significant tumor inhibition. Our results suggest that the observed antitumor activity of SMIs is mediated through a novel pathway involving induction of PAR-4. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting SMI-mediated apoptosis involving PAR-4 in pancreatic cancer. [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(9):2884-93].     

Increased expression of cyclin B1 sensitizes prostate cancer cells to apoptosis induced by chemotherapy

Chemotherapeutic drugs ideally should take advantage of the differences between transformed and normal cells and induce apoptosis only in cancer cells. One such difference may be the overexpression of cyclin B1 protein in cancer cells, which is required for the proper progression through mitosis. Previously, we showed that treatment of human prostate cancer cells with 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME) or docetaxel results in an accumulation of cyclin B1 protein and an increase in cyclin B1 kinase activity, followed by induction of apoptotic cell death. Inhibition of cyclin B1 kinase lowers apoptosis induced by 2-ME and docetaxel. In this study, we established a positive correlation between cyclin B1 protein and apoptosis induced by chemotherapy in prostate cancer cells. There is minimal cyclin B1 and induction of apoptosis by chemotherapy in nontransformed cells. LNCaP and PC-3 prostate cancer cells stably overexpressing cyclin B1 are more sensitive to apoptosis induced by chemotherapy. LNCaP cells expressing cyclin B1 small interfering RNA to lower cyclin B1 protein or dominant negative cyclin-dependent kinase 1 to inhibit cyclin B1 kinase show a decrease in apoptosis. Increased sensitivity to apoptosis by overexpression of cyclin B1 may be due to lower Bcl-2, higher p53, and decreased neuroendocrine differentiation. We suggest that a cancer-specific mechanism whereby 2-ME and docetaxel may exert anti-prostate cancer activity is the deregulated activation of cyclin B1 kinase, leading to the induction of apoptotic cell death. Our results also suggest that higher levels of cyclin B1 in prostate cancer cells may be a good prognostic marker for chemotherapy.     

microRNA-29b contributes to pre-eclampsia through its effects on apoptosis, invasion and angiogenesis of trophoblast cells

PE (pre-eclampsia), a pregnancy-specific disorder, is characterized by increased trophoblast cell death and deficient trophoblast invasion and reduced trophoblast-mediated remodelling of spiral arteries. The present study was performed to determine the function of miR-29b (microRNA-29b) in trophoblast cells and its underlying role in the pathogenesis of PE. The prediction of miR-29b target genes was performed using computer-based programs, including Targetscan, Pictar and miRBase. The function of these target genes was analysed further by gene ontology (GO). The effects of miR-29b on apoptosis, and invasion and angiogenesis of trophoblast cell lines (HTR-8/SVneo, BeWo and JAR) were examined by flow cytometry and Matrigel assay respectively. We found that miR-29b induced apoptosis and inhibited invasion and angiogenesis of trophoblast cells. Further studies confirmed that miR-29b regulated the expression of MCL1 (myeloid cell leukaemia sequence 1), MMP2 (encoding matrix metallproteinase 2), VEGFA (vascular endothelial growth factor A) and ITGB1 (integrin β1) genes by directly binding to their 3'-UTRs (untranslated regions). Moreover, we identified that there was an inverse correlation between miR-29b and its target genes in subjects with PE. Taken together, these findings support a novel role for miR-29b in invasion, apoptosis and angiogenesis of trophoblast cells, and miR-29b may become a new potential therapeutic target for PE.