Antiangiogenic and antimetastatic properties of Neovastat (Æ-941), an orally active extract derived from cartilage tissue

A novel naturally occurring antiangiogenic agent isolated from cartilage, referred to as Neovastat (AE-941), was examined for its efficacy against tumor neovascularization and progression. Exposure to Neovastat results in ex ovo antiangiogenic properties in the chorioallantoid membrane of chicken embryo (71% decrease in the angiogenic index as compared to the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) treated control embryos, P < 0.0001). Oral administration of Neovastat inhibits bFGF-induced angiogenesis in the Matrigel mouse model (87.5% decrease in hemoglobin as compared to the bFGF-treated control implants, P < 0.0001). Neovastat also induces a dose response decrease of lung metastases in the Lewis lung carcinoma model (oral administration; 69.1% of inhibition obtained at the maximal dose of 0.5 ml/day, P < 0.0001). Combined with a sub-optimal dose of cisplatinum (2 mg/kg, i.p.), Neovastat (0.5 ml/day) improved the therapeutic index by increasing the antimetastatic efficacy and by exerting a protective activity against cisplatinum-induced body weight loss and myelosuppression. In summary, our experimental data provide evidence of antiangiogenic and antimetastatic properties of Neovastat, following oral administration.     

色素上皮细胞衍生因子在眼科中的作用

色素上皮细胞衍生因子(pigmentepithelium-derivedfactor,PEDF)是由视网膜色素上皮细胞分泌的一种蛋白质,属于丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制基因家族,具有多种生物学活性,PEDF具有营养神经的功效,通过保护神经元免受神经毒性侵害而发挥神经营养因子之作用;PEDF还能抑制血管内皮细胞的移行,具有抗新生血管诱导因子的作用,它能够影响视网膜的分化,发育和成熟,对视网膜的机械损伤.光损伤和缺血性损伤有修复作用,是一种非常有前景的新生血管抑制剂。     

新生血管特异性结合肽GX1二聚体抑制胃癌新生血管生成的实验研究

目的:探讨新生血管特异性结合肽GX1二聚体对胃癌新生血管生成的影响。方法:化学合成GX1二聚体、GX1单体、对照肽二聚体,CCK-8实验、管状结构形成实验、迁移实验研究GX1二聚体对胃癌血管内皮细胞（co-HUVEC）增殖、微管形成、迁移能力的影响,流式细胞学技术分析其对细胞周期分布和凋亡的影响。结果:CCK-8结果显示,GX1二聚体与对照肽二聚体及PBS对照组相比,100~200 μmol/L可抑制co-HUVEC增殖,具有统计学差异（P<0.05）,并呈剂量依赖性,GX1二聚体较单体抑制作用增强,并有统计学差异（P<0.05）。管状结构形成实验、细胞损伤迁移实验结果显示,与对照肽二聚体及对照组PBS 相比,GX1二聚体及GX1单体,均可抑制胃癌内皮细胞管状结构的形成及迁移,且二聚体抑制作用强于单体;对照肽二聚体仅有轻微的抑制胃癌内皮细胞管状结构的形成及迁移。流式细胞术分析显示,与对照肽二聚体及PBS对照组相比,GX1二聚体及GX1单体均可诱导细胞凋亡（P<0.05）,且GX1二聚体的诱导作用强于GX1单体（P<0.05）,而对细胞周期分布则无明显影响。结论:GX1二聚体和GX1单体均可抑制胃癌新生血管内皮细胞增殖、微管形成、迁移能力及诱导凋亡,且GX1二聚体较GX1单体作用增强。GX1二聚体有望代替单体成为胃癌新生血管靶向治疗小肽类药物。     

Angiostatin and Endostatin: Endogenous Inhibitors of Tumor Growth

Considerable progress has been made in the understanding of the molecular structure and mechanistic aspects of Angiostatin and Endostatin, endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors that have been shown to regress tumors in murine models. The growing body of literature surrounding these molecules and on the efficacy of these proteins is in part due to the ability to generate these proteins in recombinant systems as well characterized molecules. Recombinant human Angiostatin and Endostatin are in Phase I trials, following the manufacture of clinical grade material at large scale. This review highlights the recent advances made on understanding the structure and function of Angiostatin and Endostatin.     

Pharmacokinetics of a novel antiangiogenic agent KR-31831 in rats

This study reports the absorption, dose-linearity and pharmacokinetics of a novel antiangiogenic agent KR-31831 in rats after i.v. and oral administration at doses of 5, 10 and 25 mg/kg on both occasions. Concentrations of KR-31831 were determined by a validated LC/MS/MS assay method. After i.v. injection, plasma concentration-time profiles showed multi-compartmental characteristics, and there were no significant differences in Cl (20.8-27.7 ml/min/kg) and dose-normalized AUC (178.1-231 microg x min/ml based on the 5 mg/kg dose) as a function of dose. However, Vss was significantly increased at the 25 mg/kg dose (4931 ml/kg) compared with those (2288-2421 ml/kg) at lower doses. Subsequently, t1/2 was increased from 143-159 min at the lower doses to 304 min at the 25 mg/kg dose. The altered VSS was found to be a result of reduced plasma protein binding at relatively high concentrations. Following oral administration (doses 5-25 mg/kg), the absolute oral bioavailability ranged from 37.8% to 46.3%, and there were no significant alterations in dose-normalized AUC, Tmax, Cmax and t1/2 as a function of dose. The extent of urinary excretion was low for both i.v. (0.35%-0.54%) and oral (0.13%-0.33%) doses. Further discussions on the chemical and microsomal stability were included. In conclusion, dose-independent absorption kinetics were observed at oral doses from 5 to 25 mg/kg in rats. Orally administered KR-31831 could be eliminated mainly by the liver metabolic pathway.     

Novel therapies for recurrent ovarian cancer management

The search for novel therapies has resulted in a number of biologic agents that target cellular processes and molecules involved in ovarian carcinogenesis. These drugs include cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, protease inhibitors and gene replacement systems. Many of these have been evaluated in Phase I/II trials and are currently being investigated in Phase III trials. This paper will review the progress of and ongoing clinical studies evaluating the potential utility of these new agents in patients affected with ovarian cancer. Further development and investigation of these agents may eventually lead to a combination of treatments that ultimately results in improved survival for patients with ovarian cancer.