Foscarnet reduces FGF2-induced proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and has antineoplastic activity against human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells

Synthesis, physicochemical properties and biological activities of novel alkylphosphocholines with foscarnet moiety

A series of alkylphosphocholines with foscarnet moiety was synthesized. The structure of these zwitterionic amphiphiles was modified in both polar and non-polar parts of surfactant molecule. Investigations of physicochemical properties are represented by the determination of critical micelle concentration, the surface tension value at the cmc and the surface area per surfactant head group utilising surface tension measurements. Hydrodynamic diameter of surfactant micelles was determined using the dynamic light scattering technique. Alkylphosphocholines exhibit significant cytotoxic, anticandidal (Candida albicans) and antiamoebal (Acanthamoeba spp. T4 genotype) activity. The relationship between the structure, physicochemical properties and biological activity of the tested compounds revealed that lipophilicity has a significant influence on biological activity of the investigated surfactants. More lipophilic alkylphosphocholines with octadecyl chains show cytotoxic activity against cancer cells which is higher than that of the compounds with shorter alkyl chains. The opposite situation was observed in case of anticandidal and antiamoebal activity of these surfactants. The most active compounds were found to have pentadecyl chains. The foscarnet analogue of miltefosine C15-PFA-C showed the highest anticandidal activity. The minimum value of anticandidal activity of this compound is 1,4 μM thus representing the highest anticandidal activity found within the group of alkylphosphocholines.

Electrical stimulation facilitates the angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells through MAPK/ERK signaling pathway by stimulating FGF2 secretion

Electrical stimulation (ES) is able to enhance angiogenesis by stimulating fibroblasts. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) is an independent angiogenesis inducer. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of ES-induced FGF2 secretion in affecting angiogenesis during wound healing via the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway. Fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to ES, and the HUVECs were cocultured with ES-treated fibroblast culture solution. ES exposure showed no toxic effects on fibroblasts or HUVECs. ES led to enhanced growth of fibroblasts and HUVECs as well as FGF2 secretion, which is induced through the NOS pathway. ES-induced FGF2 secretion was shown to increase vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein and enhance migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of HUVECs. Also, ES-induced FGF2 secretion activated the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. However, inhibition of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway reversed the positive effects of ES-induced FGF2 secretion. In vitro experiments showed positive effects of ES on wound healing. Taken together, the findings suggested that ES promoted FGF2 secretion and then activated the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway by facilitating angiogenesis and promoting wound healing.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and foscarnet use in a multitarget treatment documented by 18F-FDG PET/CT: A case report

RATIONALE

The case reported the rapid remission of disease recurrence achieved adding foscarnet, a DNA polymerase inhibitor that interacts with fibroblast growth factor 2, to low molecular weight heparin and sunitinib for the first time in a patient with an anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC).

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 65-year-old woman with a multinodular goiter referred for a rapid enlargement of a nodule. Histological examination revealed an ATC with a little area of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). The patient was resistant to selective single-target treatment.

DIAGNOSES

Immunophenotyping and gene analyses found a significant increase in FGF2 and FGFR1 expression in the primary ATC area (FGF2 = 38.2 ± 6.2% in ATC vs 34.6 ± 6.0% in the differentiated area of PTC, P < 0.05; FGFR1: 41.7 ± 6.0% in ATC vs 34.4 ± 4.2% in PTC, P < 0.001) and in metastatic neck lymph nodes (P < 0.001 vs normal control tissues). Unlike conventional imaging, F-FDG PET/CT with PERCIST 1.0 criteria promptly and quantitatively detected disease recurrence and remission before and after multitarget therapy, combining anatomic, metabolic, and functional data.

INTERVENTIONS

Foscarnet was administered given the positivity for FGF2, FGFR1 and FGFR4 in ATC. Low molecular wight heparin and Sunitinib were coadministere to limiti metastatic progression and on neck tumor masse, respectively.

OUTCOMES

The rationale for the clinical response to this innovative multitarget association with foscarnet is based on the histological and genetic finding that fibroblast growth factors and their receptor super-family are up-regulated in the primary anaplastic thyroid tumor and in the metastatic lymph node of our patient.

LESSONS

We propose that fibroblast growth factors and their receptor super-family play a key role as potential therapeutic targets in anaplastic thyroid cancer and the positive relevance of this suggestion for patient care, especially for an individualized management.