The anti-angiogenic effects of 1-furan-2-yl-3-pyridin-2-yl-propenone are mediated through the suppression of both VEGF production and VEGF-induced signaling

The 3D in vivo chorioallantoic membrane model and its role in breast cancer research

PURPOSE

We aimed to evaluate the role of the chorioallantoic membrane model (CAM) in breast cancer research.

METHODS

The following is an overview of the use of the CAM in the field of breast cancer research based on a PubMed literature query.

RESULTS

The CAM is a 3D in vivo model that can be used for the analysis of tumor growth, biology and angiogenesis of primary tumor tissue or tumor cell lines. The CAM model has been used in breast cancer research for drug testing, migration assays and the evaluation of vascularization, amongst others. The CAM model is a valuable method that offers a better imitation of the physiological phenomena compared to 2D or 3D in vitro models.

CONCLUSION

The CAM model has primarily and successfully been utilized for the assessment of the tumor biology of established breast cancer cell lines. Further, the CAM model is a promising method to analyze patient derived primary tumor material and could be used as a "patient-specific 3D-tumor-therapy-model" for the cost-efficient evaluation of anti-cancer drugs to find the optimal treatment for breast cancer patients.

Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis by Serum Albumin Nanoparticles Coated with Mannose to Target Neutrophils

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an angiogenic and chronic inflammatory disease. One of the most extensively used first-line drugs against RA is methotrexate (MTX), but it shows poor solubility, short in vivo circulation, and off-target binding, leading to strong toxicity. To overcome these shortcomings, the present study loaded MTX into nanoparticles of human serum albumin modified with mannose (MTX-M-NPs) to target the drug to neutrophils. MTX-M-NPs were prepared, and their uptake by neutrophils was studied using laser confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. A chick chorioallantoic membrane assay was used to assess their ability to inhibit angiogenesis. The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of MTX-M-NPs were investigated using fluorescence microscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography. Their pharmacodynamics was evaluated in a rat model with arthritis induced by collagen. Neutrophils took up MTX-M-NPs significantly better than the same nanoparticles (NPs) without mannose. MTX-M-NPs markedly suppressed angiogenesis in chick embryos, and the MTX circulation was significantly longer when it was delivered as MTX-M-NPs than as a free drug. MTX-M-NPs accumulated mainly in arthritic joints. The retention of NPs was promoted by mannose-derived coating in arthritic joints. Serum levels of inflammatory cytokines, joint swelling, and bone erosion were significantly decreased by MTX-M-NPs. In conclusion, these NPs can prolong the in vivo circulation of MTX and target it to the sites of inflammation in RA, reducing drug toxicity. MTX-M-NPs allow the drug to exert its intrinsic anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenic, and analgesic properties, making it a useful drug delivery system in RA.

Enhanced Therapeutic Effect of RGD-Modified Polymeric Micelles Loaded With Low-Dose Methotrexate and Nimesulide on Rheumatoid Arthritis

Angiogenesis plays an essential role in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RGD peptide shows high affinity and selectivity for integrin αvβ3, which is one of the most extensively examined target of angiogenesis. Nimesulide could improve the anti-rheumatic profile of methotrexate. But the clinical application was limited due to water-insolubility of both methotrexate and nimesulide and lacking targeting ability. Therefore, this study aimed to design a targeted drug delivery system of micelles mediated by RGD plus the passive targeting of micelles to solve the application problems of methotrexate and nimesulide (M/N), and thus enhance their combined therapeutic effect on RA. Methods: RGD was conjugated with NHS-PEG-PLA to form RGD-PEG-PLA for the preparation of RGD-modified drug-loaded micelles (R-M/N-PMs). The size and zeta potential of micelles were measured by dynamic light scattering. Morphology was detected by transmission electron microscopy. The inhibition effect of R-M/N-PMs on angiogenesis was assessed by the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. The real-time fluorescence imaging analysis was conducted to examine the in vivo distribution of the fluorescence-labeled R-M/N-PMs. Rats arthritis model induced by Freund's adjuvant was used to evaluate the in vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy of R-M/N-PMs. Results: The in vitro study indicated successful development of R-M/N-PMs. R-M/N-PMs could markedly suppress the angiogenesis of chick embryos. The fluorescence-labeled R-M/N-PMs mainly accumulated in arthritic joints. RGD enhanced the targeting ability of micelles and thus promoted retention of micelles in arthritic joints. Moreover, R-M/N-PMs significantly alleviated the joint swelling while reducing bone erosion and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines. It helped to recover the bone microstructure of arthritic rats. Conclusion: Our results confirmed that the targeted delivery of the combination of a low dose of methotrexate and nimesulide mediated by RGD-modified polymeric micelles could enhance the therapeutic effect on rheumatoid arthritis. These findings provide a promising potential for the clinical therapy of rheumatoid arthritis.

Dual Inhibition of NOX2 and Receptor Tyrosine Kinase by BJ-1301 Enhances Anticancer Therapy Efficacy via Suppression of Autocrine-Stimulatory Factors in Lung Cancer

NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) potentiate receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling, resulting in enhanced angiogenesis and tumor growth. In this study, we report that BJ-1301, a hybrid of pyridinol and alpha-tocopherol, exerts anticancer effects by dual inhibition of NADPH oxidase and RTK activities in endothelial and lung cancer cells. BJ-1301 suppresses ROS production by blocking translocation of NADPH oxidase cytosolic subunits to the cell membrane, thereby inhibiting activation. The potency of RTK inhibition by BJ-1301 was lower than that of sunitinib (a multi-RTK inhibitor), but the inhibition of downstream signaling pathways (e.g., ROS generation) and subsequent biological changes (e.g., NOX2 induction) by BJ-1301 was superior. Consistently, BJ-1301 inhibited cisplatin-resistant lung cancer cell proliferation more than sunitinib did. In xenograft chick or mouse tumor models, BJ-1301 inhibited lung tumor growth, to an extent greater than that of sunitinib or cisplatin. Treatments with BJ-1301 induced regression of tumor growth, potentially due to downregulation of autocrine-stimulatory ligands for RTKs, such as TGFα and stem cell factor, in tumor tissues. Taken together, the current study demonstrates that BJ-1301 is a promising anticancer drug for the treatment of lung cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(10); 2144-56. ©2017 AACR.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Therapy: A Journey Toward Safety

The efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) against inflammation, pain, and fever has been supporting their worldwide use in the treatment of painful conditions and chronic inflammatory diseases until today. However, the long-term therapy with NSAIDs was soon associated with high incidences of adverse events in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the search for novel drugs with improved safety has begun with COX-2 selective inhibitors (coxibs) being straightaway developed and commercialized. Nevertheless, the excitement has fast turned to disappointment when diverse coxibs were withdrawn from the market due to cardiovascular toxicity. Such events have once again triggered the emergence of different strategies to overcome NSAIDs toxicity. Here, an integrative review is provided to address the breakthroughs of two main approaches: (i) the association of NSAIDs with protective mediators and (ii) the design of novel compounds to target downstream and/or multiple enzymes of the arachidonic acid cascade. To date, just one phosphatidylcholine-associated NSAID has already been approved for commercialization. Nevertheless, the preclinical and clinical data obtained so far indicate that both strategies may improve the safety of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory therapy.

Engineering of a disulfide loop instead of a Zn binding loop restores the anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor activities of the N-terminal fragment of endostatin: Mechanistic and therapeutic insights

Although considerable effort has been devoted to understanding the molecular mechanism of endostatin's anti-cancer activity, the role of its Zn bound N-terminal loop has not been completely clarified. To investigate whether Zn binding or the N-terminal loop is involved in the anti-cancer properties of endostatin, we compared the structure and biological activity of a native Zn binding endostatin peptide (ES-Zn) with three variants: a Zn free variant (ES), a variant containing both a Zn binding site and a disulfide bond (ES-SSZn), and a variant including a disulfide loop but incapable of Zn binding (ES-SS). Spectroscopic studies indicated that ES-Zn and ES-SS consist of random coil and β structures, whereas ES-SSZn and ES fold into random coils. Theoretical analysis proposed that ES-Zn and ES-SS have a similar binding site to αVβ3 integrin. The anti-proliferative activity of endostatin was retained by all peptides except ES, and the in vitro anti-angiogenic property was preserved in ES-Zn and ES-SS. Remarkably, breast tumor growth and CD31 activity were inhibited more effectively by ES-SS than by ES-Zn. Therefore, a correlation exists between the N-terminal loop and anti-cancer properties of endostatin fragment and a disulfide loop may be more promising than a Zn binding loop for inhibiting tumor growth.

δ-Catenin overexpression promotes angiogenic potential of CWR22Rv-1 prostate cancer cells via HIF-1α and VEGF

This study revealed that CWR22Rv-1 cells overexpressing δ-catenin display bigger tumor formation and higher angiogenic potentials than their matched control cells in the CAM assay. In addition, δ-catenin overexpression in CWR22Rv-1 cells results in increased hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Furthermore, δ-catenin overexpression was found to enhance nuclear distribution of both β-catenin and HIF-1α in hypoxic condition, which is diminished by knockdown of δ-catenin. Our current study adds novel evidence regarding contribution of δ-catenin to the progression of prostate cancer.

1,3-Diphenylpropenone ameliorates TNBS-induced rat colitis through suppression of NF-κB activation and IL-8 induction

In the present study, we examined whether newly synthesized phenylpropenone derivatives, by inhibiting NF-κB activity, would inhibit IL-8 expression, inflammation and abnormal angiogenesis, resulting in amelioration of disease conditions. The phenylpropenone derivatives inhibited NF-κB transcriptional activity, which correlated with their suppressive activity against TNF-α-induced adhesion of U937 human monocytic cells to HT-29 human colonic epithelial cells, an in vitro model of IBD. Among the derivatives, 1,3-diphenylpropenone (DPhP) was most efficacious, and it significantly suppressed TNF-α-induced production of IL-8 which is a proinflammatory and proangiogenic cytokine. The anti-inflammatory activity of DPhP was also confirmed in the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced rat colitis model. DPhP was protective against the TNBS-induced inflammatory responses, which included weight loss, increased myeloperoxidase activity and mucosal damage. In the colon tissue, DPhP inhibited TNBS-induced NF-κB nuclear translocation, IL-8 and TNF-α expressions, and abnormal angiogenesis. In addition, DPhP also suppressed IL-8-induced angiogenesis, which was revealed by an in vivo assay using chick chorioallantoic membrane. Furthermore, the level of IL-6, a pleiotropic cytokine which is implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD and colitis-associated cancer, was suppressed by DPhP in rat colon tissue and serum. In conclusion, the results suggest that DPhP is a potential dual-acting IBD drug candidate targeting both inflammation and abnormal angiogenesis, possibly through the NF-κB and IL-8 signaling pathway.

The anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor activity of synthetic phenylpropenone derivatives is mediated through the inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinases

Abnormal angiogenesis plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of various diseases such as cancer and chronic inflammation. A variety of pro-angiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), exert their action through endothelial receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). The synthetic phenylpropenone derivatives, used in this study were the following: 1,3-diphenyl-propenone (DPhP), 3-phenyl-1-thiophen-2-yl-propenone (PhT2P), 3-phenyl-1-thiophen-3-yl-propenone (PhT3P) and 1-furan-2-yl-3-phenyl-propenone (FPhP). These derivatives were screened for their inhibitory effect on VEGF-induced angiogenesis in vitro using HUVECs and in vivo using chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). The order of anti-angiogenic activity was DPhP>FPhP>PhT3P>PhT2P. The most effective compound DPhP, also known as chalcone, showed weak VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity compared with the specific inhibitor, SU4312 (3-[[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]methylene]-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one). However, DPhP also inhibited several other receptor tyrosine kinases including Tie-2, epithermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, EphB2, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor 3 and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptor, as revealed by a receptor tyrosine kinase array assay. In addition, the down-stream signaling, including ERK phosphorylation and NF-κB activation, after receptor activation was significantly inhibited by DPhP. Furthermore, in the HT29 human colon cancer cell-inoculated CAM assay, the tumor growth and tumor-induced angiogenesis was significantly inhibited by DPhP (10μg/ml). These results suggest that the simple flavonoid, DPhP (chalcone), has valuable potential as an antiangiogenic and anti-cancer agent, and its action is mediated through the inhibition of multi-target RTKs including VEGF receptor 2.

Novel hexahydrocannabinol analogs as potential anti-cancer agents inhibit cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis

Both natural and synthetic cannabinoids have been shown to suppress the growth of tumor cells in culture and in animal models by affecting key signaling pathways including angiogenesis, a pivotal step in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. In our search for cannabinoid-like anticancer agents devoid of psychoactive side effects, we synthesized and evaluated the anti-angiogenic effects of a novel series of hexahydrocannabinol analogs. Among these, two analogs LYR-7 [(9S)-3,6,6,9-tetramethyl-6a,7,8,9,10,10a-hexahydro-6H-benzo[c]chromen-1-ol] and LYR-8 [(1-((9S)-1-hydroxy-6,6,9-trimethyl-6a,7,8,9,10,10a-hexahydro-6H-benzo[c]chromen-2-yl)ethanone)] were selected based on their anti-angiogenic activity and lack of binding affinity for cannabinoid receptors. Both LYR-7 and LYR-8 inhibited VEGF-induced proliferation, migration, and capillary-like tube formation of HUVECs in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of the compounds on cell proliferation was more selective in endothelial cells than in breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7). We also noted effective inhibition of VEGF-induced new blood vessel formation by the compounds in the in vivo chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Furthermore, both LYR analogs potently inhibited VEGF production and NF-κB transcriptional activity in cancer cells. Additionally, LYR-7 or LYR-8 strongly inhibited breast cancer cell-induced angiogenesis and tumor growth. Together, these results suggest that novel synthetic hexahydrocannabinol analogs, LYR-7 and LYR-8, inhibit tumor growth by targeting VEGF-mediated angiogenesis signaling in endothelial cells and suppressing VEGF production and cancer cell growth.

The Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane as an In Vivo Assay to Study Antiangiogenesis

Antiangiogenesis, e.g., inhibition of blood vessel growth, is being investigated as a way to prevent the growth of tumors and other angiogenesis-dependent diseases. Pharmacological inhibition interferes with the angiogenic cascade or the immature neovasculature with synthetic or semi-synthetic substances, endogenous inhibitors or biological antagonists.The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is an extraembryonic membrane, which serves as a gas exchange surface and its function is supported by a dense capillary network. Because its extensive vascularization and easy accessibility, CAM has been used to study morphofunctional aspects of the angiogenesis process in vivo and to study the efficacy and mechanism of action of pro- and anti-angiogenic molecules. The fields of application of CAM in the study of antiangiogenesis, including our personal experience, are illustrated in this review article.