Tumor angiogenesis as a therapeutic target

The Tumor Stroma of Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Complex Environment That Fuels Cancer Progression

The tumor microenvironment (TME), a complex assembly of cellular and extracellular matrix (ECM) components, plays a crucial role in driving tumor progression, shaping treatment responses, and influencing metastasis. This narrative review focuses on the cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) tumor stroma, highlighting its key constituents and their dynamic contributions. We examine how significant changes within the cSCC ECM-specifically, alterations in fibronectin, hyaluronic acid, laminins, proteoglycans, and collagens-promote cancer progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. The cellular composition of the cSCC TME is also explored, detailing the intricate interplay of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), endothelial cells, pericytes, adipocytes, and various immune cell populations. These diverse players modulate tumor development, angiogenesis, and immune responses. Finally, we emphasize the TME's potential as a therapeutic target. Emerging strategies discussed in this review include harnessing the immune system (adoptive cell transfer, checkpoint blockade), hindering tumor angiogenesis, disrupting CAF activity, and manipulating ECM components. These approaches underscore the vital role that deciphering TME interactions plays in advancing cSCC therapy. Further research illuminating these complex relationships will uncover new avenues for developing more effective treatments for cSCC.

Characterization of Preclinical Pharmacokinetic Properties and Prediction of Human PK Using a Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model for a Novel Anti-Arrhythmic Agent Sulcardine Sulfate

PURPOSE

Sulcardine sulfate (Sul) is a novel antiarrhythmic agent with promising pharmacological properties, which is currently being evaluated in several clinical trials as an oral formulation. To meet the medication needs of patients with acute conditions, the injection formulation of Sul has been developed. The objective of this study was to systemically investigate the pharmacokinetic profiles of Sul after intravenous infusion.

METHODS

This research included the plasma protein binding and metabolic stability studies in vitro, plasma pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, excretion studies in animals, and the prediction of the clinical PK of Sul injection using a physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) model.

RESULTS

The metabolic stability was similarly in dogs and humans but lower in rats. The plasma protein binding rates showed a concentration-dependent manner and species differences. The pharmacokinetic behavior after intravenous administration was linear in rats within the dose range of 30-90 mg/kg, but nonlinear in dogs within 30-60 mg/kg. Sul could be rapidly and widely distributed in multiple tissues after intravenous administration. About 12% of the parent compound were excreted via the urine and only a small fraction via bile and feces,and eight metabolites were found and identified in the rat excretion. The PBPK models were developed and simulated the observed PK date well in both rats and dogs. The PBPK model refined with human data predicted the PK characteristics of the first intravenous infusion of Sul in human.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study systematically explored the pharmacokinetic characteristics of Sul and successfully developed the PBPK model to predict of its clinical PK.

Distinct JNK/VEGFR signaling on angiogenesis of breast cancer-associated pleural fluid based on hormone receptor status

Malignant pleural effusion is a common complication in metastatic breast cancer (MBC); however, changes in the pleural microenvironment are poorly characterized, especially with respect to estrogen receptor status. Histologically, MBC presents with increased microvessels beneath the parietal and visceral pleura, indicating generalized angiogenic activity. Breast cancer‐associated pleural fluid (BAPF) was collected and cultured with HUVECs to recapitulate the molecular changes in subpleural endothelial cells. The clinical progression of triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is much more aggressive than that of hormone receptor‐positive breast cancer (HPBC). However, BAPF from HPBC (BAPF‐HP) and TNBC (BAPF‐TN) homogeneously induced endothelial proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. In addition, BAPF elicited negligible changes in the protein marker of endothelial‐mesenchymal transition. Both BAPF‐HP and BAPF‐TN exclusively upregulated JNK signaling among all MAPKs in HUVECs. By contrast, the response to the JNK inhibitor was insignificant in Transwell and tube formation assays of the HUVECs cultured with BAPF‐TN. The distinct contribution of p‐JNK to endothelial angiogenesis was consequently thought to be induced by BAPF‐HP and BAPF‐TN. Due to increased angiogenic factors in HUVECs cultured with BAPF, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) inhibitor was applied accordingly. Responses to VEGFR2 blockade were observed in both BAPF‐HP and BAPF‐TN concerning endothelial migration and angiogenesis. In conclusion, the above results revealed microvessel formation in the pleura of MBC and the underlying activation of p‐JNK/VEGFR2 signaling. Distinct responses to blocking p‐JNK and VEGFR2 in HUVECs cultured with BAPF‐HP or BAPF‐TN could lay the groundwork for future investigations in treating MBC based on hormone receptor status.

Current Concepts in Multi-Modality Imaging of Solid Tumor Angiogenesis

Simple Summary

The recent increase in the use of targeted molecular therapy including anti-angiogenetic agents in cancer treatment necessitate the use of robust tools to assess and guide treatment. Angiogenesis, the formation of new disorganized blood vessels, is used by tumor cells to grow and spread using different mechanisms that could be targeted by anti-angiogenetic agents. In this review, we discuss the biological principles of tumor angiogenesis and the imaging modalities that could provide information beyond gross tumor size and morphology to capture the efficacy of anti-angiogenetic therapeutic response.

Abstract

There have been rapid advancements in cancer treatment in recent years, including targeted molecular therapy and the emergence of anti-angiogenic agents, which necessitate the need to quickly and accurately assess treatment response. The ideal tool is robust and non-invasive so that the treatment can be rapidly adjusted or discontinued based on efficacy. Since targeted therapies primarily affect tumor angiogenesis, morphological assessment based on tumor size alone may be insufficient, and other imaging modalities and features may be more helpful in assessing response. This review aims to discuss the biological principles of tumor angiogenesis and the multi-modality imaging evaluation of anti-angiogenic therapeutic responses.

Snail promotes the generation of vascular endothelium by breast cancer cells

A further understanding of tumor angiogenesis is urgently needed due to the limited therapeutic efficacy of anti-angiogenesis agents. However, the origin of endothelial cells (EC) in tumors remains widely elusive and controversial. Snail has been thoroughly elucidated as a master regulator of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), but its role in endothelium generation is not yet established. In this study, we reported a new and unexpected function of Snail in endothelium generation by breast cancer cells. We showed that high Snail-expressing breast cancer cells isolated from patients showed more endothelium generated from these cells. Expression of Snail was positively correlated with endothelial markers in breast cancer patients. The ectopic expression of Snail induced endothelial marker expression, tube formation and DiI-AcLDL uptake of breast cancer cells in vitro, and enhanced tumor growth and microvessel density in vivo. Snail-mediated endothelium generation depended on VEGF and Sox2. Mechanistically, Snail promoted the expression of VEGF and Sox2 through recruiting the p300 activator complex to these promoters. We showed the dual function of Snail in tumor initiation and angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro through activation of Sox2 and VEGF, suggesting Snail may be an ideal target for cancer therapy.

The 6π-azaelectrocyclization of azatrienes. Synthetic applications in natural products, bioactive heterocycles, and related fields

Covering: 2006 to 2018 The application of the 6π-azaelectrocyclization of azatrienes as a key strategy for the synthesis of natural products, their analogs and related bioactive or biomedically-relevant compounds (from 2006 to date) is comprehensively reviewed. Details about reaction optimization studies, relevant reaction mechanisms and conditions are also discussed.

Colchicine Binding Site Agent DJ95 Overcomes Drug Resistance and Exhibits Antitumor Efficacy

Interfering with microtubule dynamics is a well-established strategy in cancer treatment; however, many microtubule-targeting agents are associated with drug resistance and adverse effects. Substantial evidence points to ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters as critical players in the development of resistance. Herein, we demonstrate the efficacy of DJ95 (2-(1H-indol-6-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine), a novel tubulin inhibitor, in a variety of cancer cell lines, including malignant melanomas, drug-selected resistant cell lines, specific ABC transporter-overexpressing cell lines, and the National Cancer Institute 60 cell line panel. DJ95 treatment inhibited cancer cell migration, caused morphologic changes to the microtubule network foundation, and severely disrupted mitotic spindle formation of mitotic cells. The high-resolution crystal structure of DJ95 in complex with tubulin protein and the detailed molecular interactions confirmed its direct binding to the colchicine site. In vitro pharmacological screening of DJ95 using SafetyScreen44 (Eurofins Cerep-Panlabs) revealed no significant off-target interactions, and pharmacokinetic analysis showed that DJ95 was maintained at therapeutically relevant plasma concentrations for up to 24 hours in mice. In an A375 xenograft model in nude mice, DJ95 inhibited tumor growth and disrupted tumor vasculature in xenograft tumors. These results demonstrate that DJ95 is potent against a variety of cell lines, demonstrated greater potency to ABC transporter-overexpressing cell lines than existing tubulin inhibitors, directly targets the colchicine binding domain, exhibits significant antitumor efficacy, and demonstrates vascular-disrupting properties. Collectively, these data suggest that DJ95 has great potential as a cancer therapeutic, particularly for multidrug resistance phenotypes, and warrants further development. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Paclitaxel is a widely used tubulin inhibitor for cancer therapy, but its clinical efficacy is often limited by the development of multidrug resistance. In this study, we reported the preclinical characterization of a new tubulin inhibitor DJ95, and demonstrated its abilities to overcome paclitaxel resistance, disrupt tumor vasculature, and exhibit significant antitumor efficacy.

Plocabulin, a novel tubulin-binding agent, inhibits angiogenesis by modulation of microtubule dynamics in endothelial cells

BACKGROUND

Vascular supply of tumors is one of the main targets for cancer therapy. Here, we investigated if plocabulin (PM060184), a novel marine-derived microtubule-binding agent, presents antiangiogenic and vascular-disrupting activities.

METHODS

The effects of plocabulin on microtubule network and dynamics were studied on HUVEC endothelial cells. We have also studied its effects on capillary tube structures formation or destabilization in three-dimensional collagen matrices. In vivo experiments were performed on different tumor cell lines.

RESULTS

In vitro studies show that, at picomolar concentrations, plocabulin inhibits microtubule dynamics in endothelial cells. This subsequently disturbs the microtubule network inducing changes in endothelial cell morphology and causing the collapse of angiogenic vessels, or the suppression of the angiogenic process by inhibiting the migration and invasion abilities of endothelial cells. This rapid collapse of the endothelial tubular network in vitro occurs in a concentration-dependent manner and is observed at concentrations lower than that affecting cell survival. The in vitro findings were confirmed in tumor xenografts where plocabulin treatment induced a large reduction in vascular volume and induction of extensive necrosis in tumors, consistent with antivascular effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, these data suggest that an antivascular mechanism is contributing to the antitumor activities of plocabulin.

Multimodality Imaging in Tumor Angiogenesis: Present Status and Perspectives

Angiogenesis is a complex biological process that plays a central role in progression of tumor growth and metastasis. It led to a search for antiangiogenic molecules, and to design antiangiogenic strategies for cancer treatment. Noninvasive molecular imaging, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), could be useful for lesion detection, to select patients likely to respond to antiangiogenic therapies, to confirm successful targeting, and dose optimization. Additionally, nuclear imaging techniques could also aid in the development of new angiogenesis-targeted drugs and their validation. Angiogenesis imaging can be categorized as targeted at three major cell types: (I) non-endothelial cell targets, (II) endothelial cell targets, and (III) extracellular matrix proteins and matrix proteases. Even if radiopharmaceuticals studying the metabolism and hypoxia can be also used for the study of angiogenesis, many of the agents used in nuclear imaging for this purpose are yet to be investigated. The purpose of this review is to describe the role of molecular imaging in tumor angiogenesis, highlighting the advances in this field.

Targeting to the Bone: Alendronate-Directed Combretastatin A-4 Bearing Antiangiogenic Polymer-Drug Conjugates

Selective targeting of tumor site with chemotherapeutic agents appears to be one of the most effective methods to address many of the problems encountered with conventional chemotherapy. In this work, poly(oligoethylene glycol)methacrylate (POEGMA) based bone-targeting polymers bearing an antiangiogenic drug combretastatin A4 (CA4) were synthesized using free radical polymerization. Targeted and nontargeting copolymers were evaluated for their bone targeting efficiency, cytotoxicities against endothelial cells, namely, HUVECs and U2-OS and Saos-2 cancerous cell lines, as well as their antiangiogenic activity against endothelial cell tube formation by HUVECs. It is observed that the drug conjugated polymers conjugated with the bisphosphonate groups containing drug alendronate (ALN) have remarkably high affinity for bone mineral when compared to the polymer-drug conjugates devoid of the bisphosphonate groups. Both targeted and nontargeted polymer-drug conjugates show a sustained drug release in rat plasma with an overall release of 80-93% over 5 days. In vitro studies revealed high levels of cytotoxicity of the polymer-drug conjugates against HUVECs and U2-OS, and moderate cytotoxicity toward Saos-2. Importantly, the CA4 conjugated copolymers displayed excellent level of antiangiogenic activity as deduced from in vitro endothelial cell tube formation assay using HUVECs. Overall, a novel bone-targeting antiangiogenic polymer-drug conjugate that can be further elaborated to carry additional anticancer drugs is disclosed.

Enhanced Specificity and Drug Delivery in Tumors by cRGD-Anchoring Thermosensitive Liposomes

Purpose

To develop RGD-targeted thermosensitive liposomes with increased tumor retention, improving drug release efficiency upon mild hyperthermia (HT) in both tumor and angiogenic endothelial cells.

Methods

Standard termosensitive liposomes (TSL) and TSL containing a cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp (cRGD) pentapeptide with the sequence Arg-Cys-D-Phe-Asp-Gly (RGDf[N-Met]C) were synthetized, loaded with Dox and characterized. Temperature- and time-dependent drug release profiles were assessed by fluorometry. Intracellular Dox delivery was studied by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Cytotoxic effect of TSL and RGD-TSL was studied on B16Bl6 melanoma, B16F10 melanoma and HUVEC. Intravital microscopy was performed on B16Bl6 tumors implanted in dorsal-skin fold window-bearing mice. Pharmacokinetic and biodistribution of Dox-TSL and Dox-RGD-TSL were followed in B16Bl6 tumor bearing mice upon normothermia or initial hyperthermia conditions.

Results

DLS and cryo-TEM revealed particle homogeneity and size of around 85 nm. Doxorubicin loading efficiency was >95%as assessed by spectrofluorometry. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy showed a specific uptake of RGD-TSL by melanoma and endothelial cells when compared to TSL and an increased doxorubicin delivery. High resolution intravital microscopy demonstrated specific accumulation of RGD-TSL to the tumor vasculature. Moreover, application of hyperthermia resulted in massive drug release from RGD-TSL. Biodistribution studies showed that initial hyperthermia increases Dox uptake in tumors from TSL and RGD-TSL.

Conclusion

RGD-TSL have potency to increase drug efficacy due to higher uptake by tumor and angiogenic endothelial cells in combination with heat-triggered drug release.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11095-015-1746-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

99mTc-3P-RGD2 molecular imaging targeting integrin αvβ3 in head and neck squamous cancer xenograft

^99mTc-3P-RGD2 and SPECT/CT were valuable tools for selecting patient likely benefit from integrin α_vβ₃ blocking therapy. To evaluate the feasibility of ^99mTc-3P-RGD2 imaging to detect head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, ^99mTc-3P-RGD2 was prepared and the relationship between its accumulation and integrin α_vβ₃ expression in nude mice bearing HEP-2 or CNE-1 carcinoma xenograft were analyzed. This study demonstrated that ^99mTc-3P-RGD2, with high affinity to integrin α_vβ₃, will provide basis for α_vβ₃ involved individual therapy.

Targeting tumor micro-environment for design and development of novel anti-angiogenic agents arresting tumor growth

Angiogenesis: a process of generation of new blood vessels has been proved to be necessary for sustained tumor growth and cancer progression. Inhibiting angiogenesis pathway has long been remained a significant hope for the development of novel, effective and target orientated antitumor agents arresting the tumor proliferation and metastasis. The process of neoangiogenesis as a biological process is regulated by several pro- and anti-angiogenic factors, especially vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, hypoxia inducible factor 1 and transforming growth factor. Every endothelial cell destined for vessel formation is equipped with receptors for these angiogenic peptides. Moreover, numerous other angiogenic cytokines such as platelet derived growth factor (PGDF), placenta growth factor (PGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), stem-cell factor (SCF), and interleukins-2, 4, 6 etc. These molecular players performs critical role in regulating the angiogenic switch. Couple of decade's research in molecular aspects of tumor biology has unraveled numerous structural and functional mysteries of these angiogenic peptides. In present article, a detailed update on the functional and structural peculiarities of the various angiogenic peptides is described focusing on structural opportunities made available that has potential to be used to modulate function of these angiogenic peptides in developing therapeutic agents targeting neoplastic angiogenesis. The data may be useful in the mainstream of developing novel anticancer agents targeting tumor angiogenesis. We also discuss major therapeutic agents that are currently used in angiogenesis associated therapies as well as those are subject of active research or are in clinical trials.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin exerts both anti-angiogenic and vascular disrupting effects

A functioning vascular supply is essential for solid tumor growth and metastases, which means that blood vessels are an ideal target for antitumor drug discovery. Targeting tumor vasculature involves two main approaches, anti-angiogenesis and vascular disruption. The anti-angiogenic and vascular disrupting activities of deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT), a natural microtubule destabilizer, were examined with several in vitro, ex vivo and/or in vivo models. First, we demonstrated that DPT significantly inhibits the proliferation, migration and tube formation of endothelial cells and inhibits angiogenesis in rat aortic ring and chick chorioallantoic membrane assays. In further studies, DPT induced cytoskeleton reorganization in endothelial cells, which likely contributed to the anti-angiogenic effect at non-cytotoxic concentrations. DPT treatment at higher concentrations for longer time induced the cell cycle arrest, which may contributes to its anti-proliferation effect and anti-angiogenic activity. And DPT dramatically inducted the expression of cyclin B1 and p21 (WAF1/CIP1). Meanwhile, DPT disrupted capillary-like networks in vitro and newly formed vessels from rat aortic rings. Endothelial cell contraction associated with an increase in F-actin via the Rho/Rho kinase pathway likely contributed to the vascular disrupting activity. Taken together, our results provided the initial evidence that DPT exerts potent anti-angiogenic and vascular disrupting effects. This study also provides important insight into the mechanism of action of promising new anticancer drugs with both anti-angiogenic and vascular disrupting activities.

Targeted delivery of EV peptide to tumor cell cytoplasm using lipid coated calcium carbonate nanoparticles

Intracellular-acting peptide drugs are effective for inhibiting cytoplasmic protein targets, yet face challenges with penetrating the cancer cell membrane. We have developed a lipid nanoparticle formulation that utilizes a pH-sensitive calcium carbonate complexation mechanism to enable the targeted delivery of the intracellular-acting therapeutic peptide EEEEpYFELV (EV) into lung cancer cells. Lipid-calcium-carbonate (LCC) nanoparticles were conjugated with anisamide, a targeting ligand for the sigma receptor which is expressed on lung cancer cells. LCC EV nanoparticle treatment provoked severe apoptotic effects in H460 non-small cell lung cancer cells in vitro. LCC NPs also mediated the specific delivery of Alexa-488-EV peptide to tumor tissue in vivo, provoking a high tumor growth retardation effect with minimal uptake by external organs and no toxic effects.

Cytotoxicity, anti-angiogenic, apoptotic effects and transcript profiling of a naturally occurring naphthyl butenone, guieranone A

Background

Malignant diseases are responsible of approximately 13% of all deaths each year in the world. Natural products represent a valuable source for the development of novel anticancer drugs. The present study was aimed at evaluating the cytotoxicity of a naphtyl butanone isolated from the leaves of Guiera senegalensis, guieranone A (GA).

Results

The results indicated that GA was active on 91.67% of the 12 tested cancer cell lines, the IC₅₀ values below 4 μg/ml being recorded on 83.33% of them. In addition, the IC₅₀ values obtained on human lymphoblastic leukemia CCRF-CEM (0.73 μg/ml) and its resistant subline CEM/ADR5000 (1.01 μg/ml) and on lung adenocarcinoma A549 (0.72 μg/ml) cell lines were closer or lower than that of doxorubicin. Interestingly, low cytotoxicity to normal hepatocyte, AML12 cell line was observed. GA showed anti-angiogenic activity with up to 51.9% inhibition of the growth of blood capillaries on the chorioallantoic membrane of quail embryo. Its also induced apotosis and cell cycle arrest. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis identified several pathways in CCRF-CEM cells and functional group of genes regulated upon GA treatment (P < 0.05), the Cell Cycle: G2/M DNA Damage Checkpoint Regulation and ATM Signaling pathways being amongst the four most involved functional groups.

Conclusion

The overall results of this work provide evidence of the cytotoxic potential of GA and supportive data for its possible use in cancer chemotherapy.

Synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of some new phthalazinylpiperazine derivatives

A new series of 1,4-disubstituted phthalazinylpiperazine derivatives 7a-f, 12a-f and 20a-f were designed and synthesized in order to develop potent and selective antitumor agents. The target compounds were screened for their cytotoxic activities against A549, HT-29 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines in vitro. Among them, compounds 7a-f exhibited excellent selectivity for MDA-MB-231 with IC(50) values ranging from 0.013 µM to 0.079 µM. The most promising compound, 7e (IC(50) = 2.19 µM, 2.19 µM, 0.013 µM), was 9.3, 10, and 4.9 × 10(3) times more active than vatalanib (IC(50) = 20.27 µM, 21.96 µM, 63.90 µM), respectively.

SPIO-RGD nanoparticles as a molecular targeting probe for imaging tumor angiogenesis using synchrotron radiation

Angiogenesis, new blood vessels sprouting from pre-existing vessels, is essential to tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. It can be used as a biomarker for early stage tumor diagnosis and targeted therapy. To visualize angiogenesis many molecular imaging modalities have been used. In this study a novel X-ray molecular targeting probe using superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) conjugated with arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (SPIO-RGD) has been developed. Based on the extremely high sensitivity to the iron element of synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence and the superior spatial resolution of third-generation synchrotron radiation, the feasibility of SPIO-RGD as a promising molecular probe for imaging tumor angiogenesis has been demonstrated.

Positron emission tomography tracers for imaging angiogenesis

Position emission tomography imaging of angiogenesis may provide non-invasive insights into the corresponding molecular processes and may be applied for individualized treatment planning of antiangiogenic therapies. At the moment, most strategies are focusing on the development of radiolabelled proteins and antibody formats targeting VEGF and its receptor or the ED-B domain of a fibronectin isoform as well as radiolabelled matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors or alpha(v)beta(3) integrin antagonists. Great efforts are being made to develop suitable tracers for different target structures. All of the major strategies focusing on the development of radiolabelled compounds for use with positron emission tomography are summarized in this review. However, because the most intensive work is concentrated on the development of radiolabelled RGD peptides for imaging alpha(v)beta(3) expression, which has successfully made its way from bench to bedside, these developments are especially emphasized.

Antiangiogenics and radiotherapy

Antiangiogenic therapies are one of the fore-runners of the new generation of anticancer drugs aimed at tumour-specific molecular targets. Up until the beginning of this century, the general opinion was that targeted agents should show antitumour activity when used as single agents. However, it has now become clear that much greater improvements in therapeutic activity may be achieved by combining the novel agents with conventional cytotoxic therapies already in use in the clinic. Radiotherapy is currently used to treat half of all cancer patients at some stage in their therapy, although the development of radioresistance is an ongoing problem. It is therefore reasonable to expect that any novel molecularly-targeted agent which reaches the clinic will be used in combination with radiotherapy. The rationale for combining antiangiogenics in particular with radiotherapy exists, as radiotherapy has been shown to kill proliferating endothelial cells, suggesting that inhibiting angiogenesis may sensitise endothelial cells to the effects of radiation. Furthermore, targeting the vasculature may paradoxically increase oxygenation within tumours, thereby enhancing radiotherapy efficacy. In this review we present an update on the use of antiangiogenic methods in combination with radiotherapy.

Bortezomib induces autophagic death in proliferating human endothelial cells

The proteasome inhibitor Bortezomib has been approved for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM), thanks to its ability to induce MM cell apoptosis. Moreover, Bortezomib has antiangiogenic properties. We report that endothelial cells (EC) exposed to Bortezomib undergo death to an extent that depends strictly on their activation state. Indeed, while quiescent EC are resistant to Bortezomib, the drug results maximally toxic in EC switched toward angiogenesis with FGF, and exerts a moderate effect on subconfluent HUVEC. Moreover, EC activation state deeply influences the death pathway elicited by Bortezomib: after treatment, angiogenesis-triggered EC display typical features of apoptosis. Conversely, death of subconfluent EC is preceded by ROS generation and signs typical of autophagy, including intense cytoplasmic vacuolization with evidence of autophagosomes at electron microscopy, and conversion of the cytosolic MAP LC3 I form toward the autophagosome-associated LC3 II form. Treatment with the specific autophagy inhibitor 3-MA prevents both LC3 I/LC3 II conversion and HUVEC cell death. Finally, early removal of Bortezomib is accompanied by the recovery of cell shape and viability. These findings strongly suggest that Bortezomib induces either apoptosis or autophagy in EC; interfering with the autophagic response may potentiate the antiangiogenic effect of the drug.

What are next generation innovative therapeutic targets? Clues from genetic, structural, physicochemical, and systems profiles of successful targets

Low target discovery rate has been linked to inadequate consideration of multiple factors that collectively contribute to druggability. These factors include sequence, structural, physicochemical, and systems profiles. Methods individually exploring each of these profiles for target identification have been developed, but they have not been collectively used. We evaluated the collective capability of these methods in identifying promising targets from 1019 research targets based on the multiple profiles of up to 348 successful targets. The collective method combining at least three profiles identified 50, 25, 10, and 4% of the 30, 84, 41, and 864 phase III, II, I, and nonclinical trial targets as promising, including eight to nine targets of positive phase III results. This method dropped 89% of the 19 discontinued clinical trial targets and 97% of the 65 targets failed in high-throughput screening or knockout studies. Collective consideration of multiple profiles demonstrated promising potential in identifying innovative targets.

Functional classification of protein kinase binding sites using Cavbase

Increasingly, drug-discovery processes focus on complete gene families. Tools for analyzing similarities and differences across protein families are important for the understanding of key functional features of proteins. Herein we present a method for classifying protein families on the basis of the properties of their active sites. We have developed Cavbase, a method for describing and comparing protein binding pockets, and show its application to the functional classification of the binding pockets of the protein family of protein kinases. A diverse set of kinase cavities is mutually compared and analyzed in terms of recurring functional recognition patterns in the active sites. We are able to propose a relevant classification based on the binding motifs in the active sites. The obtained classification provides a novel perspective on functional properties across protein space. The classification of the MAP and the c-Abl kinases is analyzed in detail, showing a clear separation of the respective kinase subfamilies. Remarkable cross-relations among protein kinases are detected, in contrast to sequence-based classifications, which are not able to detect these relations. Furthermore, our classification is able to highlight features important in the optimization of protein kinase inhibitors. Using small-molecule inhibition data we could rationalize cross-reactivities between unrelated kinases which become apparent in the structural comparison of their binding sites. This procedure helps in the identification of other possible kinase targets that behave similarly in "binding pocket space" to the kinase under consideration.

Noninvasive tracer techniques to characterize angiogenesis

Great efforts are being made to develop antiangiogenesis drugs for treatment of cancer as well as other diseases. Some of the compounds are already in clinical trials. Imaging techniques allowing noninvasive monitoring of corresponding molecular processes can provide helpful information for planning and controlling corresponding therapeutic approaches but will also be of interest for basic science. Current nuclear medicine techniques focus on the development of tracer targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) system, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), the ED-B domain of a fibronectin isoform, and the integrin alphavbeta3. In this chapter, the recent tracer developments as well as the preclinical and the clinical evaluations are summarized and the potential of the different approaches to characterize angiogenesis are discussed.

Challenges of antiangiogenic cancer therapy: trials and errors, and renewed hope

Angiogenesis inhibition has been proposed as a general strategy to fight cancer. However, in spite of the promising preclinical results, a first generation of antiangiogenic compounds yielded poor results in clinical trials. Conceptual errors and mistakes in the design of trials and in the definition of clinical end-points could account for these negative results. In this context of discouraging results, a second generation of antiangiogenic therapies is showing positive results in phases II and III trials at the beginning of the twenty-first century. In fact, several combined treatments with conventional chemotherapy and antiangiogenic compounds have been recently approved. The discovery and pharmacological development of future generations of angiogenesis inhibitors will benefit from further advances in the understanding of the mechanisms involved in human angiogenesis. New styles of trials are necessary, to avoid missing potential therapeutic effects. Different clinical end-points, new surrogate biomarkers and methods of imaging will be helpful in this process. Real efficacy in clinical trials may come with the combined use of antiangiogenic agents with conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and combinations of several antiangiogenic compounds with different mechanisms of action. Finally, the existing antiangiogenic strategies should include other approaches such as vascular targeting or angioprevention.

Kallikrein-binding protein suppresses growth of hepatocellular carcinoma by anti-angiogenic activity

Effect of kallikrein-binding protein (KBP), an endogenous angiogenic inhibitor, on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma and the possible mechanism were investigated. KBP inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of endothelial cells, but had no effect on the proliferation and apoptosis of hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2. Intraperitoneal injection of KBP significantly suppressed the tumor growth and inhibited intratumoral neovascularization both in grafted hepatocarcinoma mice and xenografted hepatocarcinoma athymic mice. Moreover, KBP reduced expression of VEGF and HIF-1alpha nuclear translocation in HepG2 cells and xenografts. Down-regulation of VEGF in tumor cells through inhibiting HIF-1alpha may represent a novel mechanism for the anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor activity of KBP.

Binding and internalization of NGR-peptide-targeted liposomal doxorubicin (TVT-DOX) in CD13-expressing cells and its antitumor effects

In an effort to develop new agents and molecular targets for the treatment of cancer, aspargine-glycine-arginine (NGR)-targeted liposomal doxorubicin (TVT-DOX) is being studied. The NGR peptide on the surface of liposomal doxorubicin (DOX) targets an aminopeptidase N (CD13) isoform, specific to the tumor neovasculature, making it a promising strategy. To further understand the molecular mechanisms of action, we investigated cell binding, kinetics of internalization as well as cytotoxicity of TVT-DOX in vitro. We demonstrate the specific binding of TVT-DOX to CD13-expressing endothelial [human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and Kaposi sarcoma-derived endothelial cells (SLK)] and tumor (fibrosarcoma, HT-1080) cells in vitro. Following binding, the drug was shown to internalize through the endosomal pathway, eventually leading to the localization of doxorubicin in cell nuclei. TVT-DOX showed selective toxicity toward CD13-expressing HUVEC, sparing the CD13-negative colon-cancer cells, HT-29. Additionally, the nontargeted counterpart of TVT-DOX, Caelyx, was less cytotoxic to the CD13-positive HUVECs demonstrating the advantages of NGR targeting in vitro. The antitumor activity of TVT-DOX was tested in nude mice bearing human prostate-cancer xenografts (PC3). A significant growth inhibition (up to 60%) of PC3 tumors in vivo was observed. Reduction of tumor vasculature following treatment with TVT-DOX was also apparent. We further compared the efficacies of TVT-DOX and free doxorubicin in the DOX-resistant colon-cancer model, HCT-116, and observed the more pronounced antitumor effects of the TVT-DOX formulation over free DOX. The potential utility of TVT-DOX in a variety of vascularized solid tumors is promising.

Hypoxia modulation and radiosensitization by the novel dual EGFR and VEGFR inhibitor AEE788 in spontaneous and related allograft tumor models

Concomitant inhibition of ErbB1/2- and VEGF receptor-signaling synergizes when used in combination with DNA-damaging agents. Here, we investigated for the first time the combined treatment modality of the novel dual specific receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor AEE788 with ionizing radiation and analyzed treatment-induced end points in situ as indicators for a potential sensitizing mechanism. Furthermore, we assessed tumor hypoxia in response to different antiangiogenic and antiproliferative treatment modalities. The combined treatment effect was investigated in a spontaneously growing mammary carcinoma model and against Her-2/neu-overexpressing mammary carcinoma allografts. In tumor allografts derived from murine mammary carcinoma cells of mouse mammary tumor virus/c-neu transgenic mice, a minimal treatment regimen with AEE788 and fractionated irradiation resulted in an at least additive tumor response. Treatment response in the corresponding spontaneous tumor model strongly exceeded the response induced in the isogenic allografts. Treatment-induced changes of tumor proliferation, apoptosis, and microvessel density were similar in the two tumor models. Treatment with AEE788 alone or in combination with IR strongly improved tumor oxygenation in both tumor models as determined by the detection of endogenous and exogenous markers of tumor hypoxia. Specific inhibition of the VEGF-receptor tyrosine kinase versus Erb1/2-receptor tyrosine kinase indicated that it is the antiproliferative and not the antiangiogenic potency of AEE788 that mediates the hypoxia-reducing effect of this dual kinase-specific inhibitor. Overall, we show that concomitant inhibition of ErbB- and VEGF-receptor signaling by AEE788, in combination with ionizing radiation, is a promising treatment approach, especially in hypoxic, oncogenic ErbB-driven tumors.

Application of a 6pi-1-azatriene electrocyclization strategy to the total synthesis of the marine sponge metabolite ageladine A and biological evaluation of synthetic analogues

A 12-step synthesis of the angiogenesis inhibitory marine metabolite ageladine A is reported. The key steps include a 6pi-1-azatriene electrocyclization for formation of the pyridine ring and a Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of N-Boc-pyrrole-2-boronic acid with a chloroimidazopyridine. In addition, an assessment of the biological activity of a variety of synthetic analogues of ageladine A prepared during this synthesis is described.

Some recent advances in the synthesis of polycyclic imidazole-containing marine natural products

This Highlight describes some of the recent synthetic work on imidazole-containing alkaloids isolated from marine sponges. Target molecules have been chosen which demonstrate synthetic strategies leading towards metabolites containing intact imidazole moieties as well as systems bearing modified imidazole rings.

Alphavbeta3-integrin imaging: a new approach to characterise angiogenesis?

OVERVIEW

The field of angiogenesis research is one of the most rapidly growing biomedical disciplines. Great efforts are being made to develop anti-angiogenesis drugs for treatment of cancer as well as non-oncological diseases. Thus, imaging techniques allowing non-invasive monitoring of corresponding molecular processes will be of great interest. One target structure involved in the angiogenic process is the integrin alphavbeta3, which mediates the migration of activated endothelial cells during vessel formation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A variety of radiolabelled RGD peptides have been introduced for monitoring of alphavbeta3 expression using nuclear medicine tracer techniques.

OBJECTIVES

This review discusses tracer development and highlights some strategies for tracer optimisation. It summarises the preclinical and clinical data and discusses the potential of this class of tracer to characterise angiogenesis.

Calcitriol (1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol) Selectively Inhibits Proliferation of Freshly Isolated Tumor-Derived Endothelial Cells and Induces Apoptosis

Calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol) has antiproliferative and/or proapoptotic effects on many cell types and the glucocorticoid dexamethasone enhances these effects. We have shown that calcitriol modulates several key signaling proteins involved in differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis in tumor-derived murine endothelial cells (TDEC) and that these effects were not seen with endothelial cells isolated similarly from normal tissues. In the present study, TDEC and mouse embryonic yolk sac endothelial cells (MYSEC) were treated with calcitriol and followed over time for an effect. MYSEC were utilized as 'normal' control endothelial cells because they were more primitive, being isolated from a highly neovascular tissue, and had a similar morphology without the stimulus of the tumor microenvironment. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is present in TDEC and MYSEC, and was upregulated in calcitriol-treated TDEC and MYSEC; dexamethasone further increased VDR expression following 48 h of treatment. The modulatory effects on signaling proteins were maximal by treatment for 48 h; phospho-Erk, phospho-Akt, p21 and bcl-2 were decreased in treated TDEC with the induction of p27 but there were no effects on MYSEC. After 48 h increased apoptosis was seen in treated TDEC by annexin V labeling with caspase-3 cleavage and decreased levels of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, but no effects were seen in MYSEC. Cell cycle analysis showed increased G(0)/G(1) arrest and an increase in the apoptotic sub-G(1) peak in treated TDEC but similar effects were not seen in MYSEC following 48-hour treatment. Proliferation assays were utilized and TDEC demonstrated decreased proliferation compared to normal endothelial cells at 48 h. To determine whether or not the VDR signaling was impaired in MYSEC, we performed the 24-hydroxylase (CYP24) promoter-luciferase reporter assay. CYP24 is a key enzyme involved in the breakdown of vitamin D. VDR signaling was intact in both cell types and calcitriol induced CYP24 mRNA expression in MYSEC but not in TDEC. Taken together, despite similar levels of VDR expression and intact signaling in both cell types, calcitriol selectively inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in TDEC with no effect on MYSEC. Thus calcitriol exerts differential effects on TDEC compared to normal cells.

Total synthesis of ageladine A, an angiogenesis inhibitor from the marine sponge Agelas nakamurai

[reaction: see text] A 12-step total synthesis of the tricyclic heteroaromatic marine metabolite ageladine A has been achieved using a 6pi-azaelectrocyclization and a Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of N-Boc-pyrrole-2-boronic acid with a chloropyridine as key steps.

Therapeutic targets: progress of their exploration and investigation of their characteristics

Modern drug discovery is primarily based on the search and subsequent testing of drug candidates acting on a preselected therapeutic target. Progress in genomics, protein structure, proteomics, and disease mechanisms has led to a growing interest in and effort for finding new targets and more effective exploration of existing targets. The number of reported targets of marketed and investigational drugs has significantly increased in the past 8 years. There are 1535 targets collected in the therapeutic target database compared with approximately 500 targets reported in a 1996 review. Knowledge of these targets is helpful for molecular dissection of the mechanism of action of drugs and for predicting features that guide new drug design and the search for new targets. This article summarizes the progress of target exploration and investigates the characteristics of the currently explored targets to analyze their sequence, structure, family representation, pathway association, tissue distribution, and genome location features for finding clues useful for searching for new targets. Possible "rules" to guide the search for druggable proteins and the feasibility of using a statistical learning method for predicting druggable proteins directly from their sequences are discussed.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Multisubstrate Bicyclic Pyrimidine Nucleoside Inhibitors of Human Thymidine Phosphorylase

A series of novel, multisubstrate, bicyclic pyrimidine nucleoside inhibitors of human thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is described. Thymidine phosphorylase has been implicated in angiogenesis and plays a significant role in tumor progression and metastasis. The presence and orientation of the phosphonate moiety (acting as a phosphate mimic) in these derivatives were critical for inhibitory activity. The most active compounds possessed a phosphonate group in an endo orientation. This was consistent with molecular modeling results that showed the endo isomer protein-ligand complex to be lower in energy than the exo complex.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 5-arylamino-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-4,7-diones as inhibitor of endothelial cell proliferation

5-Arylamino-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-4,7-diones were synthesized and tested for their inhibitory activities on the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Among them, several 1H-benzo[d]imidazole-4,7-diones exhibited the selective antiproliferative activity on the HUVECs. Further mechanistic study revealed that the inhibitory effect of one representative 1H-benzo[d]imidazole-4,7-dione 2b on HUVEC proliferation was mediated by the activation of p38 signaling pathway in the HUVECs.