Inhibitory effects of docetaxel on expression of VEGF, bFGF and MMPs of LS174T cell

Evaluating the docetaxel effect in an animal model of polyarthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is immune-mediated, inflammatory disease that affects synovial joints, and characterized by inflammatory changes in synovial tissue, cartilage, bone, and less commonly in extra-articular structures. Docetaxel (DTX) is a semi-synthetic anti-neoplastic medication. Peptidyl-arginine deiminase type 4 (PAD4) is expressed in macrophages and neutrophils in RA synovial membrane. Their effectiveness is in producing anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA)-targeted citrullinated neoepitopes.

AIM

To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of DTX in RA and the effect of methotrexate on PAD4 to investigate its potential as an RA biomarker.

METHODS

Forty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of eight rats. Healthy rats formed the control group. The Second Group to Fifth group were induced with Complete Freund's adjuvant. The third group received DTX at a dosage of 1 mg/kg on alternate days, as determined by a preliminary experiment. The fourth group was given 1 mg/kg/week of methotrexate intraperitoneally. The fifth group was treated with a half dose of DTX and methotrexate simultaneously.

RESULTS

Significant Arthritis index and knee joint circumference decrease in the DTX group. No significant difference in body weight, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and white blood cell count between the groups. Neutrophile lymphocyte ratio showed weak correlation with ACPA, while PAD4 showed good correlation with RA markers. Level of ACPA, PAD4, TNF-α, IL-1β, and VEGF significantly decreased in the DTX group than induction group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

DTX reduces the progression and joint destruction in rats induced by Complete Freund's Adjuvant which may due to inhibition of PAD4, TNF-α, IL-1β, VEGF, and ACPA. Also, methotrexate exhibited anti PAD4 effect.

Engineered nanomicelles targeting proliferation and angiogenesis inhibit tumour progression by impairing the synthesis of ceramide-1-phosphate

Tumour cells secrete various proangiogenic factors like VEGF, PDGF, and EGF that result in the formation of highly vascularized tumours with an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. As tumour growth and metastasis are highly dependent on angiogenesis, targeting tumour vasculature along with rapidly dividing tumour cells is a potential approach for cancer treatment. Here, we specifically engineered sub-100 sized nanomicelles (DTX-CA4 NMs) targeting proliferation and angiogenesis using an esterase-sensitive phosphocholine-tethered docetaxel conjugate of lithocholic acid (LCA) (PC-LCA-DTX) and a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivative of an LCA-combretastatin A4 conjugate (PEG-LCA-CA4). DTX-CA4 NMs effectively inhibit the tumour growth in syngeneic (CT26) and xenograft (HCT116) colorectal cancer models, inhibit tumour recurrence, and enhance the percentage survival in comparison with individual drug-loaded NMs. DTX-CA4 NMs enhance the T cell-mediated anti-tumour immune response and DTX-CA4 NMs in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor, anti-PDL1 antibody, enhance the anti-tumour response. We additionally showed that DTX-CA4 NMs effectively attenuate the production of ceramide-1-phosphate, a key metabolite of the sphingolipid pathway, by downregulating the expression of ceramide kinase at both transcriptional and translational levels. Therefore, this study presents the engineering of effective DTX-CA4 NMs for targeting the tumour microenvironment that can be explored further for clinical applications.

Experimental treatment efficacy of dmrFABP5 on prostate cancer singly or in combination with drugs in use

Enzalutamide is a drug used to treat prostate cancer (PC) and docetaxel is a drug for chemotherapeutic treatment of diverse cancer types, including PC. The effectiveness of these drugs in treating castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is poor and therefore CRPC is still largely incurable. However, the bio-inhibitor of fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5), dmrFABP5, which is a mutant form of FABP5 incapable of binding to fatty acids, has been shown recently to be able to suppress the tumorigenicity and metastasis of cultured CRPC cells. The present study investigated the possible synergistic effect of dmrFABP5 combined with either enzalutamide or docetaxel on suppressing the tumorigenic properties of PC cells, including cell viability, migration, invasion and colony proliferation in soft agar. A highly significant synergistic inhibitory effect on these properties was observed when dmrFABP5 was used in combination with enzalutamide on androgen-responsive PC 22RV1 cells. Moreover, a highly significant synergistic inhibitory effect was also observed when dmrFABP5 was combined with docetaxel, and added to 22RV1 cells and to the highly malignant, androgen-receptor (AR)-negative Du145 cells. DmrFABP5 alone failed to produce any suppressive effect when added to the FABP5-negative cell line LNCaP, although enzalutamide could significantly suppress LNCaP cells when used as a single agent. These synergistic inhibitory effects of dmrFABP5 were produced by interrupting the FABP5-related signal transduction pathway in PC cells. Thus, dmrFABP5 appears to be not only a potential single therapeutic agent, but it may also be used in combination with existing drugs to suppress both AR-positive and AR-negative PC.

Cabazitaxel exhibits more favorable molecular changes compared to other taxanes in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells

Taxane-based chemotherapy drugs (cabazitaxel, docetaxel, and paclitaxel) are microtubule inhibitors, which are effectively and frequently used to treat metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). Among these, cabazitaxel is offered as a new therapeutic option for patients with metastatic castration-resistant PC as that are resistant to other taxanes. Here, we investigated the cellular and molecular changes in response to cabazitaxel in comparison with docetaxel and paclitaxel in androgen-independent human PCas. The androgen-independent human PCa cell lines, PC3 and DU145, were treated with 1 to 5nM cabazitaxel, docetaxel, or paclitaxel, and assessed for cell viability (MTT assay), colony forming ability and migration (scratch assay). The induction of apoptosis was determined through measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1 assay) and caspase-3 activity assay. The protein expression changes (caspase-3, caspase-8, Bax, Bcl-2, β-tubulin, nuclear factor-κB [NF-κB/p50, NF-κB/p65], vascular endothelial growth factor, WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein-1 [WISP1], transforming growth factor β [TGF-β]) in response to drug treatment were screened via western blotting. Under our experimental conditions, all taxanes significantly reduced WISP1 and TGF-β expressions, suggesting an anti-metastatic/antiangiogenic effect for these drugs. On the other hand, cabazitaxel induced more cell death and inhibited colony formation compared to docetaxel or paclitaxel. The highest fold change in caspase-3 activity and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was also detected in response to cabazitaxel. Furthermore, the induction of β-tubulin expression was lower in cabazitaxel-treated cells relative to the other taxanes. In summary, cabazitaxel shows molecular changes in favor of killing PCa cells compared to other taxanes, at least for the parameters analyzed herein. The differences with other taxanes may be important while designing other studies or in clinical settings.

Synergistic Beneficial Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Docetaxel on the Expression Level of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MicroRNA-106b in Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers with the majority of patients recognized in advanced stages. The efficacy of using docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as a supplementary agent has been suggested in treatment along with chemotherapeutics including docetaxel. However, the molecular signatures of such beneficial effects are not well-understood.

OBJECTIVE(S)

We aimed to evaluate the effects of DHA and docetaxel on the expression level of metastasis-related genes, including MMP-2 and talin-2, and their controlling miRNAs, miR-106b and miR-194, in metastatic GC cell line, MKN45.

METHOD(S)

GC cell line, MKN45, was cultured, and determination of IC50 of DHA was done by MTT test. Cells were treated with docetaxel, DHA, and their combination for 24 h, and then total RNA was extracted and cDNA synthesis was done using standard protocols. The expression level of target genes, MMP-2 and talin-2, and miR-106b and miR-194 were determined by using quantitative real-time PCR.

RESULTS

The expression level of MMP-2 was decreased significantly in all treated cells. However, talin-2 showed significant downregulation only after treatment with docetaxel. In contrary to increased expression after treatment with docetaxel, DHA led to a significant under-expression of miR-106b. The similar effect was seen for miR-194.

CONCLUSION(S)

Combination of docetaxel and DHA led to the significant downregulation of MMP-2. Also, DHA lowered the docetaxel-mediated upregulation of miR-106b oncomiR. In conclusion, supplementation of docetaxel therapy with DHA in GC patients would be considered as a beneficial approach in cancer treatment.

Anti-Mucin1 Aptamer-Conjugated Chitosan Nanoparticles for Targeted Co-Delivery of Docetaxel and IGF-1R siRNA to SKBR3 Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells

Background

Targeted co-delivery of siRNA and a chemotherapeutic drug is an attractive approach to cancer drug design and treatment. This study was carried out to design an anti-Mucin1 aptamer (Apt)-conjugated chitosan nanoparticle (NP) for targeted co-delivery of insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGF-1R) Silencer siRNA and docetaxel (DTX) to SKBR3 cells.

Methods

Characterization of nano-drugs, cellular uptake of NPs, cell viability, and gene expression studies were evaluated based on metastatic breast cancer cells.

Results

The results of this study showed that NPs had spherical and smooth morphology with 110-118 nm in size and had positive zeta potential (12-14 mV). siRNA and DTX were considerably loaded into NPs. The appropriate conjugation of the Apt to the NPs was affirmed by gel electrophoresis. The Apt-conjugated NPs were observed to enhance the cellular uptake of NPs into the SKBR3 cells. Although the combination treatment significantly decreased the cell viability of SKBR3 cells, the augmentative effect was observed when Apt was conjugated to NPs. Furthermore, Apt-conjugated NPs dramatically reduced the genetic expression of IGF-1R, signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP9), and vascular growth factor (VEGF).

Conclusion

The targeted NPs may augment the targeting of pathways involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis of breast cancer. Therefore, more animal model experiments are needed to further clarify the efficacy and safety of this functionalized nanodrug.

Antiangiogenic cancer treatment: The great discovery and greater complexity (Review)

The discovery of tumor angiogenesis opened a new path in fighting cancer. The approval of different antiangiogenic agents, most targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, has either increased the effectiveness of standard chemotherapy or even replaced it by offering better patient outcomes. However, an increasing number of preclinical and clinical observations have shown that the process of angiogenesis is far from clearly understood. Apart from targeting the VEGF pathway, novel strategies aim to influence other molecular factors that are involved in tumor angiogenesis. In addition, naturally occurring compounds seem to offer additional agents for influencing angiogenesis. The first concept of antiangiogenic therapy aimed to destroy tumor vessels, while it turned out that, paradoxically, antiangiogenic drugs normalized vasculature and as a result offered an improvement in chemotherapeutic delivery. In order to design an effective treatment schedule, methods for detecting the time window of normalization and biomarkers predicting patient response are needed. The initial idea that antiangiogenic therapy would be resistance-free failed to materialize and currently we still face the obstacle of resistance to antiangiogenic therapy.

[Effects of recombinant human endostatin and docetaxel on MMP and its following anti-neoplastic effect under different administration sequences]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to observe the changes of MMP-2 and its regulators, and to investigate the mechanism of the two administration sequences of recombinant human endostatin (rh-endostatin) and docetaxel.

METHODS

The experiment was performed as 2 stages. Firstly, nude mice with xenograft tumor were randomized into 2 groups as rh-endostatin-treated group with rh-endostatin 400 microg x d(-1), d1-d14 and docetaxel-traeted group with docetaxel 10 mg x kg(-1) x 3d(-1), d1-d14. Secondly, nude mice with xenograft tumor were randomized into 3 groups as concurrent administration group (rh-endostatin 400 microg x d(-1), d1-d35, docetaxel 10 mg x kg(-1) x 3d(-1), d1-d19), endo-first group (rh-endostatin 400 microg x d(-1), d1-d35, docetaxel 10 mg x kg(-1) x 3(d-1), d16-d34) and model group (positive control, mice burdened tumor without treatment). The volume of tumor was measured during treatment. Detection of the expressions of MMP-2, TIMP-2, EMMPRIN and the count of microvessel density (MVD) by immunohistochemistry stain examination were carried out at the end of experiment.

RESULTS

Compared with the docetaxel-treated group, more obvious down-regulation of expression of MMP-2, EMMPRIN (P = 0.024, P = 0.081) were observed in rh-endostatin-treated group. No significant difference was found in TIMP-2 expression between the 2 groups. In combined treatment groups, at the endpoint tumor volumes of concurrent administration group and the endo-first group were remarkably smaller than that in model group (P < 0.001, P = 0.003). According to the administration procedure, concurrent administration inhibited tumor growth stronger than endo-first treatment did. Both of the combined groups down-regulated the expression of MMP-2 and decreased microvessel density (P < 0.05). Compared with model group, the expression of TIMP-2 was upregulated (P = 0.001) as well as EMMPRIN down-regulated (P = 0.018) in concurrent adminis- tration group. Oppositely, the same results were not observed in the endo-first group.

CONCLUSION

The schedule of the concurrent administration group could inhibit the tumor growth better, and it down-regulated MMP-2 expression through TIMP-2 and EMMPRIN, and thus slow down the tumor growth superiorly to another schedule of treatment.

Targeted drug and gene delivery systems for lung cancer therapy

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of a novel docetaxel derivative of deslorelin, a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist, and its combination in vivo with RGD peptide conjugated nanoparticles encapsulating an antiangiogenic, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) intraceptor (Flt23k; RGD-Flt23k-NP) in H1299 lung cancer cells and/or xenografts in athymic nude BALB/c mice.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

The in vitro and in vivo efficacy of the deslorelin-docetaxel conjugate was evaluated in H1299 cells and xenografts in athymic nude mice. Coadministration of deslorelin-docetaxel conjugate and RGD-Flt23k-NP was tested in vivo in mice. Tumor inhibition, apoptosis, and VEGF inhibition were estimated in each of the treatment groups.

RESULTS

The conjugate enhanced in vitro docetaxel efficacy by 13-fold in H1299 cells compared with docetaxel at 24 hours, and this effect was inhibited following reduction of LHRH receptor expression by an antisense oligonucleotide. Combination of the conjugate with the RGD-Flt23k-NP in vivo resulted in an 82- and 15-fold tumor growth inhibition on day 39 following repeated weekly i.v. injections and a single intratumoral (i.t.) injection, respectively. These effects were significantly greater than individual targeted therapies or docetaxel alone. Similarly, apoptotic indices for the combination therapy were 14% and 10% in the i.v. and i.t. groups, respectively, and higher than the individual therapies. Combination therapy groups exhibited greater VEGF inhibition in both the i.v. and i.t. groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Docetaxel efficacy was enhanced by LHRH receptor-targeted deslorelin conjugate and further improved by combination with targeted antiangiogenic nanoparticle gene therapy. Combination of novel targeted therapeutic approaches described here provides an attractive alternative to the current treatment options for lung cancer therapy.

Nab-paclitaxel efficacy in the orthotopic model of human breast cancer is significantly enhanced by concurrent anti-vascular endothelial growth factor A therapy

Nab-paclitaxel is an albumin-bound 130-nm particle form of paclitaxel that has shown an improved efficacy in experimental tumor models and clinical studies compared with solvent-based paclitaxel. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) antibody bevacizumab is known to enhance antitumor activity of cytotoxic drugs. This study evaluated the effects of combined nab-paclitaxel and bevacizumab therapy on growth and metastatic spread of orthotopic breast tumors. Cytotoxic and clonogenic assays measured VEGF-A-dependent modulation of nabpaclitaxel toxicity on cultured tumor cells. Antitumor effects were assessed in mice with luciferase-tagged, well-established MDA-MB-231 tumors (250-310 mm3) treated with one, two, or three cycles of nab-paclitaxel (10 mg/kg, daily for five consecutive days), bevacizumab (2-8 mg/kg, twice a week), or with combination of both drugs. VEGF-A protected MDA-MB-231 cells against nab-paclitaxel cytotoxicity, whereas bevacizumab sensitized cells to the effect of the drug. Combined bevacizumab and nab-paclitaxel treatment synergistically inhibited tumor growth and metastasis resulting in up to 40% of complete regressions of well-established tumors. This therapy also decreased the incidence of lymphatic and pulmonary metastases by 60% and 100%, respectively. The significant increase in the cure of tumor-bearing mice in the nab-paclitaxel/bevacizumab combined group compared with mice treated with single drugs strongly advocates for implementing such strategy in clinics.

VEGF signaling inhibitors: more pro-apoptotic than anti-angiogenic

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of polypeptide growth factors regulates a family of VEGF receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinases with pleiotropic downstream effects. Angiogenesis is the best known of these effects, but additional VEGF-dependent actions include increased vascular permeability, paracrine/autocrine growth factor release, enhancement of cell motility, and inhibition of apoptosis. In theory, therapeutic inhibition of angiogenesis should reduce tumor perfusion and thus increase tumor hypoxia and chemoresistance, but in clinical practice the VEGF antibody bevacizumab acts as a broad-spectrum chemosensitizer. Since VEGFR expression occurs in many tumor types, such chemosensitization is more readily explained by direct inhibition of tumor cell survival signals than by indirect stromal/vascular effects. The emerging model of anti-VEGF drug action being mediated primarily by tumoral (as distinct from endothelial) VEGFRs has clinically important implications for optimizing the anti-metastatic efficacy of this expanding drug class.

Lesional Overexpression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Promotes Intraplaque Hemorrhage in Advanced Lesions But Not at Earlier Stages of Atherogenesis

Background— Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is involved in atherosclerosis and elevated MMP-9 activity has been found in unstable plaques, suggesting a crucial role in plaque rupture. This study aims to assess the effect of MMP-9 on plaque stability in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice at different stages of plaque progression.

Methods and Results— Atherosclerotic lesions were elicited in carotid arteries by perivascular collar placement. MMP-9 overexpression in intermediate or advanced plaques was effected by intraluminal incubation with an adenovirus (Ad.MMP-9). A subset was coincubated with Ad.TIMP-1. Mock virus served as a control. Plaques were analyzed histologically. In intermediate lesions, MMP-9 overexpression induced outward remodeling, as shown by a 30% increase in media size ( p =0.03). In both intermediate and advanced lesions, prevalence of vulnerable plaque morphology tended to be increased. Half of MMP-9–treated lesions displayed intraplaque hemorrhage, whereas in controls and the Ad.MMP-9/Ad.TIMP-1 group this was 8% and 16%, respectively ( p =0.007). Colocalization with neovessels may point to neo-angiogenesis as a source for intraplaque hemorrhage.

Conclusion— These data show a differential effect of MMP-9 at various stages of plaque progression and suggest that lesion-targeted MMP-9 inhibition might be a valuable therapeutic modality in stabilizing advanced plaques, but not at earlier stages of lesion progression.

Sonographic evaluation of early-stage breast cancers that undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE

We prospectively evaluated low-stage breast cancers treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy using whole-volume sonography and color Doppler imaging.

METHODS

Thirty-four women with breast cancer (mean maximum size, 2.4 cm) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin and docetaxel. Targeted whole-volume sonography of tumor sites was performed before and after chemotherapy to assess mass size, color pixel speed-weighted density, and American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System sonographic characteristics. After chemotherapy, tumor sites were excised by lumpectomy or mastectomy.

RESULTS

Three (11.3%) of 34 patients had a complete histologic response. After chemotherapy, correlation was r = 0.716 between final histologic and sonographic sizes. Compared with histologic residual tumors, sonography had 4 false-negative results, 3 false-positive results, and 27 true-positive results (sensitivity, 87%), with no false-negative results among a subgroup of tumors of 7 mm and larger (sensitivity, 100%). The 3 cases with false-positive results were histologic fibrosis or biopsy changes. Mean speed-weighted density was 0.015 before and 0.0082 after chemotherapy (P = .03). After chemotherapy, vascularity was less common within (P = .06) or adjacent to (P = .009) masses or in tumor sites (P = .05). Prechemotherapy variables of gray scale characteristics and vascularity were compared with final histologic size, and all had P > .20.

CONCLUSIONS

Postchemotherapy sensitivity of sonography was high for residual tumors of 7 mm or larger. Correlation was moderate between histologic and sonographic final tumor sizes. False-positive results were caused by fibrosis or biopsy-related changes. False-negative results occurred with residual tumor size of 6 mm or smaller. After chemotherapy, vascularity usually decreased, and this was not specific for complete response. Before chemotherapy, no vascular or gray scale feature at initial imaging predicted complete responders.

Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging underestimates residual disease following neoadjuvant docetaxel based chemotherapy for breast cancer

AIMS

We prospectively compared the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure residual breast cancer in patients treated with different neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen.

METHODS

Forty patients with locally advanced breast carcinoma underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Twelve patients received 5-fluoro-uracyl-epirubicin-cyclophosphamide (FEC-group, six cycles), 28 (DXL-group) received docetaxel-based chemotherapy (six cycles DXL-epirubicin: 13 patients, eight cycles DXL alone: 15 patients). All patients had baseline and preoperative MRI. The spread of pathologic residual disease (PRd) was compared to preoperative MRI measures according to chemotherapy regimen.

RESULTS

MRI over/underestimation of the spread of residual tumour was never superior to 15mm in FEC group, whereas it appeared in 11/28 (39%, 30-48%-95% CI) patients in DXL group (p=0.017). Tumour shrinkage led to single nodular residual lesions in FEC group, whereas vast numerous microscopic nests were observed in docetaxel group in pathology.

CONCLUSION

Among tumours treated with a taxane-containing regimen, residual disease was frequently underestimated by MRI because of PRd features.