Antiangiogenic activity of 4'-thio-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine

Mol Cancer Ther. 2006 Sep;5(9):2218-24. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-06-0048.

Abstract

4'-Thio-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (T-araC), a new-generation deoxycytidine nucleoside analogue, showed significant efficacy against numerous solid tumors in preclinical studies and entered clinical development for cancer therapy. It is a structural analogue of cytarabine (araC), a clinically used drug in the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia, which has no or very limited efficacy against solid tumors. In comparison with araC, the excellent in vivo activity of T-araC against solid tumors suggests that, in addition to inhibition of DNA synthesis, T-araC may target cellular signaling pathways, such as angiogenesis, in solid tumors. We studied T-araC and araC for their antiangiogenic activities in vitro and in vivo. Both compounds inhibited human endothelial cell proliferation with similar IC50s. However, only T-araC inhibited endothelial cell migration and differentiation into capillary tubules. T-araC also abrogated endothelial cell extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation, a key signaling molecule involved in cellular processes of angiogenesis. Results from chick chorioallantoic membrane angiogenesis assays revealed that T-araC significantly inhibited the development of new blood vessels in vivo, whereas araC showed much less effect. The findings of this study show a role of T-araC in antiangiogenesis and suggest that T-araC combines antiproliferative and antiangiogenic activity in one molecule for a dual mechanism of drug action to achieve the excellent in vivo efficacy against several solid tumors. This study also provides important information for optimizing dosage and sequence of T-araC administration in clinical investigations by considering T-araC as both an antiproliferative and an antiangiogenic agent.

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Arabinonucleosides / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chick Embryo
  • Chorioallantoic Membrane / blood supply
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Arabinonucleosides
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • 4'-thio-arabinofuranosylcytosine