Aphidicolin glycinate inhibits human neuroblastoma cell growth in vivo

Oncol Rep. 1999 May-Jun;6(3):563-8. doi: 10.3892/or.6.3.563.

Abstract

Aphidicolin is a fungal derived tetracyclic diterpene antibiotic. It is selectively toxic for neuroblastoma (NB) cells in vitro but has no significant effects on the viability of normal human cells and a variety of other tumor entities. We evaluated the antitumoral effects of the water soluble ester aphidicolin glycinate (AphiG) on established human NB xenografts from UKF-NB-3 cells in athymic (nude) mice. Furthermore, we explored the efficacy of direct intraneoplastic and systemic delivery of AphiG. Systemic administration of AphiG (60 mg/kg intraperitoneally, twice per day on 10 consecutive days) significantly suppressed tumor growth but was not able to induce any cures. In contrast, intratumoral AphiG injections (60 or 40 mg/kg/twice a day for 4 days) induced complete tumor regression. Two weeks after the end of treatment no tumor cells were microscopically detectable. Animals were free of tumor for more than 90 days. Histologic examination of inner organs and bone marrow did not reveal any apparent toxic effects of AphiG. These data strongly indicate that AphiG deserves further evaluation as a specific treatment for neuroblastoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / toxicity
  • Aphidicolin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Aphidicolin / pharmacology
  • Aphidicolin / toxicity
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Neuroblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Neuroblastoma / pathology
  • Transplantation, Heterologous
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Aphidicolin
  • aphidicolin glycinate