Microregional antitumor activity of a small-molecule hypoxia-inducible factor 1 inhibitor

Int J Mol Med. 2012 Apr;29(4):541-9. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2011.875. Epub 2011 Dec 29.

Abstract

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) activates the transcription of genes that play crucial roles in the adaptation of cancer cells to hypoxia. HIF-1α overexpression has been associated with poor prognosis in patients with various types of cancer. Here, we describe ER-400583-00 as a novel HIF-1 inhibitor. ER-400583-00 suppressed the production of HIF-1α protein in response to hypoxia, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration value of 3.7 nM in human U251 glioma cells. The oral administration of 100 mg/kg ER-400583-00 to mice bearing U251 tumor xenografts resulted in a rapid suppression of HIF-1α that persisted for 24 h. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that ER-400583-00 suppressed the proliferation of cancer cells most prominently in areas distal to the region of blood perfusion, where HIF-1α-expressing hypoxic cancer cells were located. These hypoxic cancer cells were resistant to radiation therapy. ER-400583-00 showed a synergistic interaction with radiation therapy in terms of antitumor activity. These data suggest that HIF-1 blockade by small compounds may have therapeutic value in cancer, especially in combination with radiation therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Benzamides / pharmacology*
  • Cell Hypoxia / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Glioma / drug therapy*
  • Glioma / radiotherapy
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Piperazines / pharmacology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzamides
  • ER-400583-00
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Piperazines