STX140, but not paclitaxel, inhibits mammary tumour initiation and progression in C3(1)/SV40 T/t-antigen transgenic mice

PLoS One. 2013 Dec 6;8(12):e80305. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080305. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Despite paclitxael's clinical success, treating hormone-refractory breast cancer remains challenging. Paclitaxel has a poor pharmacological profile, characterized by a low therapeutic index (TIX) caused by severe dose limiting toxicities, such as neutropenia and peripheral neuropathy. Consequently, new drugs are urgently required. STX140, a compound previously shown to have excellent efficacy against many tumors, is here compared to paclitaxel in three translational in vivo breast cancer models, a rat model of peripheral neuropathy, and through pharmacological testing. Three different in vivo mouse models of breast cancer were used; the metastatic 4T1 orthotopic model, the C3(1)/SV40 T-Ag model, and the MDA-MB-231 xenograft model. To determine TIX and pharmacological profile of STX140, a comprehensive dosing regime was performed in mice bearing MDA-MD-231 xenografts. Finally, peripheral neuropathy was examined using a rat plantar thermal hyperalgesia model. In the 4T1 metastatic model, STX140 and paclitaxel significantly inhibited primary tumor growth and lung metastases. All C3(1)/SV40 T-Ag mice in the control and paclitaxel treated groups developed palpable mammary cancer. STX140 blocked 47% of tumors developing and significantly inhibited growth of tumors that did develop. STX140 treatment caused a significant (P<0.001) survival advantage for animals in early and late intervention groups. Conversely, in C3(1)/SV40 T-Ag mice, paclitaxel failed to inhibit tumor growth and did not increase survival time. Furthermore, paclitaxel, but not STX140, induced significant peripheral neuropathy and neutropenia. These results show that STX140 has a greater anti-cancer efficacy, TIX, and reduced neurotoxicity compared to paclitaxel in C3(1)/SV40 T-Ag mice and therefore may be of significant benefit to patients with breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / immunology
  • Adenocarcinoma / mortality
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / genetics
  • Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / immunology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / immunology
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Dosage Calculations
  • Estrenes / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperalgesia / drug therapy*
  • Hyperalgesia / immunology
  • Hyperalgesia / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / immunology
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Mammary Glands, Animal
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / immunology
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / mortality
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Paclitaxel / adverse effects
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / immunology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / pathology
  • Rats
  • Survival Analysis
  • Transplantation, Heterologous

Substances

  • 2-methoxyestradiol-3,17-O,O-bis(sulfamate)
  • Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Estrenes
  • Paclitaxel

Grants and funding

This research was supported by Sterix Ltd., a member of the Ipsen Group and the Corrigan-Walla Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.