The study of a novel sorafenib derivative HLC-080 as an antitumor agent

PLoS One. 2014 Jul 8;9(7):e101889. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101889. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

In this study, our objective is to evaluate the potential of a novel Sorafenib derivative, named HLC-080, as a new anticancer agent for colon cancer. We firstly carried out MTT assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry analysis and transwell invasion assay to determine effect of our compound HLC-080 on cell viability, anti-proliferation activity, cell cycle arrest and the intervention on cell invasion, respectively. On the other hand, in vivo antitumor activity of HLC-080 was also tested using H22 xenograft model and the angiogenesis effect of HLC-080 was measured by EA.hy926 tube formation assay. The expression levels of various proteins in HLC-080 treated with HT-29 cell lines were examined using Western blot and ELISA experiments. The results showed that HLC-080 could dramatically inhibit the growth and colony formation of various tumor cells, therefore exhibited remarkable antitumor activity. HLC-080 can induce cell cycle arrest at G1 phase in HT-29 cells and subsequently inhibit the invasive potential of colon cancer cells. HLC-080 also exhibits anti-angiogenesis effect in EA.hy926 model. Additionally, the in vivo study showed that HLC-080 was able to reduced the tumor weight with the rate of 35.81%. And at the concentration of 0.352±0.034 µM, HLC-080 is able to reduce half of the regular protein level of p-c-Raf (Ser259), consequently block Raf/MEK/ERK signaling in HT-29 cell lines. In conclusion, our study suggests that Sorafenib derivative HLC-080 has the potential to inhibit cell proliferation and angiogenesis, Since, HLC-080 is particularly active against human colon cancer cells, our study highlights that HLC-080 and its related analogues may serve as a new anti-cancer drug, particularly against colon cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Phenylurea Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • HLC-080
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Sulfonamides
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf

Grants and funding

This subject was financially supported by the National Science & Technology Major Project (2009ZX09301-003-9-1). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.