Cyclam-Modified PEI for Combined VEGF siRNA Silencing and CXCR4 Inhibition To Treat Metastatic Breast Cancer

Biomacromolecules. 2018 Feb 12;19(2):392-401. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.7b01487. Epub 2018 Jan 19.

Abstract

Chemokine receptor CXCR4 plays an important role in cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Recent findings suggest that anti-VEGF therapies upregulate CXCR4 expression, which contributes to resistance to antiangiogenic therapies. Here, we report the development of novel derivatives of polyethylenimine (PEI) that effectively inhibit CXCR4 while delivering anti-VEGF siRNA. PEI was alkylated with different amounts of a CXCR4-binding cyclam derivative to prepare PEI-C. Modification with the cyclam derivatives resulted in a considerable decrease in cytotoxicity when compared with unmodified PEI. All the PEI-C showed significant CXCR4 antagonism and the ability to inhibit cancer cell invasion. Polyplexes of PEI-C prepared with siVEGF showed effective silencing of the VEGF expression in vitro. In vivo testing in a syngeneic breast cancer model showed promising antitumor and antimetastatic activity of the PEI-C/siVEGF polyplexes. Our data demonstrate the feasibility of using PEI-C as a carrier for simultaneous VEGF silencing and CXCR4 inhibition for enhanced antiangiogenic cancer therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Gene Silencing
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / therapy
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Polyethyleneimine / chemistry*
  • RNAi Therapeutics / methods*
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • CXCR4 protein, mouse
  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • Receptors, CXCR4
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse
  • cyclam
  • Polyethyleneimine