Biomedical subjects

Gabor Halmos

Publications and source records attributed to Gabor Halmos.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

Inhibitory effect of antagonists of bombesin and growth hormone-releasing hormone on orthotopic and intraosseous growth and invasiveness of PC-3 human prostate cancer in nude mice.

PURPOSE: To determine whether antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide (BN/GRP) can inhibit the orthotopic and metastatic growth of PC-3 human androgen-independent prostate cancers. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The effects of administration of GHRH antagonist MZ-J-7-118, BN/GRP antagonist RC-3940-II, and their combination on the growth and metastatic spread of PC-3 tumors implanted orthotopically into nude mice were evaluated. The efficacy of this treatment on PC-3 tumors implanted intratibially and s.c. was also determined. RESULTS: Treatment with MZ-J-7-118, RC-3940-II, or their combination significantly inhibited the growth of PC-3 tumors implanted orthotopically, intraosseously, and s.c. The combination of the two antagonists had the greatest effect, inhibiting orthotopic tumor growth by 77%, intratibially implanted tumors by 86%, and s.c. tumors by 86%. The therapy with BN/GRP and GHRH antagonists, especially in combination, also reduced the local tumor spread and distant metastases in animals bearing orthotopic tumors. Combination therapy was likewise the most effective in reducing the incidence and severity of tibial osteolytic lesions and pathologic fractures in intraosseously implanted tumors. High-affinity binding sites for BN/GRP and GHRH were found in s.c. and orthotopic PC-3 tumor samples. MZ-J-7-118, RC-3940-II, and the combination of both compounds inhibited in vitro growth of PC-3 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show the efficacy of BN/GRP antagonists and GHRH antagonists for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer in preclinical metastatic models. As BN/GRP antagonists are already in clinical trials and GHRH antagonists are effective in androgen-independent prostate cancer models, these analogues could be considered for the management of advanced prostate carcinoma.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Experimental therapy of human endometrial cancers with a targeted cytotoxic bombesin analog AN-215: low induction of multidrug resistance proteins.

In this study we have investigated the efficacy and toxicity of targeted cytotoxic bombesin (BN) analog AN-215 and its effects on the expression of three multidrug resistance proteins in experimental human endometrial cancers. Nude mice bearing HEC-1A, RL-95-2 and AN3CA tumours were treated with AN-215 and its cytotoxic radical (AN-201). The BN receptor expression in tumours was followed by RT-PCR analysis and radioligand binding assays. Expression of drug resistance proteins MDR-1, MRP-1 and BCRP were measured by realtime PCR. AN-215 significantly (P<0.05) inhibited the growth of HEC-1A, RL-95-2 and AN3CA tumours while AN-201 was ineffective. The expression of BN receptors was demonstrated in all three tumour models. AN-215 caused a lower induction of MDR-1 in HEC-1A and RL-95-2 cancers than AN-201. MRP-1 and BCRP were not induced by AN-215 or AN-201. Thus, targeted chemotherapy with AN-215 powerfully inhibits the growth of human BN receptor-positive endometrial cancers.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B↗

PubMed2005

Receptors for luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) expressed in human non-Hodgkin's lymphomas can be targeted for therapy with the cytotoxic LHRH analogue AN-207.

We determined by immunohistochemistry the presence of LHRH receptors in surgical specimens of human non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) and investigated the expression of LHRH receptors in two human NHL cell lines, RL and HT by RT-PCR, Western blot and radioligand binding studies. In in vivo experiments with nude mice bearing tumours of these NHL cell lines, the efficacy of cytotoxic LHRH analogue AN-207 and its cytotoxic radical AN-201 was examined. LHRH receptors were detected in 94.1% of the human NHL specimens and in both NHL cell lines. AN-207 significantly (P < 0.01) inhibited the growth of RL and HT tumours, while the non-targeted AN-201 had no effects. Blockade of the LHRH receptors with an excess of LHRH agonist Decapeptyl suppressed the antitumour effects of AN-207. Our findings indicate that LHRH receptors expressed in a high percentage of human NHL specimens can be used for effective targeted therapy with the cytotoxic LHRH analogue AN-207.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Effective treatment of experimental human endometrial cancers with targeted cytotoxic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogues AN-152 and AN-207.

OBJECTIVE: To treat experimental human endometrial cancers based on targeted chemotherapy with the cytotoxic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues AN-152 and AN-207. DESIGN: Experimental study using athymic nude mice bearing xenografts of HEC-1A and RL-95-2 human endometrial cancers to assess the efficacy and toxicity of AN-152 and AN-207. The expression of LHRH receptors in HEC-1A and RL-95-2 cancers was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and radioligand binding assays. SETTING: Experimental laboratory research. ANIMAL(S): Female athymic nude mice (Ncr, nu/nu). INTERVENTION(S): Animals were treated with IV injections of the cytotoxic LHRH analogues AN-152 and AN-207 and their respective cytotoxic radicals doxorubicin (DOX) and AN-201 (2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin) on a control vehicle solution. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Tumor volume, final tumor weight, tumor doubling time, body weight, white blood cell count, and LHRH receptor expression. RESULT(S): AN-152 significantly inhibited the growth of HEC-1A tumors. AN-207 also significantly suppressed the proliferation in vivo of HEC-1A and RL-95-2 cancers. The cytotoxic radicals DOX and AN-201 had no effect. Furthermore, mRNA for LHRH receptors, LHRH receptor protein, and high-affinity binding sites for LHRH were demonstrated on tumors. CONCLUSION(S): Targeted chemotherapy with AN-152 and AN-207 strongly inhibits the growth of human endometrial cancers, which express LHRH receptors, and could provide a new treatment modality for women with advanced endometrial carcinoma.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Potent induction of apoptosis in human hepatoma cell lines by targeted cytotoxic somatostatin analogue AN-238.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The efficacy of a targeted cytotoxic hybrid somatostatin analogue AN-238 and of its superactive radical 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin (AN-201) to induce apoptosis of HepG2 and Hep3B human hepatoma cell lines were studied. AN-238 was designed to selectively target tumor cells expressing somatostatin receptor subtypes (sst(s)). Its effects on HepG2 or Hep3B cells displaying or lacking tumor suppressor p53, respectively, were compared. Normal rat isolated hepatocytes were also tested. METHODS: sst(s) were characterized by binding assays and RT-PCR. Cytotoxicity was quantified by flow cytometry. DNA fragmentation was studied by gel electrophoresis, PARP cleavage by Western blot and ROS formation using fluorescent probes. RESULTS: Specific binding of iodinated RC-160 to HepG2 and Hep3B cells, and its displacement by AN-238 was characterized. mRNA for hsst(2A) was found in both cell lines. Flow cytometry showed a stronger effect of AN-238 than AN-201 to induce sub-G1 phase. DNA fragmentation, nuclear bodies, and PARP cleavage were observed. In addition, AN-238 increased formation of ROS more potently than AN-201. However, no inductions of DNA fragmentation by AN-201 or AN-238 were observed on rat hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that, in liver cancer, the cytotoxic somatostatin analogue AN-238 is a powerful agent that can induce apoptosis, through sst(s) and independently of p53.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2005

Antagonists of bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide decrease the expression of angiogenic and anti-apoptotic factors in human glioblastoma.

We have investigated the antitumor effects and the mechanism of action of antagonists of bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), RC-3940-II and RC-3940-Et, on the growth of U-118MG human malignant glioma xenografted into nude mice. Tumors volume was measured weekly, and after 6 weeks of treatment with GRP antagonists the tumors were analyzed by Western blot assays for the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha, the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. A radioreceptor assay was used to characterize the receptors for bombesin/GRP. Specific high-affinity receptors for bombesin were found in U-118MG tumors, and their growth was reduced by 52.5% by RC-3940-II and 72.6% by RC-3940-Et (both p<0.01). The tumor doubling time was prolonged by 4.6 and 12 days after treatment with RC-3940-II and RC-3940-Et, respectively, compared to controls (p<0.05). Both antagonists caused a significant (p<0.05) decrease of about 28% in the levels of VEGF protein and a reduction of approximately 35% in the expression of PKCalpha. The relative ratio of Bcl-2:Bax was also diminished by around 70% by both analogs, indicating a net apoptotic gain and the efficacy of treatment. Our results suggest that bombesin/GRP antagonists, RC-3940-II and RC-3940-Et, could be of value for the treatment of human glioblastomas.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

PubMed2005

Inhibition of growth of experimental human and hamster pancreatic cancers in vivo by a targeted cytotoxic bombesin analog.

OBJECTIVES: Targeting anticancer agents to receptors for peptide hormones such as bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) on tumor cells increases the efficacy and lowers the toxicity of cancer therapy. We studied the expression of bombesin/GRP receptors in 6 experimental pancreatic cancers and evaluated tumor inhibition in vivo produced by targeted chemotherapy with the cytotoxic bombesin analog AN-215. METHODS: Nude mice with xenografts of Panc-1, CFPAC-1, Capan-1, Capan-2, MiaPaCa-2, and SW-1990 human ductal pancreatic cancers, as well as hamsters with nitrosamine-induced pancreatic cancers, were treated with AN-215 or its cytotoxic radical 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin (AN-201) for 7 to 12 weeks. Tumor growth reduction and survival were analyzed, and cell proliferation rate and apoptosis were examined by histologic methods. Bombesin/GRP receptors on the tumors were studied by ligand-binding assays and their mRNA expression was studied by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: All tumors expressed mRNA for subtype 1 bombesin/GRP receptor, but MiaPaCa-2, and in one experiment, SW-1990 tumors did not show binding sites for bombesin. AN-215 powerfully inhibited the growth of all pancreatic cancers that expressed functional receptors for bombesin/GRP. AN-201 was less effective on most tumors and somewhat more toxic than AN-215. CONCLUSIONS: Bombesin/GRP receptors are expressed on most ductal pancreatic carcinoma cell lines and can be used for targeted chemotherapy with the cytotoxic bombesin analog AN-215.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Targeted cytotoxic bombesin analog AN-215 effectively inhibits experimental human breast cancers with a low induction of multi-drug resistance proteins.

The cytotoxic analog of bombesin (BN)/gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) AN-215 consisting of 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin (AN-201), a superactive derivative of doxorubicin linked to a bombesin analog carrier, displays a high affinity to BN/GRP receptors and can be targeted to tumors that express these receptors. We evaluated the antitumor effect and the toxicity of AN-215 in 5 human breast cancer cell lines xenografted into nude mice. In addition, we measured the mRNA expression of multi drug resistance protein 1 (MDR-1), multi drug resistance related protein 1 (MRP-1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) by real-time PCR analysis after treatment with AN-215. All five cell lines expressed BN/GRP receptors, and AN-215 significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited tumor growth in all models, while its cytotoxic radical AN-201 had no significant effect in four models. In MX-1 tumors, AN-201 had a significantly weaker antitumor effect than AN-215. The effect of AN-215 was nullified by a blockade of BN/GRP receptors with a bombesin antagonist. Low or no induction of MDR-1, MRP-1 and BCRP occurred after treatment with AN-215. In conclusion, targeted chemotherapy with the cytotoxic BN/GRP analog AN-215 strongly inhibits breast cancers that express BN/GRP receptors and might provide a new treatment modality for mammary carcinoma.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed2005

Inhibition of experimental U-118MG glioblastoma by targeted cytotoxic analogs of bombesin and somatostatin is associated with a suppression of angiogenic and antiapoptotic mechanisms.

Human gliomas express receptors for bombesin and somatostatin that can be used for targeted chemotherapy. In the present study, the efficacy and the mechanism of action of cytotoxic bombesin analog AN-215, and cytotoxic somatostatin analog AN-238 were investigated in U-118MG human glioblastomas xenografted into nude mice. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the apoptotic markers Bcl-2 and Bax was analyzed by Western blotting. The toxicity was evaluated by measuring leukocyte levels and body weights. Treatment with AN-215 or AN-238 reduced tumor growth by approximately 50%, and diminished the levels of VEGF by 45 and 75%, respectively. The relative ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax proteins was decreased by approximately 90%, indicating a net apoptotic gain and efficacy of treatment. Specific receptors for bombesin and somatostatin were found in U-118MG tumors. Our results suggest that targeted cytotoxic analogs, AN-215 and AN-238, could be useful for the treatment of human glioblastomas.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Development of a polyclonal antiserum for the detection of the isoforms of the receptors for human growth hormone-releasing hormone on tumors.

Antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) inhibit the growth of various human cancers by multiple mechanisms, which include direct effects on tumor cells through the splice variants (SV) of the GHRH receptor. Our findings suggest that the tumoral protein encoded by SV 1 (SV1) is a likely functional receptor. The aim of this study was to develop a polyclonal antiserum against a polypeptide analog of segment 1-25 of the putative SV1 receptor protein. Rabbits were immunized with [Ala-23]SV1 (1-25)-Tyr-26-Cys-27-NH2 as a hapten, conjugated to BSA or keyhole limpet hemocyanin. The antisera thus generated were evaluated by RIA for binding to the radiolabeled hapten. The specificity and sensitivity of the antisera were studied on xenografts of RL and HT human non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The sera raised against keyhole limpet hemocyanin-SV1 hapten, showed binding values of 50-75% at a 1:56,000 dilution. In Western blot analyses, the purified polyclonal antibody recognized a specific signal with a molecular mass of approximately 40 kDa in RL and HT lymphomas. This band corresponds to the estimated molecular mass of the GHRH receptor isoform encoded by SV1. RT-PCR and ligand binding studies also revealed the expression of SV1 and the presence of high-affinity binding sites for GHRH on RL and HT tumors. Because the antiserum developed recognizes the tumoral GHRH receptor protein encoded by SV1, it should be of value in various investigations.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Increased activity of antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone substituted at positions 8, 9, and 10.

Antagonists of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (hGHRH) with increased potency and improved enzymatic and chemical stability are needed for potential clinical applications. We synthesized 21 antagonistic analogs of hGHRH(1-29)NH(2), substituted at positions 8, 9, and 10 of the common core sequence [phenylacetyl-Tyr(1), d-Arg(2,28), para-chloro-phenylalanine 6, Arg(9)/homoarginine 9, Tyr(10)/O-methyltyrosine 10, alpha-aminobutyric acid 15, norleucine 27, Har(29)] hGHRH(1-29)NH(2). Inhibitory effects on hGHRH-induced GH release were evaluated in vitro in a superfused rat pituitary system, as well as in vivo after i.v. injection into rats. The binding affinities of the peptides to pituitary GHRH receptors were also determined. Introduction of para-amidinophenylalanine 10 yielded antagonists JV-1-62 and -63 with the highest activities in vitro and lowest receptor dissociation constants (K(i) = 0.057-0.062 nM). Antagonists JV-1-62 and -63 also exhibited the strongest effect in vivo, significantly (P < 0.05-0.001) inhibiting hGHRH-induced GH release for at least 1 h. Para-aminophenylalanine 10 and O-ethyltyrosine 10 substitutions yielded antagonists potent in vitro, but His(10), 3,3'-diphenylalanine 10, 2-naphthylalanine 10, and cyclohexylalanine 10 modifications were detrimental. Antagonists containing citrulline 9 (in MZ-J-7-72), amidinophenylalanine 9 (in JV-1-65), His(9), d-Arg(9), citrulline 8, Ala(8), d-Ala(8), or alpha-aminobutyric acid 8 substituents also had high activity and receptor affinity in vitro. However, in vitro potencies of analogs with substitution in position 9 correlated poorly with acute endocrine effects in vivo, as exemplified by the weak and/or short inhibitory actions of antagonists JV-1-65 and MZ-J-7-72 on GH release in vivo. Nevertheless, antagonist JV-1-65 was more potent than JV-1-63 in tests on inhibition of the growth of human prostatic and lung cancer lines xenografted into nude mice. This indicates that oncological activity may be based on several mechanisms. hGHRH antagonists with improved efficacy could be useful for treatment of cancers that depend on insulin-like growth factors or GHRH.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Effective treatment of experimental androgen sensitive and androgen independent intraosseous prostate cancer with targeted cytotoxic somatostatin analogue AN-238.

PURPOSE: The targeted cytotoxic somatostatin analogue AN-238, consisting of 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin (AN-201) linked to carrier octapeptide RC-121, is scheduled for clinical trials. To extend previous findings we tested AN-238 on human androgen sensitive MDA-PCa-2b prostate cancers grown subcutaneously and androgen independent LNCaP derived C4-2 prostate cancers xenografted into the tibiae of nude mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Changes in serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels were monitored by radioimmunoassay. Somatostatin receptors in tumor samples were characterized. RESULTS: Three intravenous injections of AN-238 at 150 nmol/kg doses inhibited the growth of subcutaneous MDA-PCa-2b tumors by 62% vs controls (p <0.05) and were more effective than equimolar doses of the radical AN-201 (p <0.05). AN-238 also decreased serum PSA levels by 62% vs controls (p <0.01). In nude mice bearing intra-osseous implanted C4-2 prostate cancers AN-238 decreased serum PSA levels by 65% compared with controls after 5 weeks of therapy (p <0.05), while AN-201 was ineffective. All AN-238 treated mice were alive at the termination of the experiment, while only 50% of controls and 60% of animals treated with AN-201 survived (p <0.01). Histological evaluation of intraosseous C4-2 tumors showed that AN-238 induced a significant increase in apoptosis (p <0.05). MDA-PCa-2b and C4-2 tumors showed high affinity binding for somatostatin and the expression of mRNA for somatostatin receptor subtypes 1, 2A and 5. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrates the efficacy of the somatostatin analogue AN-238 for subcutaneous MDA-PCa-2b as well as for intraosseous C4-2 prostate cancers xenografted into nude mice. This targeted cytotoxic analogue could represent a new therapy for patients with advanced metastatic prostate carcinoma.

Androgens↗

PubMed2003

Antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone inhibit the proliferation of experimental non-small cell lung carcinoma.

Recent studies show that antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GH-RH) inhibit proliferation of various cancers indirectly through blockage of the endocrine GH-insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I axis and directly by an action on tumor cells involving the suppression of autocrine/paracrine IGF-I, IGF-II, or GH-RH. The effectiveness of therapy with GH-RH antagonist JV-1-38 and its mechanisms of action were investigated in NCI-H838 non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) xenografted s.c. into nude mice and in vitro. Treatment with GH-RH antagonist JV-1-38 significantly (P < 0.05-0.001) inhibited tumor growth as demonstrated by a 58% decrease in final tumor volume, 54% reduction in tumor weight, and the extension of tumor-doubling time from 8.5 +/- 1.38 to 12 +/- 1.07 days as compared with controls. Using ligand competition assays with (125)I-labeled GH-RH antagonist JV-1-42, specific high-affinity binding sites for GH-RH were found on tumor membranes. Reverse transcription-PCR revealed the expression of mRNA for GH-RH and splice variant 1 (SV(1)) of GH-RH receptor in H838 tumors. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis also demonstrated that H838 tumors express IGF-I and IGF-I receptors. Tumoral concentration of IGF-I and its mRNA expression were significantly decreased by 25% (P = 0.05) and 65% (P < 0.001), respectively, in animals receiving JV-1-38, whereas serum IGF-I levels remained unchanged. In vitro studies showed that H838 cells secreted GH-RH and IGF-I into the medium. The growth of tumor cells in vitro was stimulated by IGF-I and inhibited by GH-RH antagonist JV-1-38 and a GH-RH antiserum. Our results extend the findings on the involvement of IGF-I in NSCLC and suggest that GH-RH may be an autocrine growth factor for H838 NSCLC. The antitumorigenic action of GH-RH antagonists could be partly direct and mediated by SV(1) of tumoral GH-RH receptors. The finding of GH-RH and SV(1) of GH-RH receptors in NSCLC provides a new approach to the treatment of this malignancy based on the use of antagonistic analogues of GH-RH.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

Preclinical evaluation of therapeutic effects of targeted cytotoxic analogs of somatostatin and bombesin on human gastric carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: New modalities are necessary for the treatment of patients with unresectable gastric carcinoma. The authors investigated whether receptors for somatostatin and bombesin were present in human gastric carcinoma lines and tested the antitumor effects of cytotoxic somatostatin analog AN-238 and cytotoxic bombesin conjugate AN-215. METHODS: Nude mice bearing AGS, Hs 746T, and NCI-N87 human gastric carcinomas were treated with AN-238, AN-215, or their cytotoxic moiety 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin (AN-201). Tumor growth reduction and tumor doubling times were calculated, and histologic characteristics of cell proliferation and apoptosis were examined. The expression of mRNA for somatostatin and bombesin receptors in tumors was investigated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Subtypes 2 and 5 of somatostatin receptor proteins (sst2 and sst5, respectively) were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. Binding assays were performed with radiolabeled somatostatin and bombesin analogs. RESULTS: Cytotoxic bombesin analog AN-215 powerfully inhibited the growth of AGS carcinomas that expressed high-affinity subtype 1 bombesin receptors. All three carcinomas expressed high-affinity sst2 and sst5 receptors. Cytotoxic somatostatin analog AN-238 exerted a strong inhibitory effect on NCI-N87 and Hs 746T carcinomas, which exhibited high concentrations of somatostatin receptors, but had a weaker effect on AGS tumors, which expressed the lowest receptor levels. AN-201 had only nonsignificant effects. CONCLUSIONS: Experimental human gastric carcinomas that expressed high-affinity subtype 1 bombesin receptors were inhibited by cytotoxic bombesin analog AN-215, and tumors with high concentrations of sst2 or sst5 somatostatin receptors were suppressed by cytotoxic somatostatin analog AN-238. These findings suggest that this class of targeted compounds should be considered for the therapy of patients with advanced gastric carcinoma.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2003

Preclinical evaluation of targeted cytotoxic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue AN-152 in androgen-sensitive and insensitive prostate cancers.

PURPOSE AND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: To improve conventional chemotherapy, we developed cytotoxic analogues of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH), which can be targeted to prostate cancers expressing LH-RH receptors. In view of pending clinical trials on cytotoxic LH-RH analogue AN-152, containing doxorubicin (DOX) linked to [D-Lys(6])-LH-RH, we investigated the effects of AN-152 on tumor growth of s.c. implanted androgen-sensitive LNCaP and MDA-PCa-2b prostate cancers, as well as androgen-independent C4-2 prostate cancers xenografted into the tibiae of nude mice. In the C4-2 study, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were also measured. LH-RH receptors were analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR and ligand competition assay. We also evaluated whether AN-152 can affect mRNA expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor and HER-2 and -3 oncogenes RESULTS: After 32 days of treatment with AN-152, the growth of LNCaP cancers in castrated nude mice was strongly inhibited by 83% versus intact controls (P < 0.01) and 62% versus castrated controls (P < 0.05). In animals bearing MDA-PCa-2b prostate cancers, therapy with AN-152 for 25 days resulted in a 69% inhibition of tumor growth (P < 0.01 versus controls) and was more effective (P < 0.05) than equimolar doses of DOX or microcapsules of LH-RH agonist Decapeptyl. In nude mice bearing intraosseous C4-2 prostate cancers, treatment with AN-152 decreased serum PSA levels (P < 0.01) to 10.3 +/- 3.4 ng/ml from 24.8 +/- 4 ng/ml in controls, whereas DOX had no effect on PSA. The inhibitory effects of AN-152 on C4-2 tumors was accompanied by an increase in apoptosis and a decrease in tumor proliferation. Binding sites for LH-RH and the expression of mRNA for LH-RH receptors were found on s.c. C4-2 and MDA-PCa-2b tumors. The inhibition of MDA-PCa-2b tumors by AN-152 was associated with a significant decrease in mRNA expression for epidermal growth factor receptor, HER-2, and 3. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that cytotoxic analogue AN-152 could be considered for therapeutic trials in patients with advanced prostate carcinoma.

Androgens↗

PubMed2003

Targeted doxorubicin-containing luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue AN-152 inhibits the growth of doxorubicin-resistant MX-1 human breast cancers.

PURPOSE: The receptors for luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone receptor (LHRH-R) are found in >50% of human breast cancers. Doxorubicin (DOX) was linked to [D-Lys(6)]LHRH to form a cytotoxic conjugate, AN-152, which can be targeted to tumor cells expressing LHRH-R. We evaluated the effects of AN-152 on the estrogen-independent, DOX-resistant human mammary carcinoma line MX-1, xenografted into nude mice. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Nude mice bearing MX-1 tumors were administered five i.v. injections of AN-152 or DOX at doses equivalent to 3 mg/kg DOX. Tumor growth was followed, and changes in the expression of LHRH-R on tumors were evaluated by radioreceptor assays, reverse transcription-PCR, and Western blotting. The effects of AN-152 on the expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2 were investigated. Because LHRH-R are coupled to various G proteins, which are involved in mitogenic signaling, we determined the outcome of treatment with AN-152 on the levels of mRNA for different G proteins. RESULTS: Treatment with AN-152 significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the final tumor volume to 978.56 +/- 176.85 mm(3), compared with the control tumors, which measured 2837.38 +/- 515.38 mm(3). Tumor doubling time was likewise significantly (P < 0.05) extended by AN-152 to 12.01 +/- 1.99 days from 6.45 +/- 0.36 days for the controls. Therapy with AN-152, but not with DOX, resulted in a significant decrease of LHRH-R levels on MX-1 tumors. The expression of mRNAs for HER-2, HER-3, Galpha(i2), and Galpha(11) and the levels of HER-2 and HER-3 proteins were also significantly reduced by AN-152. CONCLUSIONS: Cytotoxic LHRH analogue AN-152 could be considered for targeted chemotherapy of DOX-resistant breast cancers expressing LHRH-R.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Ligand-dependent and -independent effects of splice variant 1 of growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor.

Existing evidence indicates that, in addition to its neuroendocrine action, growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) acts directly on several nonpituitary tissues, especially neoplasms, and stimulates cell proliferation. We have recently reported that a splice variant of the receptor (SV1) is expressed in various normal tissues and particularly in tumor tissues, producing mitogenic effects on GHRH binding. By using HEC-1A human endometrial carcinoma cells, which express endogenous SV1, we show that, in addition to its ability to mediate the mitogenic effects of GHRH, SV1 also possesses relatively high intrinsic, ligand-independent activity. By using an antisense RNA-based approach we found that SV1 ablation reduces the efficacy of colony formation and the rate of cell proliferation of HEC-1A cells in the absence of exogenous GHRH, and decreases their sensitivity to GHRH when the neurohormone is added to the culture media. This ligand-independent stimulation of cell proliferation appears to be a characteristic property of the truncated form of the receptor, because the expression of SV1 and not of the full-length GHRH receptor stimulated the proliferation of 3T3 fibroblasts in the absence of exogenous GHRH, whereas both forms mediated the proliferative effects of GHRH. Evaluation of 21 specimens of human primary endometrial carcinoma for expression of SV1 by immunohistochemistry indicated that in contrast to the GHRH receptor, which is absent, SV1 is expressed in approximately 43% of the specimens. These findings indicate that SV1 can operate in a ligand-independent as well as a ligand-dependent manner. The overexpression of this form of GHRH receptor may be associated with carcinogenesis.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed2003

Absence of binding of targeted analogs of somatostatin carrying cytotoxic radicals or radionuclides to growth hormone secretagogue receptors on human myocardium.

Various peripheral human tissues express receptors for growth hormone secretagogue (GHS), the highest density being in the myocardium. It was also reported that some octapeptide analogs of somatostatin (SRIH) can displace radiolabeled Tyr-Ala-hexarelin from GHS receptors on the human pituitary and heart. Thus, it is possible that radionuclide analogs of SRIH such as OctreoScan and recently developed cytotoxic SRIH analogs containing doxorubicin (DOX) intended for targeted tumor therapy, could bind to these GHS receptors, compromising the safety of compounds of this type. Therefore, we determined the binding of OctreoScan and two cytotoxic SRIH analogs consisting of octapeptide carrier RC-121 and DOX (AN-162) or 2-pyrrolino-DOX (AN-238) to human myocardium specimens. None of these compounds displayed specific binding to the human heart indicating that the clinical use of SRIH analogs linked to anthracyclines or radionuclides should not be associated with increased cardiac side effects.

2-Hydroxyphenethylamine↗