Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P Van de Velde.
The study of the relative binding affinity of a set of 2,3-disubstituted indenes to the receptors of steroid hormones indicates a weak effect of some derivatives on estrogen, progesterone and androgen receptors. The antiproliferative effect on human MCF-7 cells also shows a weak activity for three derivatives.
Previous studies with the pure antiestrogen RU 58668 showed that this compound proved to be highly antiproliferative in vitro, and to be the only antiestrogenic compound so far known to induce long-term regression of MCF-7 tumours implanted into nude mice. In order to obtain more insight into the therapeutic potential of this molecule, we performed a new set of experiments in vitro and in vivo in comparison with tamoxifen and/or ICI 182,780. In vitro, 1 nM RU 58668 induced an accumulation of MCF-7 cells in G0/G1 phases of the cell cycle within 48 h and, in contrast to trans-4-hydroxy-tamoxifen, blocked the invasiveness of ras-transfected MCF-7 cells into the chick embryo heart during the three weeks of co-culture. An in vivo dose-effect relationship study showed that RU 58668 induced a regression of MCF-7 tumour with as low a dose as 10 mg/kg/week, and that such an effect can not be obtained either with a sublethal dose of adriamycin or with ICI 182,780, (2-250 mg/kg/week). This reduction in the tumour volumes accords with histological modifications of the tumours, which showed a decrease in the ratio of epithelial cells over the tumoral mass, and with a concomitant decrease in their regrowth potential when reimplanted into naive nude mice. Taken together, these results suggest a promising usefulness for RU 58668 in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in women.
The recently described pure antiestrogen RU 58668 displayed potent antiproliferative activities in vitro on several ER+ human mammary cell lines, stimulated either by estradiol or by endogenous or exogenous growth factors. Moreover, when administered to nude mice it proved to be the only antiestrogen to induce regression (at least 10 weeks) of estradiol-stimulated MCF-7 tumors, whereas tamoxifen only stabilized the tumor volume for 4 to 8 weeks. So the first purpose of this work was to study the effect of RU 58668 for 6 months and to evaluate its activity on tumors which escaped from the tamoxifen treatment. On the other hand, we looked for its effect on models more related to frequently described clinical observations, such as the overexpression of an oncogene or the implication of autocrine or paracrine growth factors. Long-term studies of RU 58668 on the estradiol-stimulated MCF-7 model showed that this compound induced a shrinking of tumor volumes for at least 25 weeks (3 to 6 times longer than the stabilization induced by tamoxifen) and was able to reduce the volume of tumors which escaped from, or even were stimulated by, tamoxifen. On models of spontaneously growing tumors, where the overexpression of an oncogene or the production of growth factors was involved, RU 58668 induced the same tumor shrinking that was previously observed on estradiol- or tamoxifen-stimulated models. Finally, when MCF-7 cells were injected in the uteri, a spontaneous tumor take was observed (in about 80-90% of the animals), leading to a more than twofold increase in uterus weight. This growth is largely stimulated by estradiol and tamoxifen. On this model, histological examination showed that only 30% of the animals receiving RU 58668 displayed tumoral microfoci. These studies suggest that RU 58668 may be used for the treatment of ER+ patients which are primarily resistant to or which escaped from tamoxifen treatment. Its preventive activity on tumor take also suggests its use as an adjuvant to prevent the development of metastases.
RU 58,668, a new steroidal antiestrogen, has been synthesized. Its in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities have been compared to those of tamoxifen and ICI 182,780. In vitro, it displayed affinities for human and murine estrogen receptors equivalent to those of 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen, along with moderate affinities for progestin and glucocorticoid receptors. RU 58,668 proved to be a potent antiproliferative agent on MCF-7 cells stimulated by estradiol, or by exogenous or endogenous growth factors (IC50, 0.01 nM). It also inhibited the growth of the insulin-stimulated T47D cell line. In vivo, RU 58,668 displayed a total anti-uterotrophic activity in mice or rats without exhibiting any agonistic effect. Moreover, RU 58,668 was the only antiestrogenic compound tested so far to be able to induce a long term regression of human mammary MCF-7 tumors implanted in nude mice, suggesting its potential use for the treatment of advanced breast cancer.
11 beta-Amidoalkoxyphenyl estradiols, a series of new antiestrogens, have been prepared and compared with tamoxifen (TAM) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OH-TAM). In vitro, these compounds were up to 20 times as active as OH-TAM on estradiol (E2)-stimulated MCF-7 cells. Unlike TAM or OH-TAM which were inactive, they displayed potent growth inhibitory effects on MCF-7 cells stimulated by a cocktail of epidermal growth factor and platelet derived growth factor. One of the most active compounds, 5e, was tested in vivo for its antiuterotrophic and antitumoral activities: it proved to be fully antiuterotrophic at 3 mg/kg subcutaneously in mice while being devoid of any uterotrophic activity. It inhibited the E2-induced growth of MCF-7 tumors implanted in nude mice and prevented the partial agonistic activity of TAM on MCF-7 tumor growth in ovariectomized mice. Moreover, on MCF-7 variant tumors, 5e, unlike TAM, did not display any proliferative activity, but inhibited the TAM-induced growth. Overall, these results show that this new series of compounds displays an improved activity profile compared with that of TAM, on tests relevant to human breast cancer treatment.
In order to find new antiestrogens, devoid of any agonistic activity, a series of 11 beta-amidoalkyl estradiols were prepared. These compounds have been studied in comparison with tamoxifen (TAM): in vitro, for their relative binding affinities (RBA) for mouse and MCF-7 estrogen receptors (ER) and for their antiproliferative effect on MCF-7 (estradiol or EGF/PDGF stimulated) and Ly2 human breast cancer cell lines; in vivo, for their uterotrophic/antiuterotrophic activities in the mouse and for their antitumoral activities on MCF-7 tumors implanted in nude mice. The most representative compounds are N-methyl-N-isopropyl-(3,17 beta-dihydroxy-estra-1,3,5(10)-trien-11 beta-yl)- undecanamide (RU 51625) and its 17 alpha-ethynyl derivative (RU 53637). They showed good RBAs for ER and a stronger antiproliferative effect than TAM in vitro. Unlike TAM, these compounds inhibited growth factor stimulated MCF-7 proliferation, and the growth of the TAM resistant cell line Ly2. In vivo, they were completely devoid of uterotrophic activity, when given subcutaneously in mice, but exhibited a slight agonistic effect when administered orally. They showed interesting antitumor activities in nude mice by the percutaneous route, but RU 53637 was significantly more potent than RU 51625 when given orally.