Combretastatin A-4 prodrug inhibits growth of human non-small cell lung cancer in a murine xenotransplant model.
BACKGROUND
Combretastatin A-4 prodrug (CA-4PD) has been identified as a potent antivascular agent in various rodent tumor models. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of CA-4PD on human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
Cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of CA-4PD on selected NSCLC cells, Colo-699 and KNS-62, were studied in vitro. After subcutaneous xenotransplantation the effect of systemically administrated CA-4PD on tumor growth was investigated in vivo. A newly established orthotopic xenotransplant model was employed to estimate prolongation of survival after intrapulmonary tumor induction with secondary metastatic disease.


RESULTS
In vitro, CA-4PD displayed a time and dose dependent antiproliferative effect on human lung cancer cells. In vivo, CA-4PD significantly delayed growth of subcutaneously induced lung cancer. This growth delay was translated into a prolongation of survival in the metastasizing orthotopic xenotransplant model.


CONCLUSIONS
In vitro CA-4PD inhibits proliferation of NSCLC cells, most likely by disruption of microtubule assembly. In vivo, systemic treatment inhibits growth of subcutaneously xenotransplanted tumors by an antivascular effect. In the case of metastasizing human lung cancer this translated into a prolongation of survival.
Boehle
A S
AS
Department for General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany. boehle@surgery.uni-kiel.de
Sipos
B
B
Kliche
U
U
Kalthoff
H
H
Dohrmann
P
P
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D011355:Prodrugs; D013267:Stilbenes; C058728:fosbretabulin