title: STI-571 inhibits in vitro angiogenesis.
abstract: Compounds that block angiogenesis are effective in the treatment of certain cancers and other angiogenesis-related diseases. Many of these compounds specifically target the rapidly proliferating and migrating endothelial cell. However, angiogenesis is a multi-faceted process involving heterotypic interactions between various cell types. For example, PDGFBB is an important cytokine secreted by endothelial cells that attracts smooth muscle cells to surround and stabilize a nascent vessel. Therefore, we hypothesized that STI-571, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with PDGFbeta receptor activity, would inhibit angiogenesis through an anti-migratory effect on smooth muscle cells. We demonstrate that STI-571 completely inhibits in vitro angiogenesis in fibrinogen-embedded mouse aorta. Furthermore, this angiostatic property was due mainly to an anti-migratory and anti-proliferative effect upon smooth muscle cells. These data suggest that STI-571, in addition to its efficacy in the treatment of certain cancers, may also prove to be clinically useful in diseases characterized by unregulated angiogenesis.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001549:Benzamides; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta