title: Antagonists of bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide decrease the expression of angiogenic and anti-apoptotic factors in human glioblastoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine, Polypeptide and Cancer Institute, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112-1262, USA.
authors.forename: Celia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kanashiro
authors.forename: Andrew V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Schally
authors.forename: R-Z
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Gabor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Halmos
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001839:Bombesin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin / Q000378:metabolism; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C494826:BAX protein, human; C494827:Bax protein, mouse; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C096400:bombesin(6-14), Hca(6)-Leu(13)-psi(CH2N)-Tac(14)-; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; C496628:PRKCA protein, human; C496630:Prkca protein, mouse; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha; D001839:Bombesin