Enhancement of the therapeutic efficacy of taxol by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor CI-1040 in nude mice bearing human heterotransplants.
Taxol may contribute to intrinsic chemoresistance by activating the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cytoprotective pathway in human cancer cell lines and tumors. We have previously shown additivity between Taxol and the MEK inhibitor, U0126 in human cancer cell lines. Here, the combination of Taxol with an orally bioavailable MEK inhibitor, CI-1040, was evaluated in human lung tumors heterotransplanted into nude mice. Unlike xenograft models that are derived from cells with multiple genetic alterations due to prolonged passage, heterotransplanted tumor models are more clinically relevant. Combined treatment with both drugs resulted in inhibition of tumor growth in all models and tumor regressions in three of four models tested, supporting our previous observation that Taxol's efficacy is potentiated by MEK inhibition. Concurrent administration was superior to intermittent dosing. Pharmacodynamic assessments of tumors indicated that suppression of MEK was associated with induction of S473 phosphorylated Akt and reduced proliferation in the combination groups relative to single agents, in addition to suppression of fibroblast growth factor-mediated angiogenesis and reduced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor. These findings are significant and indicate that this combination may have broad therapeutic applications in a diverse range of lung tumors with different intrinsic chemosensitivities.
McDaid
Hayley M
HM
Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA. mcdaid@aecom.yu.edu
Lopez-Barcons
Lluis
L
Grossman
Aaron
A
Lia
Marie
M
Keller
Steven
S
Pérez-Soler
Román
R
Horwitz
Susan Band
SB
D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001549:Benzamides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
C120227:2-(2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino)-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluorobenzamide; D001549:Benzamides; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D017239:Paclitaxel