Anti-tumor activity of de novo designed small globular protein (SGP) in vivo.
BACKGROUND
The design and synthesis of a small globular protein (SGP) based on the colicin family of bacteriocins has previously been reported. It has subsequently been shown that this artificial protein possessed cell membrane-disrupting properties. Here, the anti-tumor effects of SGP in subcutaneous nude mice tumor models of human glioma were examined.


METHODS
Human glioblastoma cells (U-87MG) were transplanted subcutaneously into the backs of nude mice. When tumor volume was between 100 mm(3) and 350 mm(3), tumors were locally injected with SGP three times a week. The four SGP injection groups were 0.5 mM/50 microl, 0.5 mM/100 microl, 1.0 mM/50 microl and 1.0 mM/100 microl (concentration/injection volume). The control group was injected with physiological saline; 100 microl three times a week.


RESULTS
Tumor volume exhibited a statistically significant decrease (p=0.001) and survival was significantly longer in the SGP-injected groups (p=0.0001). No clear difference in survival time was observed between the 0.5 mM SGP and 1.0 mM SGP groups (p=0.0654). However, the reduction in tumor volume was significantly affected by SGP concentration (p=0.021).


CONCLUSIONS
SGP has an anti-tumor effect in human glioma animal models. The present results also suggest that applied treatment based on local injection of SGP will be effective against deep brain-seated malignant glioma.
Tsugu
Hitoshi
H
Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 45-1, 7-chome Nanakuma Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan. h-tsugu@fukuoka-u.ac.jp
Onishi
Hirokazu
H
Fukushima
Takeo
T
Lee
Sannamu
S
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D017510:Protein Folding; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001430:Bacteriocins; D011506:Proteins