title: Validating the use of a luciferase labeled breast cancer cell line, MDA435LCC6, as a means to monitor tumor progression and to assess the therapeutic activity of an established anticancer drug, docetaxel (Dt) alone or in combination with the ILK inhibitor, QLT0267.
abstract: A significant issue in drug efficacy studies is animal study design. Here we hypothesize that when evaluating new or existing therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, the location of disease burden will influence drug efficacy. To study this, Female NCr nude mice were inoculated with luciferase-positive human breast cancer cells (LCC6WT-luc) orthotopically (o.t.), intraperitoneally (i.p.) or intracardiacly (i.c.) to create localized, ascites or disseminated disease, respectively. Tumor development was monitored using bioluminescence imaging. Docetaxel (Dt) pharmacokinetics and distribution to sites of tumor growth were determined. Disease progression was followed in animals treated with Dt alone and in combination with QLT0267, an Integrin Linked Kinase inhibitor. Tumor related morbidity was most rapid when cells were inoculated i.c., where disease progression was observed in brain, ovaries, adrenal glands, and lungs. Dt pharmacokinetics were comparable regardless of the model used (mean plasma AUC0-24 hrs 482.6 ng/ml*hr), however, Dt levels were lowest in those tissues developing disease following i.c. cell injection. Treatment with low dose Dt (5 mg/kg) increased overall survival and reduced tumor cell growth in all three models but the activity was greatest in mice with orthotopic tumors. Higher doses of Dt (15 mg/kg) was able to prolong survival in animals bearing i.p. tumors but not i.c. tumors. Addition of QLT0267 provided no added benefit above Dt alone in the disseminated model. These studies highlight a need for more comprehensive in vivo efficacy studies designed to assess multiple disease models and multiple endpoints, focusing analysis of drug parameters on the most chemoresistant disease.
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada. jkalra@bccrc.ca
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.forename: Malathi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anantha
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Warburton
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Waterhouse
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Young-Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Dita
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Strut
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osooly
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Masin
authors.forename: Marcel B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Bally
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049408:Luminescent Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014162:Transfection; D000099200:Scaffold Protein ILK
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D000077143:Docetaxel; D008156:Luciferases; D049408:Luminescent Agents; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043823:Taxoids; D000099200:Scaffold Protein ILK; C552362:QLT 0267