Bystander cell killing spreading from endothelial to tumor cells in a three-dimensional multicellular nodule model after Escherichia coli nitroreductase gene delivery.

Abstract

Tumor cells are elusive targets for standard anticancer chemotherapy due to their heterogeneity and genetic instability. On the other hand, proliferating host endothelial cells (ECs) are genetically stable and have a low mutational rate. Thus, antiangiogenic therapy directed against tumor's ECs should, in principle, improve the efficacy of antitumor therapy by inducing little or no drug resistance. Here we present a gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) strategy for targeting the tumor vasculature, using the Escherichia coli nitroreductase (ntr) gene delivery associated with the treatment with the prodrug CB1954. In a first time we demonstrated the ability of the ntr/CB1954 system to induce an apoptotic-mediated cell death on monolayer cultures of human umbilical vein ECs (HUV-EC-C). Then, when ntr-transfected HUV-EC-C cells (HUV-EC-C/ntr(+)) were associated in a three-dimensional (3-D) multicellular nodule model with untransfected B16-F10 murine melanoma cell line, we observed a CB1954-mediated bystander cell killing effect from endothelial to neighboring melanoma cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report indicating that GDEPT-based antiangiogenic targeting may be an effective approach for cancer treatment relied on the spreading of the bystander effect from endothelial to tumor cells.

• Authors: Malika Benouchan, Filipe Do Nascimento, Malika Sebbah-Louriki, Jean Loup Salzmann, Michel Crépin, Gérard Y Perret, Bruno M Colombo
• Journal: Biochemical and biophysical research communications (Biochem Biophys Res Commun) Vol. 311 Issue 4 Pg. 822-8 (Nov 28 2003) ISSN: 0006-291X [Print] United States
• PMID: 14623255 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Aziridines
• Nitroreductases
• Prodrugs
• tretazicar

Topics

• Animals
• Humans
• Mice
• 3T3 Cells
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects, genetics)
• Aziridines (administration & dosage)
• Bystander Effect (genetics)
• Cell Line
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Survival (drug effects, genetics)
• Coculture Techniques (methods)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Endothelium, Vascular (drug effects, metabolism)
• Escherichia coli (enzymology, genetics)
• Genetic Therapy (methods)
• Melanoma (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Nitroreductases (genetics, metabolism)
• Prodrugs (administration & dosage)
• Umbilical Veins (drug effects, metabolism)