Efforts to treat
tumors have routinely depended on disruption of cell proliferation by a variety of methods, many involving stimulation of apoptosis. We have previously shown that a truncated form of 24-kd
basic fibroblast growth factor consisting of the amino terminal 86
amino acids inhibits migration of
tumor and endothelial cells in vitro. In the present study, this
peptide was tested for its ability to suppress angiogenesis and
tumor growth using the murine dorsal skin-fold chamber model in vivo. Treatment of MCF-7
breast carcinoma tumor spheroids with this
peptide resulted in cessation of the angiogenic response and a significant reduction in
tumor size. Blood vessels that did form were poorly developed. In addition to inhibiting angiogenesis, the
peptide also inhibited migration of
Lewis lung carcinoma cells away from the
tumor core before onset of angiogenesis indicating that the
peptide-mediated inhibition of migration affects both angiogenesis and
tumor growth independently. Despite inhibition of
tumor cell migration, the
peptide had no effect on neutrophil or eosinophil chemotaxis. This study demonstrates that the truncated form of 24-kd
basic fibroblast growth factor is effective in suppressing
tumor development in vivo through inhibition of angiogenesis as well as inhibition of
tumor cell migration without compromising other homeostatic events.