Bikunin plus paclitaxel markedly reduces tumor burden and ascites in mouse model of ovarian cancer.

Abstract

Our previous studies of intraperitoneal ovarian carcinoma in a mouse model demonstrated that bikunin gene transfection could prevent ascites formation and intraperitoneal disseminated metastasis. Although ascites was almost completely inhibited, tumor burden was variably reduced. Several reports have indicated that bikunin may be involved in tumor survival. In the present study, the effectiveness of exogenous bikunin and the biodistribution characteristics of (125)I-bikunin were initially examined in a mouse model of human ovarian cancer HRA cells. The once-daily i.p. administration of bikunin significantly decreased progressive growth of HRA tumors and ascites formation in a dose-dependent manner. Maximal radioisotope tumor uptake peaked at 7.4% injected dose/g at 3 hr. Bikunin binding specificity was demonstrated by reduced tumor uptake after coinjection of excess nonradioactive bikunin. Bikunin was rapidly excreted renally. The bikunin therapy produced the significant inhibition in expression of the proteolysis (uPA and uPAR) and angiogenesis-related molecules (VEGF and bFGF). The second purpose of our study was to optimize the antimetastatic activity of bikunin in combination with paclitaxel against HRA cells growing orthotopically in mice. The once-daily i.p. administration of bikunin (25 microg/g body weight/day) in combination with paclitaxel (i.p., 100 microg/20 g at days 2 and 5) significantly decreased progressive growth of HRA cells in a synergistic fashion. In conclusion, combination therapy with bikunin plus paclitaxel may be an effective way to markedly reduce i.p. tumor growth and ascites in ovarian carcinoma possibly through suppression of uPA, uPAR, VEGF and bFGF expression.

• Authors: Hiroshi Kobayashi, Tatsuo Yagyu, Kiyokazu Inagaki, Toshiharu Kondo, Mika Suzuki, Naohiro Kanayama, Toshihiko Terao
• Journal: International journal of cancer (Int J Cancer) Vol. 110 Issue 1 Pg. 134-9 (May 20 2004) ISSN: 0020-7136 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15054878 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins
• SPINT2 protein, human
• Trypsin Inhibitor, Kunitz Soybean
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
• Paclitaxel

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Ascites (drug therapy)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Membrane Glycoproteins (administration & dosage, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Ovarian Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Paclitaxel (administration & dosage)
• Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases (physiology)
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins (physiology)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
• Tissue Distribution
• Trypsin Inhibitor, Kunitz Soybean (administration & dosage, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)