Adam Carie

Inhibiting angiogenesis and tumorigenesis by a synthetic molecule that blocks binding of both VEGF and PDGF to their receptors

Angiogenesis depends on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for initiation and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) for maintenance of blood vessels. We have designed a targeted library of compounds from which we identified a novel molecule, GFB-204, that binds PDGF and VEGF, blocks binding of PDGF and VEGF to their receptors (200–500 nM) and subsequently inhibits PDGFR and Flk-1 tyrosine phosphorylation and stimulation of the protein kinases Erk1, Erk2 and Akt and the signal transducer and activator of transcription STAT3. GFB-204 is selective for PDGF and VEGF and does not inhibit EGF, IGF-1 and FGF stimulation of Erk1/2, Akt and STAT3. GFB-204 inhibits endothelial cell migration and capillary network formation in vitro. Finally, treatment of mice with GFB-204 suppresses human tumor growth and angiogenesis. Thus, inhibition of VEGF and PDGF receptor binding with a synthetic molecule results in potent inhibition of angiogenesis and tumorigenesis.

A Small Molecule Disruptor of Rb/Raf-1 Interaction Inhibits Cell Proliferation, Angiogenesis, and Growth of Human Tumor Xenografts in Nude Mice

Although it is well established that cyclin-dependent kinases phosphorylate and inactivate Rb, the Raf-1 kinase physically interacts with Rb and initiates the phosphorylation cascade early in the cell cycle. We have identified an orally active small molecule, Rb/Raf-1 disruptor 251 (RRD-251), that potently and selectively disrupts the Rb/Raf-1 but not Rb/E2F, Rb/prohibitin, Rb/cyclin E, and Rb/HDAC binding. The selective inhibition of Rb/Raf-1 binding suppressed the ability of Rb to recruit Raf-1 to proliferative promoters and inhibited E2F1-dependent transcriptional activity. RRD-251 inhibited anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent growth of human cancer cells and knockdown of Rb with short hairpin RNA or forced expression of E2F1 rescued cells from RRD-251-mediated growth arrest. P.o. treatment of mice resulted in significant tumor growth suppression only in tumors with functional Rb, and this was accompanied by inhibition of angiogenesis, inhibition of proliferation, decreased phosphorylated Rb levels, and inhibition of Rb/Raf-1 but not Rb/E2F1 binding in vivo. Thus, selective targeting of Rb/Raf-1 interaction seems to be a promising approach for developing novel chemotherapeutic agents.

A Versatile Polymer Micelle Drug Delivery System for Encapsulation and In Vivo Stabilization of Hydrophobic Anticancer Drugs

Chemotherapeutic drugs are widely used for the treatment of cancer; however, use of these drugs is often associated with patient toxicity and poor tumor delivery. Micellar drug carriers offer a promising approach for formulating and achieving improved delivery of hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drugs; however, conventional micelles do not have long-term stability in complex biological environments such as plasma. To address this problem, a novel triblock copolymer has been developed to encapsulate several different hydrophobic drugs into stable polymer micelles. These micelles have been engineered to be stable at low concentrations even in complex biological fluids, and to release cargo in response to low pH environments, such as in the tumor microenvironment or in tumor cell endosomes. The particle sizes of drugs encapsulated ranged between 30–80 nm, with no relationship to the hydrophobicity of the drug. Stabilization of the micelles below the critical micelle concentration was demonstrated using a pH-reversible crosslinking mechanism, with proof-of-concept demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo models. Described herein is polymer micelle drug delivery system that enables encapsulation and stabilization of a wide variety of chemotherapeutic drugs in a single platform.

IT-141, a Polymer Micelle Encapsulating SN-38, Induces Tumor Regression in Multiple Colorectal Cancer Models.

Polymer micelles are promising drug delivery vehicles for the delivery of anticancer agents to tumors. Often, anticancer drugs display potent cytotoxic effects towards cancer cells but are too hydrophobic to be administered in the clinic as a free drug. To address this problem, a polymer micelle was designed using a triblock copolymer (ITP-101) that enables hydrophobic drugs to be encapsulated. An SN-38 encapsulated micelle, IT-141, was prepared that exhibited potent in vitro cytotoxicity against a wide array of cancer cell lines. In a mouse model, pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that IT-141 had a much longer circulation time, plasma exposure, and tumor exposure compared to irinotecan. IT-141 was also superior to irinotecan in terms of antitumor activity, exhibiting greater tumor inhibition in HT-29 and HCT116 colorectal cancer xenograft models at half the dose of irinotecan. The antitumor effect of IT-141 was dose-dependent and caused complete growth inhibition and tumor regression at well-tolerated doses. Varying the specific concentration of SN-38 within the IT-141 micelle had no detectible effect on this antitumor activity, indicating no differences in activity between different IT-141 formulations. In summary, IT-141 is a potent micelle-based chemotherapy that holds promise for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

IT-143, A Polymer Micelle Nanoparticle, Widens Therapeutic Window of Daunorubicin

Background: Daunorubicin is an anthracycline family chemotherapeutic indicated for the treatment of acute myelogenous and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Daunorubicin has a narrow therapeutic window. Objective: To extend circulation time, decrease toxicity and improve the efficacy of daunorubicin, we encapsulated the drug in our nanoparticle drug delivery platform. Method: IT-143 is a lyophilized formulation of daunorubicin, non-covalently encapsulated in the hydrophobic core of a polymer micelle. Hydroxamic acid-containing triblock polymers (ITP-102) support ferric crosslinking between the polymer chains, increasing stability for improved drug circulation and allowing a tumor targeted pH dependent release of the encapsulated daunorubicin. Results: Formulation characterization demonstrates a 3.7% weight loading (w/w) of daunorubicin and an average particle diameter of 58 nm. IT-143 has an in vitro cytotoxicity of 60-100 nM, comparable to free drug cytotoxicity of 67-114 nM. We compared daunorubicin pharmacokinetics between free drug and IT-143 in vivo and the maximum serum concentration of daunorubicin from IT-143 was increased 50-fold. At equivalent doses IT-143 eliminated in vivo gross toxicity observed at daunorubicin’s maximum tolerated dose of 7.5 mg/kg, and increased the equitoxic dose to 17.5 mg/kg. Furthermore, IT-143 improved anti-tumor efficacy. Studies in 3 xenograft models (HCT116, HT-1080 and MNNG-HOS) compared intravenous bolus administration of IT-143 at equivalent and equitoxic doses to daunorubicin treatment. IT-143 increased the inhibition of tumor volume growth in all models. Conclusion: These studies indicate that the encapsulation of daunorubicin by IT-143 widens the therapeutic window of daunorubicin treatment with reduced toxicity and increased antitumor efficacy.

Imaging the delivery of drug-loaded, iron-stabilized micelles

Nanoparticle drug carriers hold potential to improve current cancer therapy by delivering payload to the tumor environment and decreasing toxic side effects. Challenges in nanotechnology drug delivery include plasma instability, site-specific delivery, and relevant biomarkers. We have developed a triblock polymer comprising a hydroxamic acid functionalized center block that chelates iron to form a stabilized micelle that physically entraps chemotherapeutic drugs in the hydrophobic core. The iron-imparted stability significantly improves the integrity of the micelle and extends circulation pharmacokinetics in plasma over that of free drug. Furthermore, the paramagnetic properties of the iron-crosslinking exhibits contrast in the tumors for imaging by magnetic resonance. Three separate nanoparticle formulations demonstrate improved anti-tumor efficacy in xenograft models and decreased toxicity. We report a stabilized polymer micelle that improves the tolerability and efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs, and holds potential for non-invasive MRI to image drug delivery and deposition in the tumor.

Synthesis and Characterization of Micelle-Forming PEG-Poly(Amino Acid) Copolymers with Iron-Hydroxamate Cross-Linkable Blocks for Encapsulation and Release of Hydrophobic Drugs

Described is the development of a polymeric micelle drug delivery platform that addresses the physical property limitations of many nanovectors. The system employs triblock copolymers comprised of a hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) block, and two poly(amino acid) (PAA) blocks: a stabilizing cross-linking central block, and a hydrophobic drug encapsulation block. Detailed description of synthetic strategies and considerations found to be critical are discussed. Of note, it was determined that the purity of the α-amino acid-N-carboxyanhydrides (NCA) monomers and PEG macroinitiator are ultimately responsible for impurities that arise during the polymerization. Also, contrary to current beliefs in the field, the presence of water does not adversely affect the polymerization of NCAs. Furthermore, we describe the impact of poly(amino acid) conformational changes, through the incorporation of d-amino acids to form mixed stereochemistry PAA blocks, with regard to the physical and pharmacokinetic properties of the resulting micelles.

Stabilized Polymer Micelles for the Development of IT-147, an Epothilone D Drug-Loaded Formulation

Epothilones have demonstrated promising potential for oncology applications but suffer from a narrow therapeutic window. Epothilone D stabilizes microtubules leading to apoptosis, is active against multidrug-resistant cells, and is efficacious in animal tumor models despite lack of stability in rodent plasma. Clinical development was terminated in phase II due to dose limiting toxicities near the efficacious dose. Taken together, this made epothilone D attractive for encapsulation in a stabilized polymer micelle for improved safety and efficacy. We have designed a library of triblock copolymers to develop IT-147, a lead formulation of epothilone D that extends plasma circulation for accumulation in the tumor environment, and potentially decrease systemic exposure to reduce dose limiting toxicities. The drug loading efficiency for IT-147 exceeds 90%, is 75 nm in diameter, and demonstrates pH-dependent release of epothilone D without chemical conjugation or enzymatic activation. Administration of IT-147 at 20 mg/kg increases exposure of epothilone D to the plasma compartment over 6-fold compared to free drug. At the same dose, 20 mg/kg epothilone D from IT-147 is considered the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) but is the maximum tolerated dose for free drug. Consequently, IT-147 is positioned to be a safer, more effective means to deliver epothilone D.

Abstract B22: IT-141, a stabilized polymer micelle formulation, prolongs the pharmacodynamic effect of SN-38

IT-141 is a formulation of SN-38 encapsulated in an iron-stabilized polymer micelle. SN-38 is the active metabolite of irinotecan (CPT-11) which in combination with 5-FU and leucovorin is first-line FDA approved therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. Although SN-38 is 1,000 times more potent than irinotecan alone, there is about 100-fold lower concentration of SN-38 in plasma from irinotecan. In the clinic only 2% to 10% of the administered dose of irinotecan is converted by carboxylesterases to SN-38 and there is great interpatient variability with toxicity. In vitro, IT-141 demonstrated nanomolar IC50s against a panel of human cancer cell lines in comparison to irinotecan9s micromolar IC50 concentrations. SN-38 binds to the topoisomerase I-DNA complex resulting in double stranded breaks and cell death. We compared the mechanism of action of IT-141 compared to irinotecan treatment in HT-29 xenografts tumors. We demonstrated the incidence of double stranded breaks by immunohistochemistry (IHC) of γ- H2AX expression in tumors treated with IT-141 compared to irinotecan treatment at different time points (24, 48, 72 and 144 hours). In irinotecan treated tumors, γ- H2AX expression peaked at 72 hours followed by a sharp decrease in expression at 144 hours. In IT-141 treated tumors, γ- H2AX positive staining increased steadily from 24 through 144 hours. This shift in the kinetics of the mechanism corroborates the biodistribution studies where IT-141 delivered 34-fold more SN-38 to the tumor compared to irinotecan. The AUC and Cmax in IT-141 treated tumors was 30.9 μg*h/g and 12.2 μg/g respectively compared to an AUC of 1.1 μg*h/g and a Cmax of 0.2 μg/g in the irinotecan treated tumors. In an HT-29 xenograft model IT-141 inhibited tumor growth by 157% compared to a 57% with irinotecan. IT-141 demonstrates successful encapsulation of SN-38 leading to a safer, more effective formulation. Our DNA damage assay demonstrated that IT-141 extended the pharmacodynamic effect over irinotecan in treated tumors. Further studies are required to determine the duration of IT-1419s pharmacodynamics effect. This data validates the increased tumor accumulation of SN-38 and increased efficacy of IT-141 over irinotecan. Citation Format: Jyothi Sethuraman, Tara Lee Costich, Adam Carie, Taylor Buley, Tyler Ellis, J. Edward Semple, Tomas Vojkovsky, Kevin Sill, Suzanne Bakewell. IT-141, a stabilized polymer micelle formulation, prolongs the pharmacodynamic effect of SN-38. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Precision Medicine Series: Cancer Cell Cycle - Tumor Progression and Therapeutic Response; Feb 28-Mar 2, 2016; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2016;14(11_Suppl):Abstract nr B22.

Abstract LB-190: IT-141 and IT-147, iron stabilized micellar nanoparticles for therapeutic and diagnostic applications

Site-specific delivery of oncology drugs using nanoparticle technology has been a decades-long goal. IT-141 and IT-147 are polymer micelles that encapsulate (i.e. physically entrap without covalent bonds) hydrophobic chemotherapeutics in the core of the micelle. IT-141 incorporates SN-38, the active moiety of irinotecan, in its core with a weight loading (v/v) of 2%. IT-141 shows increased pharmacokinetics in rat plasma, increased maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and improved anti-tumor efficacy in HCT116 and HT-29 xenograft models over irinotecan in all studies. IT-147 incorporates epothilone D, a microtubule-stabilizing anti-metabolite with a weight loading (v/v) of 2%. IT-147 shows increased pharmacokinetics in rat plasma, increased MTD and improved anti-tumor efficacy in HCT116 colorectal, A549 lung and NCI-H460 lung xenograft models over epothilone D free drug treatment. Both micelles are 70-100 nm diameter clusters of surfactant triblock copolymers stabilized by the interaction between iron and multiple polymer chains. The iron-polymer dative bonds are unstable at low pH, providing a mechanism for environment-dependent micelle stability and subsequent drug release. Furthermore, these stabilized micelles in vivo possess relaxivity constants suitable to provide contrast in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The spin-lattice relaxivity value (r1) was 7-16 mM-1s-1 and the spin-spin relaxivity values (r2) were 65-80 mM-1s-1. Small molecule complexes of iron do not typically provide sufficient MR contrast. Because contrast is not observed with individual iron complexes, and the MR contrast is directly related to the properties of the iron-stabilized nanoparticle, only intact nanoparticles provide contrast in MRI. When these iron-stabilized micelle formulations are administered to tumor bearing xenograft mice, increased contrast in the tumor is observed, peaking between 24 and 48 hours. MRI was performed with IT-141 in HCT116, HT-29, and A549 subcutaneous tumor models. IT-147 contrast imaging was performed in HCT116 and NCI-H460 subcutaneous, and MCF-7 orthotopic tumor models. Our technology has produced stable micelles that encapsulate chemotherapeutic drugs to include SN-38, daunorubicin, epothilone D, panobinostat, paclitaxel, and aminopterin with improved pharmacokinetics, decreased toxicity and increased efficacy. The MRI imaging results hold potential for use in the clinic where delivery of the chemotherapeutic-loaded nanoparticle can be monitored non-invasively. Citation Format: Kevin Sill, Tara Lee Costich, Adam Carie, Jyothi Sethuraman, Taylor Buley, Tyler Ellis, Tomas Vojkovsky, Bradford Sullivan, J. Edward Semple, Suzanne Bakewell. IT-141 and IT-147, iron stabilized micellar nanoparticles for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-190.