Beata Filip-Psurska

Vitamin D analogs combined with 5-fluorouracil in human HT-29 colon cancer treatment

In the present study, we evaluated the antitumor effect of two synthetic analogs of vitamin D, namely PRI-2191 [(24R)-1,24-dihydroxyvitamin D3] and PRI-2205 (5,6-trans calcipotriol), in combined human colon HT-29 cancer treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Mice bearing HT-29 tumors transplanted subcutaneously or orthotopically were injected with vitamin D analogs and 5-FU in various schedules. A statistically significant inhibition of subcutaneous or orthotopic tumor growth was observed as a result of combined therapy. In HT-29 tumors and in cells from in vitro culture, we observed increased vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression after treatment with either PRI-2205 or 5-FU alone, or in combination. Moreover, PRI-2205 decreased the percentage of cells from intestinal tumors in G2/M and S stages and increased sub-G1. Increased VDR expression was also observed after combined treatment of mice with 5-FU and PRI-2191. Moreover, our docking studies showed that PRI-2205 has stronger affinity for VDR, DBP and CAR/RXR ligand binding domains than PRI-2191. PRI-2191 analog, used with 5-FU, increased the percentage of subcutaneous tumor cells in G0/G1 and decreased the percentage in G2/M, S and sub-G1 populations as compared to 5-FU alone. In in vitro studies, we observed increased expression of p21 and p-ERK1/2 diminution via use of both analogs as compared to use of 5-FU alone. Simultaneously, PRI-2191 antagonizes some pro-apoptotic activities of 5-FU in vitro. However, in spite of these disadvantageous effects in terms of apoptosis, the therapeutic effect expressed as tumor growth retardation by PRI-2191 is significant. Our results suggest that the mechanism of potentiation of 5-FU antitumor action by both analogs is realized via increased p21 expression and decreased p-ERK1/2 level which may lead to diminution of thymidylate synthase expression. Higher binding affinity for VDR, DBP, but also for CAR\RXR ligand binding domain of PRI-2205 may, in part, explain its very low toxicity with sustained anticancer activity.

Hydroxyethyl starch as an effective methotrexate carrier in anticancer therapy

At present, effective anticancer therapy remains one of the most challenging tasks facing the scientific community. A major limitation to most conventional low‐molecular weight anticancer chemotherapeutics is their unfavourable uptake by healthy tissue, fast metabolism and lack of tumour cell selectivity. One way to solve this problem is the application of hybrid nanoparticles containing widely known therapeutic substances. This study was performed with the aim of investigating the potential of use hydroxyethyl starch (HES) as a high‐molecular weight carrier for anticancer drug (methotrexate, MTX). HES‐MTX conjugates were characterized in terms of MTX content, hydrodynamic size, zeta potential, and drug release kinetics. In vitro biological characteristics were determined using different cancer cell lines. The antitumor effect in vivo was tested in NOD/SCID mice subcutaneously inoculated with MV‐4‐11 human leukaemia cells and CDF1 mice intraperitoneally inoculated with P388 murine leukaemia cells. The in vivo experiments revealed the considerably higher antitumor efficacy of HES‐MTX conjugates in comparison to unconjugated drug. The results presented in this article demonstrate that the application of HES as an anticancer drug carrier can improve the treatment efficacy and have significant implications for the future design and implementation of drug‐carrier conjugates. The study should help create new opportunities in the design of HES‐based innovative drug‐carrier conjugates.

Vitamin D Analogs Potentiate the Antitumor Effect of Imatinib Mesylate in a Human A549 Lung Tumor Model.

In previous papers, we presented data on studies on the anticancer activity of the vitamin D3 analogs, named PRI-2191 and PRI-2205, in different cancer models. In this study, we showed the improved antiproliferative activity of a combination of imatinib mesylate (Gleevec, GV) and cytostatic agents in in vitro studies, when used with a third compound, namely PRI-2191, in an A549 human lung cancer model. Furthermore, we analyzed the influence of both PRI-2191, as well as PRI-2205 on the anticancer activity of GV in mice bearing A549 tumors. The route of PRI-2191 analog administration showed a significant impact on the outcome of GV treatment: subcutaneous injection was more efficient and less toxic than oral gavage. Moreover, both vitamin D compounds increased the anticancer activity of GV; however, they might also potentiate some adverse effects. We also evaluated in tumor tissue the expression of VEGF, PDGF-BB, vitamin D receptor, CYP27B1, CYP24, p53 and Bcl-2, as well as PDGF receptors: α and β. We observed the upregulation of p53 expression and the downregulation of Bcl-2, as well as VEGF in A549 tumors as a result of the tested treatment. However, vitamin D analogs did not significantly influence the expression of these proteins.

Unfavorable effect of calcitriol and its low-calcemic analogs on metastasis of 4T1 mouse mammary gland cancer

Low vitamin D status is considered as a risk factor for breast cancer and has prognostic significance. Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency increases after adjuvant cancer therapy, which alters bone metabolism increasing the risk of osteoporosis. It is now postulated that vitamin D supplementation in breast cancer treatment delays the recurrence of cancer thereby extending survival. We evaluated the impact of calcitriol and its low-calcemic analogs, PRI-2191 and PRI-2205, on the tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis of 4T1 mouse mammary gland cancer. Gene expression analysis related to cancer invasion/metastasis, real-time PCR, ELISA, western blotting, and histochemical studies were performed. In vitro studies were conducted to compare the effects of calcitriol and its analogs on 4T1 and 67NR cell proliferation and expression of selected proteins. Calcitriol and its analogs increased lung metastasis without influencing the growth of primary tumor. The levels of plasma 17β-estradiol and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) were found to be elevated after treatment. Moreover, the results showed that tumor blood perfusion improved and osteopontin (OPN) levels increased, whereas vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and TGFβ levels decreased in tumors from treated mice. All the studied treatments resulted in increased collagen content in the tumor tissue in the early step of tumor progression, and calcitriol caused an increase in collagen content in lung tissue. In addition, in vitro proliferation of 4T1 tumor cells was not found to be affected by calcitriol or its analogs in contrast to non-metastatic 67NR cells. Calcitriol and its analogs enhanced the metastatic potential of 4T1 mouse mammary gland cancer by inducing the secretion of OPN probably via host cells. In addition, OPN tumor overexpression prevailed over the decreasing tumor TGFβ level and blood vessel normalization via tumor VEGF deprivation induced by calcitriol and its analogs. Moreover, the increased plasma TGFβ and 17β-estradiol levels contributed to the facilitation of metastatic process.

Vitamin D derivatives potentiate the anticancer and anti-angiogenic activity of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in combination with cytostatic drugs in an A549 non-small cell lung cancer model

Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that calcitriol [1,25(OH)2D3] and different vitamin D analogs possess antineoplastic activity, regulating proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, as well as angiogenesis. Vitamin D compounds have been shown to exert synergistic effects when used in combination with different agents used in anticancer therapies in different cancer models. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanisms of the cooperation of the vitamin D compounds [1,24(OH)2D3 (PRI-2191) and 1,25(OH)2D3] with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (imatinib and sunitinib) together with cytostatics (cisplatin and docetaxel) in an A549 non-small cell lung cancer model. The cytotoxic effects of the test compounds used in different combinations were evaluated on A549 lung cancer cells, as well as on human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMECs). The effects of such combinations on the cell cycle and cell death were also determined. In addition, changes in the expression of proteins involved in cell cycle regulation, angiogenesis and the action of vitamin D were analyzed. Moreover, the effects of 1,24(OH)2D3 on the anticancer activity of sunitinib and sunitinib in combination with docetaxel were examined in an A549 lung cancer model in vivo. Experiments aiming at evaluating the cytotoxicity of the combinations of the test agents revealed that imatinib and sunitinib together with cisplatin or docetaxel exerted potent anti-proliferative effects in vitro on A549 lung cancer cells and in HLMECs; however, 1,24(OH)2D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 enhanced the cytotoxic effects only in the endothelial cells. Among the test agents, sunitinib and cisplatin decreased the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A from the A549 lung cancer cells. The decrease in the VEGF-A level following incubation with cisplatin correlated with a higher p53 protein expression, while no such correlation was observed following treatment of the A549 cells with sunitinib. Sunitinib together with docetaxel and 1,24(OH)2D3 exhibited a more potent anticancer activity in the A549 lung cancer model compared to double combinations and to treatment with the compounds alone. The observed anticancer activity may be the result of the influence of the test agents on the process of tumor angiogenesis, for example, through the downregulation of VEGF-A expression in tumor and also on the induction of cell death inside the tumor.

Methotrexate and epirubicin conjugates as potential antitumor drugs

INTRODUCTION The use of hybrid molecules has become one of the most significant approaches in new cytotoxic drug design. This study describes synthesis and characterization of conjugates consisting of two well-known and characterized chemotherapeutic agents: methotrexate (MTX) and epirubicin (EPR). The synthesized conjugates combine two significant anticancer strategies: combinatory therapy and targeted therapy. These two drugs were chosen because they have different mechanisms of action, which can increase the anticancer effect of the obtained conjugates. MTX, which is a folic acid analog, has high cytotoxic properties and can serve as a targeting moiety that can reach folate receptors (FRs) overexpresing tumor cells. Combination of nonselective drugs such as EPR with MTX can increase the selectivity of the obtained conjugates, while maintaining the high cytotoxic properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS Conjugates were purified by RP-HPLC and the structure was investigated by MS and MS/MS methods. The effect of the conjugates on proliferation of LoVo, LoVo/Dx, MCF-7 and MV-4-11 human cancer cell lines was determined by SRB or MTT assay. RESULTS The conjugation reaction results in the formation of monosubstituted (α, γ) and disubstituted MTX derivatives. In vitro proliferation data demonstrate that the conjugates synthesized in our study show lower cytotoxic properties than both chemotherapeutics used alone. DISCUSSION Epirubicin cytotoxicity was not observed in obtained conjugates. Effective drugs release after internalization needs further investigation.

Calcitriol and Its Analogs Establish the Immunosuppressive Microenvironment That Drives Metastasis in 4T1 Mouse Mammary Gland Cancer

In our previous study, calcitriol and its analogs PRI-2191 and PRI-2205 stimulated 4T1 mouse mammary gland cancer metastasis. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the inflammatory response in 4T1-bearing mice treated with these compounds. Gene expression analysis of the splenocytes and regional lymph nodes demonstrated prevalence of the T helper lymphocytes (Th2) response with an increased activity of regulatory T (Treg) lymphocytes in mice treated with these compounds. We also observed an increased number of mature granulocytes and B lymphocytes and a decreased number of TCD4+, TCD4+CD25+, and TCD8+, as well as natural killer (NK) CD335+, cells in the blood of mice treated with calcitriol and its analogs. Among the splenocytes, we observed a significant decrease in NK CD335+ cells and an increase in TCD8+ cells. Calcitriol and its analogs decreased the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 and increased the level of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in the plasma. In the tumor tissue, they caused an increase in the level of IL-10. Gene expression analysis of lung tissue demonstrated an increased level of osteopontin (Spp1) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) mRNA. The expression of Spp1 was also elevated in lymph nodes. Calcitriol and its analogs caused prevalence of tumor-conducive changes in the immune system of 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, despite the induction of some tumor-disadvantageous effects.