Julius Leyton

(Arg15, Arg21) VIP: evaluation of biological activity and localization to breast cancer tumors.

VIP analogs, which contain a single lysine amino acid, were synthesized and evaluated using breast cancer cells. (Arg15, Arg20) VIP, (Argl5, Arg21) VIP, and (Arg20, Arg21) VIP inhibited 125I-VIP binding to T47D cells with high affinity (IC50 values of 1.2, 1.0, and 0.8 nM, respectively). The VIP analogs elevated cAMP in T47D cells with ED50 values ranging from 0.1-1 nM. Because (Arg15, Arg21) VIP was the most potent at elevating cAMP, it was characterized further. (Arg15, Arg21) VIP transiently increased c-fos gene expression in breast cancer cells. N-Succinimidyl-4-18F (fluoromethly) benzoate was prepared in one chemical step from N-succinimidyl-4-(4-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)oxomethyl)benzoate by adding 18F in acetone at room temperature. This prosthetic group was then reacted with (Arg15, Arg21) VIP ((RR) VIP). (18F-RR) VIP bound with high affinity to T47D cells and was rapidly internalized. (18F-RR) VIP was injected intravenously into nude mice bearing breast cancer xenografts and after 4 h, the density of (18F-RR) VIP was elevated in the tumors relative to normal organs. These data suggest that VIP receptors may be used to localize breast cancer tumors.

PACAP (6–38) is a PACAP receptor antagonist for breast cancer cells

The effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) analogs were investigated using breast cancer cells. 125I–PACAP–27 bound with high affinity (Kd=5 nM) to T47D cells (Bmax = 29,000 per cell). Specific 125I–PACAP–27 binding was inhibited half maximally by PACAP–27, PACAP–38, PACAP(6–38) and PACAP(28–38) with IC50 values of 8, 17, 750 and >3000 nM, respectively. By RT–PCR, PACAP receptor mRNA was present in MCF–7 and T47D cell lines. Polyclonal antibodies to a PACAP receptor fragment (A–8–C) were elicited. The antibodies were affinity purified, recognized a 60–kDa protein by western blot, and stained malignant cells in breast cancer biopsy specimens by immunohistochemistry. PACAP–27 elevated the cAMP in T47D cells and the increase in cAMP caused by PACAP was inhibited by PACAP(6–38). PACAP–27 stimulated c–fos mRNA in T47D cells and the increase in c-fos gene expression caused by PACAP was reversed by PACAP (6–38). PACAP (6–38) inhibited colony formation using a soft agar assay and inhibited breast cancer xenograft growth in nude mice. These data suggest that PACAP (6–38) functions as a breast cancer PACAP receptor antagonist.

VIP receptor antagonists and chemotherapeutic drugs inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells

The effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) antagonists on breast cancer cells were investigated. (N-stearyl, norleucine17)VIP hybrid ((SN)VIPhyb) inhibited specific 125I-VIP binding to MCF7, SKBR3, T47D ZR75-1 and MDA-MB231 cells with high affinity (IC50 values of 0.03–0.06μM). (SN)VIPhyb,1μM, inhibited the ability of 10nM VIP to cause elevation of cAMP and to increase c-fos mRNA. Micromolar concentrations of (SN)VIPhyb inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB231 or MCF7 cells using a MTT and clonogenic assay. Using a MTT assay, (SN)VIPhyb enhanced the ability of taxol and doxorubicin to inhibit breast cancer growth. Using nude mice bearing MDA-MB231 xenografts, VIPhyb potentiated the ability of taxol to inhibit proliferation. The results indicate that VIP receptor antagonists increase the ability of chemotherapeutic drugs to kill breast cancer cells.

PACAP(6–38) inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cells

The effects of pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) analogs on prostate cancer cell lines was investigated. 125I-PACAP-27 bound with high affinity to PC-3 cells (Kd = 10 nM) to a single class of sites (Bmax = 30000/cell). By RT-PCR, a major 305 bp band was observed using cDNA derived from PC-3, LNCaP or DU-145 cells. Specific 125I-PACAP binding was inhibited with high affinity by PACAP-27, PACAP-38 and PACAP(6-38) (IC50 values of 15, 10 and 300 nM, respectively) but not by PACAP(28-38). PACAP elevated cAMP and the increase caused by PACAP-27 was reversed by PACAP(6-38). PACAP transiently increased c-fos gene expression and the increase in c-fos mRNA was reversed by PACAP(6-38). PACAP-27 stimulated colony formation in PC-3 cells, whereas PACAP(6-38) reduced colony number and size. In nude mice bearing PC-3 xenografts, PACAP(6-38) significantly slowed tumor growth. These data suggest that biologically active type 1 PACAP receptors are present on human prostate cancer cells and that prostate cancer cell growth is inhibited by PACAP(6-38).

(Stearyl, Norleucine17) VIP hybrid antagonizes VIP receptors on non-small cell lung cancer cells

The effects of VIP receptor antagonists were investigated using non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. By Northern blot and RT-PCR, VIP1 receptors were detected on NSCLC cell line NCI-H1299. VIPhybrid,(N-Stearyl-Norleucine17) VIPhybrid ((SN) VIPhybrid) and PTC4495 inhibited 125I-VIP binding to NCI-H1299 cells with IC50 values of 500, 30 and 5000 nM respectively. (SN) VIPhybrid (1 microM) had no effect on basal cAMP but strongly inhibited the increase in cAMP caused by 10 nM VIP. The order of peptide potency to inhibit cAMP was (SN) VIPhybrid > VIPhybrid > PTC4495. (SN) VIPhybrid was more potent than VIPhybrid at inhibiting NCI-H1299 colony formation. Also, (SN) VIPhybrid was more potent than VIPhybrid at inhibiting NCI-H1299 xenograft formation in nude mice. These data suggest that (SN) VIPhybrid antagonizes VIP1 receptors on NSCLC cells.

VIP and Breast Cancer

Abstract: VIP1 receptors are present In breast cancer cells. VIP elevates the cAMP and stimulates nuclear oncogene expression In MCF‐7 cells. VIPhybrid is a VIP receptor antagonist that Inhibits breast cancer proliferation. A VIP analog has been developed for imagIng breast tumors. Therefore VIP1 receptors may be utilized for the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

Nonpeptide gastrin releasing peptide receptor antagonists inhibit the proliferation of lung cancer cells.

The ability of nonpeptide antagonists to interact with gastrin releasing peptide receptors on lung cancer cells was investigated. PD176252 (3-(1H-Indol-3-yl)-N-[1-(5-methoxy-pyridin-2-yl)-cyclohexylmethyl]-2-methyl-2-[3-(4-nitro-phenyl)-ureido]-propionamide) and PD168368 (3-(1H-Indol-3-yl)-2-methyl-2-[3(4-nitro-phenyl)-ureido]-N-(1-pyridin-2-yl-cyclohexylmethyl)-propionamide) inhibited specific 125I-gastrin releasing peptide binding to NCI-H1299 cells with IC50 values of 20 and 1500 nM, respectively. Similar binding results were obtained using NCI-H157, H345 and N592 human lung cancer cells. PD176252 inhibited the ability of 1 nM bombesin to cause elevation of cytosolic calcium in Fura-2 loaded NCI-H345 or H1299 cells, whereas it had no effect on basal cytosolic calcium. PD176252 antagonized the ability of 10 nM bombesin to cause elevation of c-fos mRNA in NCI-H1299 cells. Also, PD176252 inhibited the ability of 100 nM bombesin to cause tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase in NCI-H1299 cells. Using a [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide] assay, PD176252 was more potent than PD168368 at inhibiting NCI-H1299 proliferation. Also, 1 microM PD176252 significantly inhibited lung cancer colony number in vitro. PD176252 in a dose-dependent manner inhibited NCI-H1299 xenograft growth in nude mice in vivo. These results indicate that PD176252 is a gastrin releasing peptide receptor antagonist, which inhibits the proliferation of lung cancer cells.

Neurotensin causes tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase in lung cancer cells

The effects of neurotensin on focal adhesion kinase were investigated using lung cancer cells. Neurotensin bound with high affinity to large cell carcinoma cell line NCI-H1299 as did neurotensin-(8-13), but not neurotensin-(1-7) or levocabastine. Addition of 100 nM neurotensin to NCI-H1299 cells caused transient tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase which was maximal after 1-2.5 min. Also, neurotensin-(8-13), but not neurotensin-(1-8) or levocabastine, caused tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase after addition to NCI-H1299 cells. Focal adhesion kinase tyrosine phosphorylation caused by neurotensin was inhibited by the nonpeptide neurotensin receptor antagonist (2-(1-(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)-5-(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazole-3-carbonyl)amino)-adamantane-2-carboxylic acid) (SR48692). SR48692 inhibited the clonal growth of NCI-H1299 cells, whereas neurotensin-stimulated proliferation and levocabastine had no effect. These results indicate that lung cancer cells have functional neurotensin receptors which regulate focal adhesion kinase tyrosine phosphorylation. It remains to be determined if neurotensin receptors and focal adhesion kinase plays a role in lung cancer cellular adhesion and migration.

Bombesin and gastrin releasing peptide increase tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and paxillin in non-small cell lung cancer cells

The effects of some oncogenes, growth factors and neuropeptides are mediated by tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (p125(FAK)) and paxillin cytoskeletal proteins. In this study the ability of bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide (BB/GRP) to stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(FAK) and paxillin in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) H1299 cells was investigated. BB, 100 nM caused increased p125(FAK) and paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation maximally after 1 min. The effect of BB on p125(FAK) and paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation was concentration-dependent, being half maximal at 4-8 nM. Also, 100 nM GRP, GRP(14-27) but not GRP(1-16) increased p125(FAK) and paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation indicating that the C-terminal of GRP is essential. BW2258U89, a GRP receptor antagonist, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of BB-stimulated p125(FAK) and paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation with an IC50 value of 3 microM. Cytochalasin D (0.3 microM), which inhibits actin polymerization, reduced the ability of BB to stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(FAK) and paxillin. Genistein (50 microM) and H-7 (50 microM), which are kinase inhibitors, reduced the tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(FAK) and paxillin stimulated by BB. Also, treatment of NCI-H1299 cells with FAK antisense resulted in decreased FAK tyrosine kinase activity and proliferation. These results suggest that p125(FAK) is an important enzyme for NSCLC proliferation.

PACAP-27 tyrosine phosphorylates mitogen activated protein kinase and increases VEGF mRNAs in human lung cancer cells.

The effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) on human lung cancer cell line NCI-1299 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) tyrosine phosphorylation and vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) expression were investigated. PACAP-27 (100 nM) increased MAPK tyrosine phosphorylation 3-fold, 5 min after addition to NCI-H1299 cells. PACAP caused tyrosine phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner being half-maximal at 10 nM PACAP-27. PACAP-27 or PACAP-38 (100 nM) but not PACAP28-38 or VIP caused increased MAPK tyrosine phosphorylation using NCI-H1299 cells. Also, the increase in MAPK tyrosine phosphorylation caused by PACAP-27 was totally inhibited by 10 microM PACAP(6-38), a PAC(1) receptor antagonist or 10 microM PD98059, a MAPKK inhibitor. These results suggest that PAC(1) receptors regulate tyrosine phosphorylation of MAPK in a MAPKK-dependent manner. PACAP-27 (100 nM) caused increased VEGF mRNA in NCI-H1299 cells after 8 h. The increase in VEGF mRNA caused by PACAP-27 was partially inhibited by PACAP(6-38), PD98059 and H-89. Addition of VIP to NCI-H1299 cells caused increased VEGF mRNA, which was totally inhibited by H89, a PKA inhibitor. These results suggest that PAC(1) and VPAC(1) receptors regulate VEGF expression in lung cancer cells.