Yasutaka Takeda

Antiangiogenic and Antitumor Activities of IL-27

IL-27 is a novel IL-6/IL-12 family cytokine playing an important role in the early regulation of Th1 responses. We have recently demonstrated that IL-27 has potent antitumor activity, which is mainly mediated through CD8+ T cells, against highly immunogenic murine colon carcinoma. In this study, we further evaluated the antitumor and antiangiogenic activities of IL-27, using poorly immunogenic murine melanoma B16F10 tumors, which were engineered to overexpress single-chain IL-27 (B16F10 + IL-27). B16F10 + IL-27 cells exerted antitumor activity against not only s.c. tumor but also experimental pulmonary metastasis. Similar antitumor and antimetastatic activities of IL-27 were also observed in IFN-γ knockout mice. In NOD-SCID mice, these activities were decreased, but were still fairly well-retained, suggesting that different mechanisms other than the immune response are also involved in the exertion of these activities. Immunohistochemical analyses with Abs against vascular endothelial growth factor and CD31 revealed that B16F10 + IL-27 cells markedly suppressed tumor-induced neovascularization in lung metastases. Moreover, B16F10 + IL-27 cells clearly inhibited angiogenesis by dorsal air sac method, and IL-27 exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of angiogenesis on chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane. IL-27 was revealed to directly act on HUVECs and induce production of the antiangiogenic chemokines, IFN-γ-inducible protein (IP-10) and monokine induced by IFN-γ. Finally, augmented mRNA expression of IP-10 and monokine induced by IFN-γ was detected at the s.c. B16F10 + IL-27 tumor site, and antitumor activity of IL-27 was partially inhibited by the administration of anti-IP-10. These results suggest that IL-27 possesses potent antiangiogenic activity, which plays an important role in its antitumor and antimetastatic activities.

A molecular biological study of anti-tumor mechanisms of an anti-cancer agent Oxaliplatin against established human gastric cancer cell lines

We report that preoperative administration of Oxaliplatin, a new anti-cancer platinum agent, is an effective treatment for gastric cancer. The purpose of this in vitro study is to determine whether Oxaliplatin induces apoptosis in established human gastric cancer cell lines. Five established gastric cancer cell lines are used: MNK45, KATO-III, OKAJIMA, MNK28 and MNK74. Chemosensitivity to l-OHP is studied using a growth inhibition test. Induction of apoptosis in gastric cancer cells is analyzed by assessing DNA ladder formation, DNA fragmentation and actin cleavage. While all five gastric cancer cell lines are sensitive to Oxaliplatin, the poorly differentiated lines are the most sensitive. DNA ladder formation and/or DNA fragmentation are detected in all gastric cancer cell lines. However, actin cleavage is not detected in any of the cell lines. Oxaliplatin has an anti-cancer effect on human gastric cancer cell lines, particularly cell lines of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, indicating that Oxaliplatin would be an effective treatment for poorly differentiated gastric cancer. Oxaliplatin induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cell lines, but actin cleavage is not detected in cancer cells. This finding suggests that (1) the apoptotic caspase pathway leads mainly to DNA condensation and fragmentation, and (2) caspase-independent apoptotic pathways may be activated when gastric cancer cells are treated with Oxaliplatin.

A new orally active antitumor 1R,2R-cyclohexanediamine-platinum(IV) complex: trans-(n-valerato)chloro(1R,2R-cyclohexanediamine) (oxalato)platinum(IV)

Purpose: The authors have previously reported that trans-bis(n-valerato)(1R,2R-cyclohexanediamine) (oxalato)platinum(IV) (C5-OHP), an oxaliplatin derivative, is an orally active antitumor agent in an intraperitoneal (i.p.) L1210 murine leukemia model. In this study, several oxaliplatin derivatives of the general formula trans-(carboxylato)chloro(1R,2R-cyclohexanediamine)(oxalato)platinum(IV) were synthesized in order to find new derivatives with greater oral activity than C5-OHP in a clinically predictive tumor model. In the formula, the carboxylate and chloride ligands are situated in axial positions. Methods: Four complexes with the axial carboxylate ligands n-butyrate, n-valerate, n-caproate or n-heptanoate were synthesized and designated C4-OHP-Cl, C5-OHP-Cl, C6-OHP-Cl and C7- OHP-Cl, respectively. The oral antitumor activity of the complexes was evaluated against the murine reticulosarcoma M5076 implanted subcutaneoulsy (s.c.) in to male BDF1 mice. The complexes were administered orally daily for 5 days in two cycles initiated on days 5 and 12 postimplantation. The physicochemical properties were examined by measuring the concentrations of the complexes in test solutions at intervals by HPLC. The pharmacokinetic behaviors of C5-OHP-Cl, C6-OHP-Cl and C5-OHP following a single oral administration were studied in non-tumor-bearing male BDF1 mice. Results: Of the complexes synthesized in this study, C5-OHP-Cl, which exhibited high activity in the i.p. L1210 model, was found to be orally active in the s.c. M5076 model while C5-OHP was not. The in vitro reduction of the complexes by ascorbate was much more rapid than that of C5-OHP, while the complexes were more stable than C5-OHP in HCl-acidic and alkaline solutions. Pharmacokinetic study showed that Cmax and AUC0–24h values of plasma total and filterable platinum of C5-OHP-Cl were four to six times greater than those of C5-OHP, indicating that C5-OHP-Cl was absorbed more than C5-OHP. Conclusion: C5-OHP-Cl was found to be a superior l-OHP derivative C5-OHP, exhibiting significant oral antitumor activity in the s.c. M5076 model. The enhanced activity of C5-OHP-Cl was considered to be due in part to increased susceptibility to reduction and increased gastrointestinal absorption. C5-OHP-Cl is a suitable candidate for further study as an oral cancer chemotherapy agent.

Antitumor activity exhibited by Fas ligand (CD95L) overexpressed on lymphoid cells against Fas+ tumor cells

Abstract Lymph node (LN) cells of Fas-mutant mice lpr/lpr (lpr) and lprcg/lprcg (lprcg) express an increased level of Fas ligand (FasL) (CD95L). We examined the antitumor potential of cell-bound FasL on these LN cells against Fas+ tumor cells. Fas+ F6b and Fas− N1d cells were produced from murine hepatoma MH134 (Fas−) by gene transfection. lpr and lprcg LN cells inhibited growth of F6b but not N1d cells in vitro. Neither gld/gld lpr/lpr (gld/lpr) LN cells, which lack both FasL and Fas, nor wild-type LN cells showed growth-inhibitory activities against F6b and N1d cells. The effector cells and molecule were CD4−CD8− T cells and FasL, respectively. The tumor neutralization test and adoptive transfer demonstrated that lpr and lprcg, but not gld/lpr, LN cells retarded the growth of F6b cells. Although anti-Fas antibody and FasL cause severe liver failure, wild-type mice injected with lpr LN cells appeared clinically normal. Adoptive transfer of lpr LN cells to F6b-bearing mice exerted the same antitumor activity in wild-type and gld/lpr recipient mice, indicating the applicability of cell-bound FasL for Fas-mediated target therapy of cancer. These results suggest that antitumor activity was dependent on the Fas-FasL system and that lymphoid cells overexpressing FasL can be powerful antitumor effector cells against Fas+ tumor cells.

Significance of water solubility in the gastrointestinal absorption of trans-bis(n-valerato)(1R,2R-cyclohexanediamine)(oxalato)platinum(IV), an orally active antitumor platinum complex, and its analogs.

Trans-bis(n-valerato)(1R,2R-cyclohexanediamine)(oxalato)-platinum (IV) (C5-OHP) is an orally active platinum complex we prepared. The gastrointestinal absorption of C5-OHP was examined in rats and compared with those of C5-OHP analogs which have a general formula of trans-bis(n-OCOCnH2n+1 )(1R,2R-cyclohexanediamine)(oxalato)platinum (IV) as well as C5-OHP. The complexes did not show significant differences in pharmacokinetic behavior after i.v. injection. Plasma platinum level after a single oral administration at a dose was higher for a complex with higher water solubility. The intestinal absorption rate measured by an in situ recirculating perfusion technique was higher for a complex with higher lipophilicity. These results indicate that the water solubility is a more dominant factor than the lipophilicity in the gastrointestinal absorption of the complexes. Then, the effects of surfactants and x-cyclodextrin (x-CD) on the solubility of C5-OHP was studied. Among the agents tested, x-CD showed the highest effect in increasing the solubility. Administration of C5-OHP together with x-CD gave approximately three times higher plasma platinum levels than administration of C5-OHP alone. Water solubility was found to be a dominant factor in the gastrointestinal absorption of C5-OHP and its analogs.

Roles of CXC chemokines and macrophages in the recruitment of inflammatory cells and tumor rejection induced by Fas/Apo‐1 (CD95) ligand‐expressing tumor

The role of CD95 ligand (FasL/Apo‐1L)‐expressing tumors in immunosuppression or immunopotentiation is controversial. CD95L‐transfected tumors induce immunopotentiation after vigorous neutrophil infiltration. Thus, the induction of neutrophil infiltration by CD95L seems to play an important role in tumor rejection. The mechanism by which CD95L‐expressing tumors cause neutrophil infiltration and antitumor immunity has not been well understood. CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) knockout (KO) mice are a powerful tool for studying CXC chemokine‐mediated neutrophil infiltration. We investigated the roles of CD95L and chemokines in CD95L‐induced antitumor activity by using CXCR2 KO mice and CD95LcDNA‐transfected MethA (MethA + CD95L) fibrosarcoma. MethA + CD95L cells were completely rejected in wild‐type (WT) and even in KO mice. MethA + CD95L cells injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) induced the recruitment of both neutrophils and macrophages in WT but only macrophages in KO mice, although CXC and CC chemokines were released in both mice. Macrophages incubated with MethA + CD95L cells released CXC and CC chemokines. Macrophages derived from WT and KO but not neutrophils from WT mice induced the recruitment of neutrophils when adoptively i.p. transferred with MethA + CD95L cells into CD95L/CD95‐deficient mice. The different recruitment of inflammatory cells between WT and KO mice was attributed to bone marrow (BM) cells by BM transfer experiment. Our results demonstrated that CXC chemokines are essential for neutrophil recruitment and that macrophages but not neutrophils play a critical role in the CD95L‐induced infiltration of inflammatory cells and the eradication of CD95L‐expressing tumor cells.

Pilot study for preoperative administration of 1-OHP to patients with advanced scirrhous type gastric cancer

A new DACH platinum complex, l-OHP, was developed by Kidani as an anticancer agent. A clinical trial took place in Europe which demonstrated its therapeutic efficacy for colorectal cancer. An effective treatment, especially chemotherapy for patients with a advanced scirrhous type gastric cancer, has not yet been established. An in vitro study showed that l-HOP inhibited cell growth in human gastric cancer cell lines. Our pilot study determined the efficacy of preoperative administration of l-OHP, 67 mg/m2 to 100 mg/m2, every 2-3 weeks, for two to three cycles, in five patients with this disease (Stage III and IV) roentogenoscopically and histologically. The platinum concentration in the tissues was also measured. By X-ray examination of the stomach at the time of pre- and post-administration of l-OHP, extension of the lesional gastric wall was observed. Histologically three Grade 2 responses and two Grade 1a responses were obtained according to the criteria presented by Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer. The mean platinum concentrations in the lesional tissues were 0.98 ppm and 0.5 ppm in the patients administered l-OHP for three and two cycles respectively. There was no toxicity that prevented surgery. These preliminary results showed the possibility that 1-OHP would be effective for patients with advanced scirrhous type gastric cancer as a neoadjuvant therapy.

Inhibition of growth of human breast cancer cells in culture by neutron capture using liposomes containing 10B

Cell destruction in boron neutron capture therapy is effected by nuclear reaction between 10B and thermal neutrons with the release of alpha-particles (4He) and lithium-7 ions (7Li). 4He kills cells within 10 microm of the site of 4He generation, therefore it is theoretically possible to destroy tumour cells without affecting adjacent healthy tissue, given selective delivery of compounds containing 10B. Liposomes wore prepared by vortex dispersion of solutions containing 10B compounds with dried lipid films and the effects of those compounds on human breast cancer cells in culture were examined after thermal neutral irradiation. [3H]-TdR incorporation by MRKnu/nu-1 cells treated with 10B-containing liposomes showed 40% suppression compared with liposomes without 10B, at 2 x 1012 n/cm2 thermal neutron fluence. Inhibition of tumour cell growth with liposomes prepared with 100 mm 10B-compound was as significant as with those made with 500 ppm 10B solution. The concentration of 10B in liposomes was 76.5 +/- 3.4 microg/mL. Boronated liposomes can thus deliver sufficient 10B atoms to this line of breast cancer cells in culture to effect cytotoxicity and suppression of growth after thermal neutron irradiation.

Docetaxel alone or orally combined with 5-fluorouracil and its derivatives: effects on mouse mammary tumor cell line MM2 in vitro and in vivo.

Although docetaxel (Taxotere; TXT), a taxoid anticancer drug, is clinically and experimentally very effective against breast cancer, its antitumor effect is of very short duration. We addressed whether 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and its derivatives can act synergistically with TXT against mammary tumors, with placing particular stress on their use by oral route. Mouse mammary tumor cell line, MM2, was propagated in culture and as ascites in mice. Carmofur (HCFU) and doxifluridine (5′-DFUR) were used as 5-FU derivatives. In vitro, the cytotoxic effects of antitumor drugs on MM2 cells were examined by MTS assay. In vivo, mice inoculated i.p. with MM2 cells were treated with i.p. injection of TXT and/or oral administration of 5-FU or its derivatives, and observed for curing tumor. In vitro, the synergistic effects were observed in the combination of TXT and 5-FU or HCFU, but not in that of TXT and 5′-DFUR. In vivo, all of these combinations cured tumors far more effectively than TXT alone. The discrepant result of the combination of TXT and 5′-DFUR between in vitro and in vivo was ascribed to up-regulation of pyrimidine phosphorylase in tumor cells in vivo by TXT. Thus, 5-FU, its masked compounds like HCFU and its prodrugs like 5′-DFUR can act synergistically with TXT in the therapy of cancer even when administered by the oral route.

An orally active antitumor cyclohexanediamine-Pt(IV) complex: trans,cis,cis-bis(n-valerato) (oxalato)(1R,2R-cyclohexanediamine)Pt(IV)

In order to develop orally active antitumor platinum complexes, several cyclohexanedlamine-Pt(IV) complexes of a general formula trans,cis,cis-[Pt(IV) (OCOCnHn+1)2 (oxalato)(1R,2R-cyclohexanediamine)] were synthesized by derivatizing oxaliplatin [Pt(III)(oxalato)(1R,2R-cyclohexanediamine), I-OHP], which is a potent antitumor cyclohexanedlamine-Pt(II) complex we have prepared and now undergoing clinical trials. The I-OHP derivatives were found to be stable, lipophilic and reduced to yield I-OHP, an active species, quantitatively by ascorbate in vitro. All the derivatives were antitumor active against mouse lymphocytic leukemia L1210 when given i.p. In particular, trans-bis-valerato-oxalato-1R,2R-dach-Pt(IV), C5-OHP, showed markedly high activity. C5-OHP also exhibited significant antitumor activity against L1210 when orally administered. C5-OHP was considered to be a suitable candidate for the oral cancer chemotherapy agent to be developed.