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Vasculature‐targeted tumor necrosis factor‐alpha increases the therapeutic index of doxorubicin against prostate cancer
Author(s) -
Bertilaccio Maria T.S.,
Grioni Matteo,
Sutherland Brent W.,
Degl'Innocenti Elena,
Freschi Massimo,
Jachetti Elena,
Greenberg Norman M.,
Corti Angelo,
Bellone Matteo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/pros.20775
Subject(s) - tramp , doxorubicin , medicine , prostate cancer , tumor necrosis factor alpha , in vivo , prostate , cancer research , adenocarcinoma , chemotherapy , cancer , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Abstract BACKGROUND Poor penetration and uneven distribution of doxorubicin in tumors limits the efficacy of this drug in patients with prostate cancer (PC). Aim of the study was to investigate whether pre‐treatment with NGR‐TNF, a tumor necrosis factor‐α derivative able to target tumor vessels and alter vessel permeability, increases the penetration and the efficacy of doxorubicin in pre‐clinical models of PC. METHODS Wild type C57BL/6 mice bearing androgen‐independent TRAMP‐C1 PC and transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice, which spontaneously develop PC and metastasis, were treated with repeated cycles of doxorubicin, administered either alone or following NGR‐TNF. Tumor growth and drug uptake by cancer cells was evaluated. RESULTS Doxorubicin as a single agent blocked the growth of TRAMP‐C1 cells in vitro but not in vivo. Pre‐treatment of mice bearing subcutaneous TRAMP‐C1 tumors with NGR‐TNF favored doxorubicin penetration into the tumor mass, and in both TRAMP‐C1 and TRAMP models significantly delayed tumor growth without increasing drug‐related toxicity. CONCLUSIONS Pre‐treatment with NGR‐TNF significantly expanded the therapeutic index of doxorubicin in mouse models of hormone‐dependent and ‐independent PC. Prostate 68:1105–1115, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.