batimastat and Colorectal-Neoplasms

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a homologous family of enzymes that are involved in tissue remodeling and morphogenesis. Collectively, these enzymes are capable of degrading all components of the extracellular matrix, and they play an important role in normal physiologic conditions, such as wound healing and other processes involving tissue remodeling. However, increased activity of these enzymes now has been observed in a number of different pathological conditions, and it has been hypothesized that such increased activity of MMPs might play a role in the pathogenesis of these conditions. Cancer is one such condition; extracellular matrices constitute the principal barrier to tumor growth and spread, and there is growing experimental evidence that malignant tumors utilize MMPs to overcome these barriers. Consequently, inhibitors of MMPs represent an attractive target for a new class of anticancer agents. Marimastat and batimastat are potent broad-spectrum inhibitors of all major MMPs and have been shown to prevent or reduce spread and growth of a number of different malignant tumors in numerous animal models. Both agents are now in advanced clinical testing in a number of different solid tumors in North America and Europe. The purpose of this paper is to review available preclinical and emerging clinical data, using batimastat and marimastat as prototype MMP inhibitors in the cancer area.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Breast Neoplasms; Colorectal Neoplasms; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Hemangioma; Humans; Hydroxamic Acids; Melanoma; Metalloendopeptidases; Mice; Ovarian Neoplasms; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Phenylalanine; Protease Inhibitors; Skin Neoplasms; Thiophenes

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Clinical Trials as Topic; Colorectal Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Metalloendopeptidases; Mice; Mice, Nude; Ovarian Neoplasms; Phenylalanine; Thiophenes; Transplantation, Heterologous

The matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor batimastat was administered to a human colorectal cancer ascites model, which was initiated by injection of C170HM2 cells into the peritoneal cavity of SCID mice and resulted in solid tumour deposits and ascites formation. The cell line expressed both the 72 and 92 kDa forms of gelatinase by zymography. Batimastat administered from day 0 (40 mg kg-1) reduced the volume of ascites to 21% of control in mice treated from day 0 (P < 0.002) but not day 10. Formation of solid peritoneal deposits was significantly reduced to 77% of vehicle control when batimastat was administered from day 0 (P < 0.01) and 69% of control when administered from day 10 (P < 0.05). Thus, batimastat has the ability to reduce the volume of ascites forming in SCID mice injected intraperitoneally with the human colorectal cell line, C170HM2, when administered from day 0 but not from day 10. Solid peritoneal tumour deposits were significantly reduced in both treatment groups, highlighting the therapeutic potential of batimastat in this clinical condition.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Ascitic Fluid; Colorectal Neoplasms; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Female; Humans; Metalloendopeptidases; Mice; Mice, SCID; Phenylalanine; Thiophenes; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The effect of the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor batimastat was evaluated in two human colorectal cancer metastasis models involving: (a) the liver-invasive tumor C170HM2 and (b) the lung-invasive tumor AP5LV, both of which have been shown to express the M(r) 72,000 type IV collagenase. Batimastat at concentrations between 0.01 and 3.0 micrograms/ml had no direct cytotoxic effects on the in vitro growth of the cell lines. In the liver-invasive tumor model, batimastat administered i.p. from day 10 to termination of the therapy (day 39) at 40 mg/kg reduced both the mean number of liver tumors (35% of vehicle-treated control; P < 0.05) and the cross-sectional area of the tumors (43% of vehicle-treated control; P < 0.05). In the lung-invasive tumor model, batimastat administered daily (40 mg/kg i.p.) significantly reduced tumor weight within the lung (72% of vehicle-treated control; P < 0.05) but did not significantly affect nodule number. In the latter model, in which the take rate was unaffected, tumor cells were introduced into the lateral tail vein, and lung localization may have been a physical phenomenon not involving invasion. In the former model, tumor cells were introduced directly into the peritoneal cavity, and from there the cells adhered to and invaded the liver capsule. Because the take rate is significantly reduced, it may be that the matrix metalloproteinases are involved in this process. Batimastat may be a therapeutic modality for the treatment of colorectal cancer metastasis.

Topics: Animals; Carcinoma; Cell Division; Colorectal Neoplasms; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Metalloendopeptidases; Mice; Mice, Nude; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Transplantation; Phenylalanine; Thiophenes; Transplantation, Heterologous; Tumor Cells, Cultured