fosbretabulin and Carcinoma--Small-Cell

The vascular disrupting agent combretastatin A4 phosphate (CA4P) causes major regression of animal tumours when given as combination therapy.. Patients with advanced cancer refractory to standard therapy were treated with CA4P as a 10-min infusion, 20 h before carboplatin, paclitaxel, or paclitaxel, followed by carboplatin.. Combretastatin A4 phosphate was escalated from 36 to 54 mg m(-2) with the carboplatin area under the concentration curve (AUC) 4-5, from 27 to 54 mg m(-2) with paclitaxel 135-175 mg m(-2), and from 54 to 72 mg m(-2) with carboplatin AUC 5 and paclitaxel 175 mg m(-2). Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was seen in 17%, and thrombocytopenia only in 4% of 46 patients. Grade 1-3 hypertension (26% of patients) and grade 1-3 tumour pain (65% of patients) were the most typical non-haematological toxicities. Dose-limiting toxicity of grade 3 hypertension or grade 3 ataxia was seen in two patients at 72 mg m(-2). Responses were seen in 10 of 46 (22%) patients with ovarian, oesophageal, small-cell lung cancer, and melanoma.. The combination of CA4P with carboplatin and paclitaxel was well tolerated in the majority of patients with adequate premedication and had antitumour activity in patients who were heavily pretreated.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Ataxia; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Esophageal Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Life Expectancy; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Melanoma; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Ovarian Neoplasms; Paclitaxel; Patient Selection; Stilbenes

TZT-1027 (Soblidotin), an antimicrotubule agent, has been demonstrated to show potent antitumor effects, though the relationships among antitumor effect, cytotoxicity and anti-vascular effect of TZT-1027 have not been studied. We established in vivo human lung vascular-rich tumor models using a vascular endothelial growth factor-secreting tumor (SBC-3/VEGF). SBC-3/VEGF tumors exhibited a high degree of angiogenesis in comparison with the mock transfectant (SBC-3/Neo) tumors in a dorsal skinfold chamber model and grew much faster and larger than SBC-3/Neo tumors in the tumor growth study. The antitumor activity of antimicrotubule agents, including TZT-1027, was evaluated in both early- and advanced-stage SBC-3/Neo and SBC-3/VEGF tumor models to elucidate the relationship between the antitumor activity and anti-vascular effect of these agents. TZT-1027 exhibited potent antitumor activity against both early- and advanced-stage SBC-3/Neo and SBC-3/VEGF tumors, whereas combretastatin A4 phosphate did not. Vincristine and docetaxel exhibited potent antitumor activity against early-stage SBC-3/Neo and SBC-3/VEGF tumors, and advanced-stage SBC-3/Neo tumors, but did not exhibit activity against advanced-stage SBC-3/VEGF tumors. The difference in antitumor activity between these agents could be ascribed to differences in direct cytotoxicity and anti-vascular effect. Furthermore, a prominent accumulation of erythrocytes in the tumor vasculature, followed by leakage and scattering of these erythrocytes from the tumor vasculature, was observed after TZT-1027 administration to mice bearing advanced-stage SBC-3/VEGF tumors. These findings strongly suggest that TZT-1027 has a potent anti-vascular effect, in addition to direct cytotoxicity.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cell Survival; Docetaxel; Erythrocytes; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Leukemia P388; Lung Neoplasms; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Neoplasms, Experimental; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Oligopeptides; Skin; Stilbenes; Taxoids; Transfection; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vincristine

As part of our continuing search for potential anticancer drug candidates in the 2-phenyl-4-quinolone series, we have synthesized a series of 6,7-methylenedioxy-substituted and unsubstituted 2-phenyl-4-quinolones, as well as related compounds. Their in vitro inhibition of human tumor cell lines and tubulin polymerization is reported. In general, a good correlation was found between cytotoxicity and inhibition of tubulin polymerization. Compounds 7, 9, 13, 16, 22, 23, 36, and 37 showed potent inhibitory effects in both assays. All rigid analogs (47-49) and trimethoxy-substituted compounds showed little or no activity. Substitution at the 4'-position also resulted in compounds with little or no activity, except for hydroxyl or methyl groups at this position. Further investigation is underway to determine if substitution at the 3'-position will result in compounds with increased activity.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cattle; Cell Division; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Colonic Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Leukemia; Lung Neoplasms; Molecular Structure; Polymers; Quinolones; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tubulin; Tubulin Modulators; Tumor Cells, Cultured