Angiocidin Inhibitory Peptides Decrease Tumor Burden in a Murine Colon Cancer Model

• Published in: The Journal of surgical research Vol. 142; no. 2; pp. 320 - 326
• Main Authors: Liebig, Catherine, M.D, Agarwal, Neeti, Ph.D, Ayala, Gustavo E., M.D, Verstovsek, Gordana, M.D, Tuszynski, George P., Ph.D, Albo, Daniel, M.D., Ph.D
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-10-2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - drug therapy; Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; angiocidin; angiocidin-inhibitory peptide; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Carrier Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Cell Line, Tumor; Colon - pathology; colon cancer; Colorectal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Colorectal Neoplasms - metabolism; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; CSVTCG; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; General aspects; Humans; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; nude mouse model; Peptide Fragments - pharmacology; peptide therapy; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Spleen - pathology; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Surgery; Thrombospondin 1 - pharmacology; tissue array; tumor burden; Tumors; xenograft model; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; tissue array; angiocidin; xenograft model; angiocidin-inhibitory peptide; colon cancer; peptide therapy; tumor burden; CSVTCG; nude mouse model; Animal model; Therapy; Peptides; Tissue; Colon cancer; Surgery; Intestinal disease; Rodentia; Malignant tumor; Colonic disease; Medicine; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Treatment; Mouse; Animal; Digestive diseases
• ISSN: 0022-4804; 1095-8673
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2007.02.036

Introduction We have recently developed two inhibitory peptides that target angiocidin, a key mediator of tumor progression and angiogenesis. In this study, we investigate the expression of angiocidin in human colon cancer specimens and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of our angiocidin inhibitory peptides. Methods We created a colon cancer tissue array containing primary tumor, normal colon, negative and positive lymph nodes, and liver metastases (when available) from 159 consecutive colon cancer specimens. Angiocidin expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. The efficacy of 6-mer and 25-mer angiocidin inhibitory peptides was determined in a murine model of human colon cancer. Treatment efficacy was based on primary tumor volume and measures of tumor burden, including internal disease score and health score. Western blots were used to determine angiocidin expression in xenografts. Results Eighty-nine percent of primary tumors and 91% of positive lymph nodes expressed angiocidin. Normal colon was negative in 94% of specimens, and normal lymph nodes were negative or weakly positive in 79% of specimens. All liver metastases were positive for angiocidin. Animals in both peptide treatment groups showed improvement in health score and internal disease score compared with control animals ( P = 0.001). Treatment with 6-mer and 25-mer peptide resulted in 3-fold and 16-fold reductions, respectively, in primary tumor volume ( P = 0.001). Angiocidin expression in primary tumors of peptide-treated mice correlated with tumor burden ( P < 0.05). Conclusions Angiocidin is overexpressed in human colon cancer specimens. Angiocidin-inhibitory peptides are well tolerated in vivo and effectively reduce primary tumor volume and tumor burden in human colon cancer xenografts.