A peptide derived from the non-receptor-binding region of urokinase plasminogen activator inhibits glioblastoma growth and angiogenesis in vivo in combination with cisplatin

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 Jul 18;97(15):8484-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.150239497.

Abstract

The urokinase plasminogen activator system is involved in angiogenesis and tumor growth of malignant gliomas, which are highly neovascularized and so may be amenable to antiangiogenic therapy. In this paper, we describe the activity of A6, an octamer capped peptide derived from the non-receptor-binding region of urokinase plasminogen activator. A6 inhibited human microvascular endothelial cell migration but had no effect on the proliferation of human microvascular endothelial cells or U87MG glioma cells in vitro. In contrast, A6 or cisplatin (CDDP) alone suppressed subcutaneous tumor growth in vivo by 48% and 53%, respectively, and, more strikingly, the combination of A6 plus CDDP inhibited tumor growth by 92%. Such combination treatment also greatly reduced the volume of intracranial tumor xenografts and increased survival of tumor-bearing animals when compared with CDDP or A6 alone. Tumors from the combination treatment group had significantly reduced neovascularization, suggesting a mechanism involving A6-mediated inhibition of endothelial cell motility, thereby eliciting vascular sensitivity to CDDP-mediated toxicity. These data suggest that the combination of an angiogenesis inhibitor that targets endothelial cells with a cytotoxic agent may be a useful therapeutic approach.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Brain / blood supply
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Cisplatin / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Female
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Glioblastoma / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic*
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Peptides / therapeutic use*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / chemical synthesis
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / metabolism
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • PLAUR protein, human
  • Peptides
  • Plaur protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
  • Cisplatin