Development of an aerosol intervention for COVID-19 disease: Tolerability of soluble ACE2 (APN01) administered via nebulizer.

As ACE2 is the critical SARS-CoV-2 receptor, we hypothesized that aerosol administration of clinical grade soluble human recombinant ACE2 (APN01) will neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in the airways, limit spread of infection in the lung, and mitigate lung damage caused by deregulated signaling in the renin-angiotensin (RAS) and Kinin pathways. Here, after demonstrating in vitro neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 by APN01, and after obtaining preliminary evidence of its tolerability and preventive efficacy in a mouse model, we pursued development of an aerosol formulation. As a prerequisite to a clinical trial, we evaluated both virus binding activity and enzymatic activity for cleavage of Ang II following aerosolization. We report successful aerosolization for APN01, retaining viral binding as well as catalytic RAS activity. Dose range-finding and IND-enabling repeat-dose aerosol toxicology testing were conducted in dogs. Twice daily aerosol administration for two weeks at the maximum feasible concentration revealed no notable toxicities. Based on these results, a Phase I clinical trial in healthy volunteers has now been initiated (NCT05065645), with subsequent Phase II testing planned for individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The MNU Plus Testosterone Rat Model of Prostate Carcinogenesis.

Animal models of prostate cancer are essential to identify chemopreventive treatments against this major male malignancy. The N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) plus testosterone rat model of prostate carcinogenesis is a reliable animal model that recapitulates human prostate cancer in many respects and has been used extensively in chemoprevention studies with good predictive value for the results of human clinical trials. The objective of this article is to describe the induction protocol of this model, demonstrate its robustness and reproducibility over time and across rat strains, provide diagnostic criteria for the identification of prostate lesions, and present the current tumor induction protocol so that others can use this model in a reliable manner. The majority of accessory sex gland tumors in this model are adenocarcinomas originating in the anterior and dorsolateral prostate that metastasize to lungs and abdominal structures. The rat strain used is of critical importance, with the commercially available Wistar WU and Fischer F344 strains yielding the highest tumor incidences. Low dose, long-term testosterone treatment is essential for a high tumor incidence, but in advanced stage, large adenocarcinomas do not appear to be androgen dependent. This rat model is a robust and reproducible prostate cancer animal model of human prostate cancer.

Development of a novel, pan-variant aerosol intervention for COVID-19.

To develop a universal strategy to block SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry and infection represents a central aim for effective COVID-19 therapy. The growing impact of emerging variants of concern increases the urgency for development of effective interventions. Since ACE2 is the critical SARS-CoV-2 receptor and all tested variants bind to ACE2, some even at much increased affinity (see accompanying paper), we hypothesized that aerosol administration of clinical grade soluble human recombinant ACE2 (APN01) will neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in the airways, limit spread of infection in the lung and mitigate lung damage caused by deregulated signaling in the renin-angiotensin (RAS) and Kinin pathways. Here we show that intranasal administration of APN01 in a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection dramatically reduced weight loss and prevented animal death. As a prerequisite to a clinical trial, we evaluated both virus binding activity and enzymatic activity for cleavage of Ang II following aerosolization. We report successful aerosolization for APN01, retaining viral binding as well as catalytic RAS activity. Dose range-finding and IND-enabling repeat-dose aerosol toxicology testing were conducted in dogs. Twice daily aerosol administration for two weeks at the maximum feasible concentration revealed no notable toxicities. Based on these results, a Phase I clinical trial in healthy volunteers can now be initiated, with subsequent Phase II testing in individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection. This strategy could be used to develop a viable and rapidly actionable therapy to prevent and treat COVID-19, against all current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Effect of cell phone radiofrequency radiation on body temperature in rodents: Pilot studies of the National Toxicology Program's reverberation chamber exposure system.

Radiofrequency radiation (RFR) causes heating, which can lead to detrimental biological effects. To characterize the effects of RFR exposure on body temperature in relation to animal size and pregnancy, a series of short-term toxicity studies was conducted in a unique RFR exposure system. Young and old B6C3F1 mice and young, old, and pregnant Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) RFR (rats = 900 MHz, mice = 1,900 MHz) at specific absorption rates (SARs) up to 12 W/kg for approximately 9 h a day for 5 days. In general, fewer and less severe increases in body temperature were observed in young than in older rats. SAR-dependent increases in subcutaneous body temperatures were observed at exposures ≥6 W/kg in both modulations. Exposures of ≥10 W/kg GSM or CDMA RFR induced excessive increases in body temperature, leading to mortality. There was also a significant increase in the number of resorptions in pregnant rats at 12 W/kg GSM RFR. In mice, only sporadic increases in body temperature were observed regardless of sex or age when exposed to GSM or CDMA RFR up to 12 W/kg. These results identified SARs at which measurable RFR-mediated thermal effects occur, and were used in the selection of exposures for subsequent toxicology and carcinogenicity studies. Bioelectromagnetics. 39:190-199, 2018. © 2018 The Authors. Bioelectromagnetics Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A Radio Frequency Radiation Exposure System for Rodents based on Reverberation Chambers.

In this paper we present the novel design features, their technical implementation, and an evaluation of the radio Frequency (RF) exposure systems developed for the National Toxicology Program (NTP) of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) studies on the potential toxicity and carcinogenicity of 2nd and 3rd generation mobile-phone signals. The system requirements for this 2-year NTP cancer bioassay study were the tightly-controlled lifetime exposure of rodents (1568 rats and 1512 mice) to three power levels plus sham simulating typical daily, and higher, exposures of users of GSM and CDMA (IS95) signals. Reverberation chambers and animal housing were designed to allow extended exposure time per day for free-roaming individually-housed animals. The performance of the chamber was characterized in terms of homogeneity, stirred to unstirred energy, efficiency. The achieved homogeneity was 0.59 dB and 0.48 dB at 900 and 1900 MHz respectively. The temporal variation in the electric field strength was optimized to give similar characteristics to that of the power control of a phone in a real network using the two stirrers. Experimental dosimetry was performed to validate the SAR sensitivity and determine the SAR uniformity throughout the exposure volume; SAR uniformities of 0.46 dB and 0.40 dB, respectively, for rats and mice were achieved.

Life-Time Dosimetric Assessment for Mice and Rats Exposed in Reverberation Chambers of the 2-Year NTP Cancer Bioassay Study on Cell Phone Radiation.

In this paper, we present the detailed life-time dosimetry analysis for rodents exposed in the reverberation exposure system designed for the two-year cancer bioassay study conducted by the National Toxicology Program of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The study required the well-controlled and characterized exposure of individually housed, unrestrained mice at 1900 MHz and rats at 900 MHz, frequencies chosen to give best uniformity exposure of organs and tissues. The wbSAR, the peak spatial SAR and the organ specific SAR as well as the uncertainty and variation due to the exposure environment, differences in the growth rates, and animal posture were assessed. Compared to the wbSAR, the average exposure of the high-water-content tissues (blood, heart, lung) were higher by ~4 dB, while the low-loss tissues (bone and fat) were less by ~9 dB. The maximum uncertainty over the exposure period for the SAR was estimated to be <49% (k=2) for the rodents whereas the relative uncertainty between the group was <14% (k=1). The instantaneous variation (averaged over 1 min) was <13% (k=1), which is small compared to other long term exposure research projects. These detailed dosimetric results empowers comparison with other studies and provides a reference for studies of long-term biological effects of exposure of rodents to RF energy.

Lack of chemopreventive efficacy of metformin in rodent models of urinary bladder, head and neck, and colon/intestine cancer.

Metformin is a biguanide employed in treating type II diabetes. Its potential efficacy for treating cancer has been demonstrated epidemiologically (lower cancer incidence in metformin users compared with users of sulfonylureas or insulin) and mechanistically, primarily in cell culture. Metformin decreases the levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 and secondarily inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway to exhibit anticancer effects. The current study examined its cancer preventive efficacy in multiple standard in situ arising cancer models. Metformin was administered orally by gavage or in the diet, at human equivalent doses, in numerous cancer models. In the hydroxybutyl(butyl)nitrosamine-induced model of invasive urinary bladder cancer, metformin (50 or 150 mg/kg body weight/day, intragastric) was ineffective despite high urinary concentrations of metformin. Metformin (250 or 500 ppm in diet) failed to decrease the incidence or invasiveness of squamous cell cancer of the tongue in a 4-nitroquinoline-1-(4NQO)-induced model. Finally, in the Min mouse model of gastrointestinal cancer, metformin (400 or 1,200 ppm in diet) was ineffective. Notably, a slight increase in intestinal tumor multiplicity was observed at the higher dose. Therefore, metformin lacked efficacy in multiple standard cancer models in non-diabetic rodents. This lack of efficacy may discourage any large phase clinical cancer trials in non-diabetic individuals in the absence of clear phase-II studies.

Complementary roles of gasotransmitters CO and H2S in sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea, which is the periodic cessation of breathing during sleep, is a major health problem affecting over 10 million people in the United States and is associated with several sequelae, including hypertension and stroke. Clinical studies suggest that abnormal carotid body (CB) activity may be a driver of sleep apnea. Because gaseous molecules are important determinants of CB activity, aberrations in their signaling could lead to sleep apnea. Here, we report that mice deficient in heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2), which generates the gaseous molecule carbon monoxide (CO), exhibit sleep apnea characterized by high apnea and hypopnea indices during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Similar high apnea and hypopnea indices were also noted in prehypertensive spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats, which are known to exhibit CB hyperactivity. We identified the gaseous molecule hydrogen sulfide (H2S) as the major effector molecule driving apneas. Genetic ablation of the H2S-synthesizing enzyme cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) normalized breathing in HO-2-/- mice. Pharmacologic inhibition of CSE with l-propargyl glycine prevented apneas in both HO-2-/- mice and SH rats. These observations demonstrate that dysregulated CO and H2S signaling in the CB leads to apneas and suggest that CSE inhibition may be a useful therapeutic intervention for preventing CB-driven sleep apnea.

Identification of reliable reference genes for quantitative gene expression studies in oral squamous cell carcinomas compared to adjacent normal tissues in the F344 rat model.

Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) induced in F344 rats by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) demonstrate considerable phenotypic similarity to human oral cancers and the model has been widely used for carcinogenesis and chemoprevention studies. Molecular characterization of this model needs reliable reference genes (RGs) to avoid false- positive and -negative results for proper interpretation of gene expression data between tumor and adjacent normal tissues. Microarray analysis of 11 pairs of OSCC and site-matched phenotypically normal oral tissues from 4-NQO-treated rats identified 10 stably expressed genes in OSCC compared to adjacent normal tissues (p>0.5, CV<15%) that could serve as potential RGs in this model. The commonly used 27 RGs in the rat were also analyzed based on microarray data and most of them were found unsuitable for RGs in this model. Traditional RGs such as ACTB and GAPDH were significantly altered in OSCC compared to adjacent normal tissues (p<0.01, n=11); however, the Hsp90ab1 was ranked as the best RG candidate and the combination of Hsp90ab1 and HPRT1 was identified by NormFinder to be a superior reference for gene normalization among the commonly used RGs. This result was also validated by RT-PCR based on the selected top RG candidate pool. These data suggest that there are no common RGs suitable for different models and RG(s) should be identified before gene expression analysis. We successfully identified Hsp90ab1 as a stable RG in 4-NQO-induced OSCC compared to adjacent normal tissues in F344 rats. The combination of two stably expressed genes may be a better option for gene normalization in tissue samples.

5MeCDDO Blocks Metabolic Activation but not Progression of Breast, Intestine, and Tongue Cancers. Is Antioxidant Response Element a Prevention Target?

The preventive efficacy of the triterpenoid 5MeCDDO was tested in two models of mammary cancer, the Min model of intestinal cancer, and a chemically induced model of head and neck cancer. In one model of mammary cancer, female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered MNU at 50 days of age, and 5MeCDDO (27 ppm) was administered in the diet beginning 5 days later for the duration of the study; 5MeCDDO was ineffective. In contrast, in a model examining initiation of mammary cancers by the procarcinogen dimethyl-benzanthracene, 5, 6-benzoflavone (500 ppm, an Ah receptor agonist) or 5MeCDDO (27 or 2.7 ppm) decreased tumor multiplicity by 90%, 80%, and 50%, respectively. This anti-initiating effect which is presumably mediated by altered metabolic activation parallels our observation that 5MeCDDO induced proteins of various antioxidant response element (ARE)-related phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes [e.g., GST Pi, AKR 7A3 (aflatoxicol), epoxide hydrolase, and quinone reductase] in the liver. 5MeCDDO tested in the 4-nitroquinoline-l-oxide (4-NQO) head and neck cancer model failed to decrease tumor incidence or invasiveness. In the Min mouse model of intestinal cancer, a high dose of 5MeCDDO (80 ppm) was weakly effective in reducing adenoma multiplicity [∼30% (P < 0.05)]; however, a lower dose was totally ineffective. These findings question whether measuring increased levels of certain ARE-related genes (e.g., quinone reductase, GST Pi), indicating decreased carcinogen activation are sufficient to imply general chemopreventive efficacy of a given agent or mixture. Cancer Prev Res; 9(7); 616-23. ©2016 AACR.

Suppression of Rat Oral Carcinogenesis by Agonists of Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor γ.

Peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In vivo studies were performed to evaluate the activities of two thiazolidinedione PPARγ agonists, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, as inhibitors of oral carcinogenesis in rats. Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) were induced in male F344 rats by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (NQO; 20 ppm in the drinking water for 10 weeks). In each study, groups of 30 NQO-treated rats were exposed to a PPARγ agonist beginning at week 10 (one day after completion of NQO administration) or at week 17 (7 weeks post-NQO); chemopreventive agent exposure was continued until study termination at week 22 (rosiglitazone study) or week 24 (pioglitazone study). Administration of rosiglitazone (800 mg/kg diet) beginning at week 10 increased survival, reduced oral cancer incidence, and reduced oral cancer invasion score in comparison to dietary controls; however, chemopreventive activity was largely lost when rosiglitazone administration was delayed until week 17. Administration of pioglitazone (500 mg/kg diet beginning at week 10 or 1000 mg/kg diet beginning at week 17) induced significant reductions in oral cancer incidence without significant effects on OSCC invasion scores. Transcript levels of PPARγ and its three transcriptional variants (PPARγv1, PPARγv2, and PPARγv3) were not significantly different in OSCC versus age- and site-matched phenotypically normal oral tissues from rats treated with NQO. These data suggest that PPARγ provides a useful molecular target for oral cancer chemoprevention, and that overexpression of PPARγ at the transcriptional level in neoplastic lesions is not essential for chemopreventive efficacy.

Oral and intravenous pharmacokinetics of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxycytidine and THU in cynomolgus monkeys and humans.

INTRODUCTION: 5-Fluoro-2'-deoxycytidine (FdCyd; NSC48006), a fluoropyrimidine nucleoside inhibitor of DNA methylation, is degraded by cytidine deaminase (CD). Pharmacokinetic evaluation was carried out in cynomolgus monkeys in support of an ongoing phase I study of the PO combination of FdCyd and the CD inhibitor tetrahydrouridine (THU; NSC112907). METHODS: Animals were dosed intravenously (IV) or per os (PO). Plasma samples were analyzed by LC-MS/MS for FdCyd, metabolites, and THU. Clinical chemistry and hematology were performed at various times after dosing. A pilot pharmacokinetic study was performed in humans to assess FdCyd bioavailability. RESULTS: After IV FdCyd and THU administration, FdCyd C(max) and AUC increased with dose. FdCyd half-life ranged between 22 and 56 min, and clearance was approximately 15 mL/min/kg. FdCyd PO bioavailability after THU ranged between 9 and 25 % and increased with increasing THU dose. PO bioavailability of THU was less than 5 %, but did result in plasma concentrations associated with inhibition of its target CD. Human pilot studies showed comparable bioavailability for FdCyd (10 %) and THU (4.1 %). CONCLUSION: Administration of THU with FdCyd increased the exposure to FdCyd and improved PO FdCyd bioavailability from <1 to 24 %. Concentrations of THU and FdCyd achieved after PO administration are associated with CD inhibition and hypomethylation, respectively. The schedule currently studied in phase I studies of PO FdCyd and THU is daily times three at the beginning of the first and second weeks of a 28-day cycle.

Plasma pharmacokinetics of the indenoisoquinoline topoisomerase I inhibitor, NSC 743400, in rats and dogs.

PURPOSE: NSC 743400 is a novel synthetic indenoisoquinoline analog under development as an anticancer agent. It is a potent topoisomerase I inhibitor with potential therapeutic advantages over FDA-approved camptothecin derivatives. In preparation for clinical development of NSC 743400, we determined the pharmacokinetics after administration to rats and dogs. METHODS: NSC 743400 was administered intravenously at a dose of 12 or 24 mg/m(2) to rats (single bolus) or 10, 50, 100, 215, 430, or 646 mg/m(2) (intravenous infusion) or 860 or 1720 mg/m(2) (orally) to dogs. RESULTS: Intravenously administered NSC 743400 was eliminated from both species with an estimated t 1/2 of 2-5 h in rat and 6-14 h in dog. Elimination t 1/2 increased with dose in dog. Area under the plasma concentration-versus-time curve (AUC) was comparable in both species, at about 300-400 h ng/mL for the approximately 10 mg/m(2) dose groups. Overall, AUC values increased proportionally with dose for both species but had evidence of more than proportional exposure at the highest doses. Oral dosing resulted in variable drug absorption. CONCLUSIONS: The pharmacokinetic data were used to plan first-in-human clinical trials.

Overexpression of lipocalins and pro-inflammatory chemokines and altered methylation of PTGS2 and APC2 in oral squamous cell carcinomas induced in rats by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide.

Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) induced in F344 rats by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) demonstrate considerable phenotypic similarity to human oral cancers. Gene expression studies (microarray and PCR) were coupled with methylation analysis of selected genes to identify molecular markers of carcinogenesis in this model and potential biochemical and molecular targets for oral cancer chemoprevention. Microarray analysis of 11 pairs of OSCC and site-matched phenotypically normal oral tissues from 4-NQO-treated rats identified more than 3500 differentially expressed genes; 1735 genes were up-regulated in rat OSCC versus non-malignant tissues, while 1803 genes were down-regulated. In addition to several genes involved in normal digestion, genes demonstrating the largest fold increases in expression in 4-NQO-induced OSCC include three lipocalins (VEGP1, VEGP2, LCN2) and three chemokines (CCL, CXCL2, CXCL3); both classes are potentially druggable targets for oral cancer chemoprevention and/or therapy. Down-regulated genes in 4-NQO-induced OSCC include numerous keratins and keratin-associated proteins, suggesting that alterations in keratin expression profiles may provide a useful biomarker of oral cancer in F344 rats treated with 4-NQO. Confirming and extending our previous results, PTGS2 (cyclooxygenase-2) and several cyclooxygenase-related genes were significantly up-regulated in 4-NQO-induced oral cancers; up-regulation of PTGS2 was associated with promoter hypomethylation. Rat OSCC also demonstrated increased methylation of the first exon of APC2; the increased methylation was correlated with down-regulation of this tumor suppressor gene. Overexpression of pro-inflammatory chemokines, hypomethylation of PTGS2, and hypermethylation of APC2 may be causally linked to the etiology of oral cancer in this model.

Characterization of acute biliary hyperplasia in Fisher 344 rats administered the indole-3-carbinol analog, NSC-743380.

NSC-743380 (1-[(3-chlorophenyl)-methyl]-1H-indole-3-carbinol) is in early stages of development as an anticancer agent. Two metabolites reflect sequential conversion of the carbinol functionality to a carboxaldehyde and the major metabolite, 1-[(3-chlorophenyl)-methyl]-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid. In an exploratory toxicity study in rats, NSC-743380 induced elevations in liver-associated serum enzymes and biliary hyperplasia. Biliary hyperplasia was observed 2 days after dosing orally for 2 consecutive days at 100mg/kg/day. Notably, hepatotoxicity and biliary hyperplasia were observed after oral administration of the parent compound, but not when major metabolites were administered. The toxicities of a structurally similar but pharmacologically inactive molecule and a structurally diverse molecule with a similar efficacy profile in killing cancer cells in vitro were compared to NSC-743380 to explore scaffold versus target-mediated toxicity. Following two oral doses of 100mg/kg/day given once daily on two consecutive days, the structurally unrelated active compound produced hepatic toxicity similar to NSC-743380. The structurally similar inactive compound did not, but, lower exposures were achieved. The weight of evidence implies that the hepatotoxicity associated with NSC-743380 is related to the anticancer activity of the parent molecule. Furthermore, because biliary hyperplasia represents an unmanageable and non-monitorable adverse effect in clinical settings, this model may provide an opportunity for investigators to use a short-duration study design to explore biomarkers of biliary hyperplasia.

Differential roles of ERα and ERß in normal and neoplastic development in the mouse mammary gland.

The present experiments were performed to determine the roles of estrogen receptors α and ß (ERα and ERß) in normal and neoplastic development in the mouse mammary gland. In wild-type mice, in vivo administration of estradiol (E) + progesterone (P) stimulated mammary ductal growth and alveolar differentiation. Mammary glands from mice in which the ERß gene has been deleted (ßERKO mice) demonstrated normal ductal growth and differentiation in response to E + P. By contrast, mammary glands from mice in which the ERα gene has been deleted (αERKO mice) demonstrated only rudimentary ductal structures that did not differentiate in response to E + P. EGF demonstrates estrogen-like activity in the mammary glands of αERKO mice: treatment of αERKO mice with EGF + P (without E) supported normal mammary gland development, induced expression of progesterone receptor (PR), and increased levels of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPR30) protein. Mammary gland development in ßERKO mice treated with EGF + P was comparable to that of wild-type mice receiving EGF + P; EGF had no statistically significant effects on the induction of PR or expression of GPR30 in mammary glands harvested from either wild-type mice or ßERKO mice. In vitro exposure of mammary glands to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) induced preneoplastic mammary alveolar lesions (MAL) in glands from wild-type mice and ßERKO mice, but failed to induce MAL in mammary glands from αERKO mice. Microarray analysis of DMBA-treated mammary glands identified 28 functional pathways whose expression was significantly different in αERKO mice versus both ßERKO and wild-type mice; key functions that were differentially expressed in αERKO mice included cell division, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. The data demonstrate distinct roles for ERα and ERß in normal and neoplastic development in the mouse mammary gland, and suggest that EGF can mimic the ERα-mediated effects of E in this organ.

Inhibition of proliferation and induction of autophagy by atorvastatin in PC3 prostate cancer cells correlate with downregulation of Bcl2 and upregulation of miR-182 and p21.

The epidemiologic association between statin use and decreased risk of advanced prostate cancer suggests that statins may inhibit prostate cancer development and/or progression. Studies were performed to determine the effects of a model statin, atorvastatin (ATO), on the proliferation and differentiation of prostate cancer cells, and to identify possible mechanisms of ATO action. ATO inhibited the in vitro proliferation of both LNCaP and PC3 human prostate cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. The greater inhibitory activity of ATO in PC3 cells was associated with induction of autophagy in that cell line, as demonstrated by increased expression of LC3-II. miR-182 was consistently upregulated by ATO in PC3 cells, but not in LNCaP cells. ATO upregulation of miR-182 in PC3 cells was p53-independent and was reversed by geranylgeraniol. Transfection of miR-182 inhibitors decreased expression of miR-182 by >98% and attenuated the antiproliferative activity of ATO. miR-182 expression in PC3 cells was also increased in response to stress induced by serum withdrawal, suggesting that miR-182 upregulation can occur due to nutritional stress. Bcl2 and p21 were identified to be potential target genes of miR-182 in PC3 cells. Bcl2 was downregulated and p21 was upregulated in PC3 cells exposed to ATO. These data suggest that miR-182 may be a stress-responsive miRNA that mediates ATO action in prostate cancer cells.

Pharmacokinetics and tissue and tumor exposure of CP-31398, a p53-stabilizing agent, in rats.

PURPOSE: CP-31398 (N0-[2-[(E)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethenyl] quinazolin-4-yl]-N,N-dimethylpropane-1,3-diamine hydrochloride) is one of the new class of agents that can stabilize the DNA-binding domain of p53 and thereby maintain the activity of p53 as a tumor suppressor and transcription factor. Through its activity as a p53 stabilizer, CP-31398 demonstrates significant cancer preventive and therapeutic activity in several in vivo animal models. The objective of the current study was to describe the pharmacokinetic profile and tissue distribution of this novel agent following intravenous or oral (gavage and dietary) administration. METHODS: CP-31398 was administered to male CD and F344 rats as a single intravenous bolus dose or by daily oral gavage dosing. Male F344 rats also received drug as an ad libitum dietary supplement. Plasma, liver, skin, colon, and colon tumor samples were collected after oral dosing. Concentrations of CP-31398 in plasma and tissue samples were analyzed using LC­MS/MS, and the resultant data were subjected to a non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis. RESULTS: Bioavailability (12­32%), elimination half-life (14­20 h), clearance (4.2­4.8 l/h/kg), and volume of distribution (70­82 l/kg) were determined. Tissue levels of CP-31398 after oral (gavage or diet) administration were several orders of magnitude higher than were corresponding plasma concentrations; CP-31398 levels were especially high in colon and liver. Levels of CP-31398 in tissues were higher after gavage dosing than after dietary administration. CONCLUSIONS: CP-31398 is bioavailable and has a relatively long elimination half-life, which supports the achievement of plasma steady-state levels with a once daily dosing regimen. CP-31398 exhibits a dramatically high volume of distribution, which is consistent with its tissue concentrations being much higher than corresponding plasma levels. It is accumulated in colon tumor tissues, albeit at lower concentrations than found in liver, skin, and colon.

Chemopreventive efficacy of Targretin in rodent models of urinary bladder, colon/intestine, head and neck and mammary cancers.

The chemopreventive efficacy of Targretin was evaluated in various rodent cancer models. In the rat model of 4-hydroxybutyl(butyl)nitrosamine (OH-BBN)-induced urinary bladder cancer, it was found that Targretin administered in the diet (beginning one week after the last OH-BBN treatment) for 5.5 months increased the number and size of urinary bladder cancers. In the azoxymethane (AOM)-induced model of colon carcinogenesis (in which rats develop minimally invasive colonic cancers), Targretin was ineffective as a chemopreventive agent, decreasing neither tumor incidence nor multiplicity. Treatment of Min mice with Targretin for 45 days similarly failed to decrease the multiplicity of small intestinal tumors. Similarly, no preventive efficacy was noted for Targretin when the incidence of tumors in the head and neck model (squamous cell tongue tumors) induced by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) were examined. In contrast, use of even a suboptimal dose of Targretin (40 ppm) in a sensitive breast cancer model [methylnitrosourea (MNU)-induced ER+ mammary cancers] reduced cancer multiplicity by 60%. Finally, based on the hypothesis that Targretin may decrease the expression of COX­2, the effects of Targretin and COX inhibitors were compared in these models. There was minimal overlap of efficacy. That is, models which were relatively susceptible to NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors tended not to be sensitive to Targretin and vice versa.

Determination of resveratrol and its sulfate and glucuronide metabolites in plasma by LC-MS/MS and their pharmacokinetics in dogs.

An analytical approach for the determination of trans-resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) and its glucuronide and sulfate conjugates in dog plasma by LC-MS/MS (without enzymatic hydrolysis of the conjugates) was validated to support pre-clinical toxicological and pharmacological studies. The approach required two independent sample extractions and consequent instrument runs. Samples for resveratrol determination were prepared by protein precipitation with acetonitrile; acetonitrile-methanol was used instead for resveratrol metabolites. Chromatographic separation was performed using a C18 column (30 mm × 2.0 mm) at a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min. For resveratrol the mobile phase consisted of A: 5mM ammonium acetate in water-isopropanol (98:2, v/v) and B: methanol-isopropanol (98:2, v/v) and for metabolites the mobile phase was modified as follows: A: 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in water and B: 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in acetonitrile. Total run time was 12 min for each run with retention times of about 4-5 min for all analytes. A turbo ion spray source was used operating in negative mode for resveratrol and resveratrol sulfate and in positive mode for resveratrol glucuronide. Calibration curves were linear from 5 to 1000 ng/mL for resveratrol and its glucuronide, and 10-2000 ng/mL for resveratrol sulfate. Linearity was assessed using the internal standard method for resveratrol and the external standard method for the metabolites. Method accuracy was 90-112% of the true value for all analytes with precision of 9% RSD or less for all validation experiments. The validated method was applied to a preclinical toxicology study in dogs after oral administration (200-1200 mg/kg) of the agent. Peak plasma resveratrol concentration (C(max)) for most animals was observed within 1-5 h of dosing, with group mean values in the 1.7-9.9 µg/mL (7.5-43 µM) range. Area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) mean values for resveratrol ranged from 3.6 to 44 h µg/mL for all study groups and were generally proportional to the dose, with no consistent statistically significant changes observed for gender or number of doses. Mean molecular-weight adjusted ratios of resveratrol metabolites to resveratrol for AUC ranged from 1 to 9 for resveratrol glucuronide and from 2 to 11 for resveratrol sulfate.