Novel patient-derived xenograft mouse model for pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma demonstrates single agent activity of oxaliplatin.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC) is a rare malignancy, accounting for <1 % of all pancreatic neoplasms. Very few retrospective studies are available to help guide management. We previously reported the case of a patient with metastatic PACC who achieved prolonged survival following doxorubicin treatment. Personalized treatment was based on molecular and in vitro data collected from primary cells developed from their liver metastasis. We now report the characterization of a patient derived tumor xenograft (PDTX) mouse model that originated from this patient's PACC liver metastasis. METHODS: Fragments of biopsy tissue (5 mm(3)) from PACC liver metastasis were implanted into athymic nude mice. Tumors were grown and passaged from the host mice into new mice to be tested for therapeutic response. Immuno-histochemical (IHC) biomarkers were used to confirm that the PDTX model represents human PACC. The antitumor activities of multiple drugs (5-FU, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, gemcitabine, bevacizumab, erlotinib, doxorubicin and imatinib) were tested. Tumor size was measured over 74 days or until they reached an endpoint volume of ~800 mm(3). Tests to measure serum lipase levels and histological analyses of tumor tissues were also conducted to assess PACC progression and re-differentiation. RESULTS: The model presented here expresses the same IHC markers found in human PACC. In the chemotherapy study, oxaliplatin produced a prolonged durable growth response associated with increased apoptosis, decreased serum lipase levels and increased healthy acinar cells. Bevacizumab also produced a significant growth response, but the effect was not prolonged as demonstrated by oxaliplatin treatment. The other chemotherapies had moderate to little effect, particularly after treatment ceased. Mutations in DNA repair genes are common in PACC and increase tumor susceptibility to oxaliplatin. To explore this we performed IHC and found no nuclear expression of BRCA2 in our model, indicating a mutation affecting nuclear localization. Gene sequencing confirms BRCA2 has a homozygous gene deletion on Exon 10, which frequently causes a protein truncation. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, we report the development and characterization of the first and only preclinical PACC PDTX model. Here we show sustained anti-tumor activity of single agent oxaliplatin, a compound that is more effective in tumors that harbor mutations in DNA repair genes. Our data shows that BRCA2 is mutated in our PACC model, which could contribute to the oxaliplatin sensitivity observed. Further studies on this rare PACC model can serve to elucidate other novel therapies, biomarkers, and molecular mechanisms of signaling and drug resistance.

Thienopyrimidine-based dual EGFR/ErbB-2 inhibitors.

Two new series of potent and selective dual EGFR/ErbB-2 kinase inhibitors derived from novel thienopyrimidine cores have been identified. Isomeric thienopyrimidine cores were evaluated as isosteres for a 4-anilinoquinazoline core and several analogs containing the thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine core showed anti-proliferative activity with IC(50) values less than 1 microM against human tumor cells in vitro.

Synthesis and stereochemical effects of pyrrolidinyl-acetylenic thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines as EGFR and ErbB-2 inhibitors.

A novel class of pyrrolidinyl-acetyleneic thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines has been identified which potently inhibit the EGFR and ErbB-2 receptor tyrosine kinases. Synthetic modifications of the pyrrolidine carbamate moiety result in a range of effects on enzyme and cellular potency. In addition, the impact of the absolute stereochemical configuration on cellular potency and oral mouse pharmacokinetics is described.

Evaluation of lapatinib and topotecan combination therapy: tissue culture, murine xenograft, and phase I clinical trial data.

PURPOSE: Topotecan resistance can result from drug efflux by P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) as well as survival signals initiated by epidermal growth factor receptor family members. The present studies were done to determine the effect of combining topotecan and the dual epidermal growth factor receptor/HER2 inhibitor lapatinib in tissue culture, a murine xenograft model, and a phase I clinical trial. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The effects of lapatinib on topotecan accumulation and cytotoxicity in vitro were examined in paired cell lines lacking or expressing Pgp or BCRP. Antiproliferative effects of the combination were assessed in mice bearing HER2+ BT474 breast cancer xenografts. Based on tolerability in this preclinical model, 37 patients with advanced-stage cancers received escalating doses of lapatinib and topotecan in a phase I trial. RESULTS: Lapatinib increased topotecan accumulation in BCRP- or Pgp-expressing cells in vitro, and the combination showed enhanced efficacy in HER2+ BT474 xenografts. In the phase I study, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue were dose limiting. The maximum tolerated doses were 1,250 mg/d lapatinib by mouth for 21 or 28 days with 3.2 mg/m2 topotecan i.v. on days 1, 8, and 15 of 28-day cycles. Pharmacokinetic analyses showed that combined drug administration resulted in decreased topotecan clearance consistent with transporter-mediated interactions. Seventeen (46%) patients had disease stabilization. CONCLUSIONS: The lapatinib/topotecan combination is well tolerated and warrants further study.

Formoterol fumarate and roxithromycin effects on muscle mass in an animal model of cancer cachexia.

Our study probed the effects of the beta-2 adrenergic agonist, formoterol and the macrolide antibiotic, roxithromycin, on muscle wasting in a well-characterized animal model of cancer cachexia. Female Wistar rats were inoculated with Yoshida AH130 ascites hepatoma (AH) cells to induce rapid and severe cachexia as demonstrated by wet weight determinations of the hearts, gastrocnemius muscles and carcasses. The control animals received saline (vehicle) inoculations. The AH-inoculated rats were treated once daily for four days by i.p. injection with a vehicle control, 1 mg/kg formoterol, 5 and 50 mg/kg roxithromycin or 1 mg/kg formoterol plus 5, 25, 40 and 50 mg/kg roxithromycin. The saline-inoculated animals were treated by i.p. injection with vehicle control, 1 mg/kg formoterol, 5 and 40 mg/kg roxithromycin. As a result, formoterol alone reduced the loss of muscle mass in the AH-inoculated rats by approximately one-half, consistent with literature reports. Roxithromycin alone at 5 mg/kg did not affect muscle mass in the AH-inoculated rats. Roxithromycin given alone at 50 mg/kg reduced the loss of muscle mass in AH-inoculated animals by approximately one-half. With respect to the antagonizing muscle loss, formoterol combined with either 5 or 25 mg/kg roxithromycin did not reach statistical significance versus formoterol alone, while formoterol plus either 40 or 50 mg/kg roxithromycin enhanced protection against muscle loss versus formoterol alone. The gastrocnemius weights in the AH-inoculated rats treated with formoterol combined with 40 mg/kg roxithromycin were not significantly different from the muscle weights in the saline-inoculated controls. To sum up, formoterol and roxithromycin apparently exert anti-cachectic effects in an additive fashion and may offer the potential for combination therapy in cachexia.

Activity of the dual kinase inhibitor lapatinib (GW572016) against HER-2-overexpressing and trastuzumab-treated breast cancer cells.

Lapatinib (GW572016) is a selective inhibitor of both epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER-2 tyrosine kinases. Here, we explore the therapeutic potential of lapatinib by testing its effect on tumor cell growth in a panel of 31 characterized human breast cancer cell lines, including trastuzumab-conditioned HER-2-positive cell lines. We further characterize its activity in combination with trastuzumab and analyze whether EGFR and HER-2 expression or changes induced in the activation of EGFR, HER-2, Raf, AKT, or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) are markers of drug activity. We report that concentration-dependent antiproliferative effects of lapatinib were seen in all breast cancer cell lines tested but varied significantly between individual cell lines with up to 1,000-fold difference in the IC(50)s (range, 0.010-18.6 micromol/L). Response to lapatinib was significantly correlated with HER-2 expression and its ability to inhibit HER-2, Raf, AKT, and ERK phosphorylation. Long-term in vivo lapatinib studies were conducted with human breast cancer xenografts in athymic mice. Treatment over 77 days resulted in a sustained and significant reduction in xenograft volume compared with untreated controls. For the combination of lapatinib plus trastuzumab, synergistic drug interactions were observed in four different HER-2-overexpressing cell lines. Moreover, lapatinib retained significant in vitro activity against cell lines selected for long-term outgrowth (>9 months) in trastuzumab-containing (100 microg/mL) culture medium. These observations provide a clear biological rationale to test lapatinib as a single agent or in combination with trastuzumab in HER-2-overexpressing breast cancer and in patients with clinical resistance to trastuzumab.

Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic correlation from mouse to human with pazopanib, a multikinase angiogenesis inhibitor with potent antitumor and antiangiogenic activity.

With the development of targeted therapeutics, especially for small-molecule inhibitors, it is important to understand whether the observed in vivo efficacy correlates with the modulation of desired/intended target in vivo. We have developed a small-molecule inhibitor of all three vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors (VEGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and c-Kit tyrosine kinases, pazopanib (GW786034), which selectively inhibits VEGF-induced endothelial cell proliferation. It has good oral exposure and inhibits angiogenesis and tumor growth in mice. Because bolus administration of the compound results in large differences in C(max) and C(trough), we investigated the effect of continuous infusion of a VEGFR inhibitor on tumor growth and angiogenesis. GW771806, which has similar enzyme and cellular profiles to GW786034, was used for these studies due to higher solubility requirements for infusion studies. Comparing the pharmacokinetics by two different routes of administration (bolus p.o. dosing and continuous infusion), we showed that the antitumor and antiangiogenic activity of VEGFR inhibitors is dependent on steady-state concentration of the compound above a threshold. The steady-state concentration required for these effects is consistent with the concentration required for the inhibition of VEGF-induced VEGFR2 phosphorylation in mouse lungs. Furthermore, the steady-state concentration of pazopanib determined from preclinical activity showed a strong correlation with the pharmacodynamic effects and antitumor activity in the phase I clinical trial.

Anti-tumor activity of GW572016: a dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor blocks EGF activation of EGFR/erbB2 and downstream Erk1/2 and AKT pathways.

Dual EGFR/erbB2 inhibition is an attractive therapeutic strategy for epithelial tumors, as ligand-induced erbB2/EGFR heterodimerization triggers potent proliferative and survival signals. Here we show that a small molecule, GW572016, potently inhibits both EGFR and erbB2 tyrosine kinases leading to growth arrest and/or apoptosis in EGFR and erbB2-dependent tumor cell lines. GW572016 markedly reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR and erbB2, and inhibited activation of Erk1/2 and AKT, downstream effectors of proliferation and cell survival, respectively. Complete inhibition of activated AKT in erbB2 overexpressing cells correlated with a 23-fold increase in apoptosis compared with vehicle controls. EGF, often elevated in cancer patients, did not reverse the inhibitory effects of GW572016. These observations were reproduced in vivo, where GW572016 treatment inhibited activation of EGFR, erbB2, Erk1/2 and AKT in human tumor xenografts. Erk1/2 and AKT represent potential biomarkers to assess the clinical activity of GW572016. Inhibition of activated AKT in EGFR or erbB2-dependent tumors by GW572016 may lead to tumor regressions when used as a monotherapy, or may enhance the anti-tumor activity of chemotherapeutics, since constitutive activation of AKT has been linked to chemo-resistance.

Discovery and biological evaluation of potent dual ErbB-2/EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors: 6-thiazolylquinazolines.

We have identified a novel class of 6-thiazolylquinazolines as potent and selective inhibitors of both ErbB-2 and EGFR tyrosine kinase activity, with IC(50) values in the nanomolar range. These compounds inhibited the growth of both EGFR (HN5) and ErbB-2 (BT474) over-expressing human tumor cell lines in vitro. Using xenograft models of the same cell lines, we found that the compounds given orally inhibited in vivo tumor growth significantly compared with control animals.