Site-directed delivery of VEGF-targeted liposomes into intracranial C6 glioma.

The efficiency of conventional chemotherapy for aggressive tumors in the CNS remains low and new strategies for the targeted delivery of anti-tumor substances are now actively developed. Pegylated liposomes covalently conjugated with monoclonal antibodies to VEGF synthesized by us are nanoparticle characterized by narrow size distribution and high dispersion stability. Immunochemical activity of antibodies after conjugation was 70% of initial level. The anti-VEGF liposomes developed by us were highly specific for VEGF(+) tumor cells (in vitro and in vivo). Intravenous injection of VEGF-liposomes to rats with intracranial C6 glioma was followed by their specific accumulation in the malignant tissues and engulfment by glioma cells, which attested to target delivery and selective accumulation of anti-VEGF-liposomes in the brain tumor. Thus, the use of targeting molecules can significantly increase the distribution and efficiency of delivery of nanocontainers to a tumor characterized by hyperexpression of the target proteins.

Generation of recombinant extracellular fragment of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and specific monoclonal antibodies to this receptor.

cDNA extracellular Ig-like domains I-III of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) was cloned in an expressing vector pET_32a. Western blotting showed immunochemical identity of recombinant VEGFR2I-III produced by prokaryotic expression system to the native receptor. BALB/c mice were immunized with VEGFR2I-III for obtaining specific antibodies to VEGFR2. Hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies were selected by ELISA, Western blotting, and immunocytochemical assay. Thus, we obtained hybridoma producing monoclonal antibodies to VEGFR2 that selectively interact with both recombinant and native extracellular fragment of the receptor.

[VEGFRs in neoplastic angiogenesis and prospects for therapy of brain tumors].

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common type of primary brain cancer that characterized by poor prognosis due to the rapid progression, active angiogenesis, enhanced tumor cell invasion and the emergence of resistance toward conventional therapy. In this connection, nowadays, new approaches for selective inhibition of crucial steps in tumor progression are actively developing. The key feature of tumor growth and development is angiogenesis. VEGF and its receptor VEGFR2 play the pivotal role in regulation of tumor vessel formation. Therefore, VEGFR2, as the main receptor of VEGF's pro-angiogenic signal transducer, is a promising molecular target for anti-angiogenic therapy. There is evidence that inhibitors of VEGF and VEGFR2 reduce endothelial cell proliferation, migration and survival that lead to regression of vessel density and decrease vascular permeability, thereby slowing tumor growth. Currently, a number of VEGFR2 inhibitors are under clinical trials (ramucirumab, cediranib) and several were approved (sunitinib, sorafenib). Despite the promising results of preclinical studies, the efficacy of antiangiogenic drugs in the clinical practice is significantly lower, mainly, due to rapid adaptation of malignant cells that consists of alternative pro-angiogenic pathways activation, recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells from bone marrow and increasing of the invasive growth. Given the diversity of pro-angiogenic mechanisms, enhancement of the efficacy of tumor therapy could be achieved by specific inhibition of VEGFR2 functions that will be supplemented by other antiangiogenic drugs (anti-VEGF,-PIGF,-HIF1alpha). In addition, multitargeting therapy should focus on the combined inhibition of angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, proliferation and survival of tumor cells.

Generation of monoclonal antibodies to recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor.

Female BALB/c mice were subcutaneously immunized with recombinant VEGF-164. After 3 immunization cycles, splenic B cells from immunized mouse were fused with immortalized myeloma culture SP2/0-Ag14 cells. Screening of hybrid cells producing anti-VEGF antibodies was performed by ELISA and immunocytochemical analysis on cultured C6 glioma cells. Subsequent cloning yielded hybridoma stably expressing monoclonal anti-VEGF antibodies recognizing recombinant and native VEGF.

Ligand-receptor assay for evaluation of functional activity of human recombinant VEGF and VEGFR-1 extracellular fragment.

cDNA encoding VEGF and Ig-like extracellular domains 2-4 of VEGFR-1 (sFlt-1(2-4)) were cloned into prokaryotic expression vectors pET32a and pQE60. Recombinant proteins were purified (metal affinity chromatography) and renatured. Chemiluminescent study for the interaction of recombinant VEGF and sFlt-1(2-4) showed that biotinylated VEGF specifically binds to the polystyrene-immobilized receptor extracellular fragment. Biotinylated recombinant sFlt-1 interacts with immobilized VEGF. Analysis of the interaction of immobilized recombinant VEGFR-1 and VEGF with C6 glioma cells labeled with CFDA-SE (vital fluorescent dye) showed that recombinant VEGFR-1 also binds to native membrane-associated VEGF. Recombinant VEGF was shown to bind to specific receptors expressed on the surface of C6 glioma cells. Functional activity of these proteins was confirmed by ligand-receptor assay for VEGF and VEGFR-1 (sFlt-1) and quantitative chemiluminescent detection.

Visualization of experimental glioma C6 by MRI with magnetic nanoparticles conjugated with monoclonal antibodies to vascular endothelial growth factor.

We developed a method for obtaining iron oxide nanoparticles and their conjugation with monoclonal antibodies to vascular endothelial growth factor. The resultant vector nanoparticles were low-toxic and the antibodies retained their immunochemical activity after conjugation. The study was carried out on rats with intracranial glioma C6 on day 14 after its implantation. The intravenously injected nanoparticles visualized the brain tumor in contrast to nanoparticles conjugated with nonspecific immunoglobulins that did not accumulate in the tumor.

[VEGF in neoplastic angiogenesis].

Solid tumor progression largely depends on vascularization and angiogenesis in the malignant tissue. The most prominent among all proangiogenic factors is vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF). VEGF suppression leads to retrogression of neoplastic vessels and tumor growth restriction. Clinical trials of complex antiangiogenic and chemical therapy of different neoplastic tumors have shown promising results. Nowadays bevacizumab is widely used in breast cancer, colorectal cancer and II-IV stage of malignancy gliomas treatment. Unfortunately, in the majority of cases antiangiogenic treatment led not to full recovery, but only to tumor development restriction. Resistance mechanisms include potentiating of alternative proangiogenic signaling pathways and activation of malignant cell invasive population.