Simultaneous hyperthermia-chemotherapy effect by arterial injection of Fe(Salen) for femur tumor.

We previously identified a novel nanomagnetic particle, N,N'-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine iron [Fe(Salen)]. Fe(Salen) not only shows antitumor effects but also magnetic properties. We found that Fe(Salen) can be used for magnet-guided drug delivery and visualization of accumulated drug by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) because of its magnetism. In addition, Fe(Salen) can generate heat by itself when exposed to an alternating current magnetic field (AMF), resulting in a hyperthermia effect. Herein, we partly elucidated the antitumor mechanism of Fe(Salen) and carried out an i.v. repeated dose toxicity study to decide the therapeutic amount. Furthermore, we evaluated the antitumor effect of selective intra-arterial injection or i.v. injection of Fe(Salen) by catheter and the hyperthermia effect of Fe(Salen) when exposed to AMF in vivo. We used a rabbit model grafted with VX2 cells (rabbit squamous cell carcinoma) on the right leg. Intra-arterial injection of Fe(Salen) showed a greater antitumor effect than did i.v. injection. The combination of Fe(Salen) intra-arterial injection and AMF exposure showed a greater antitumor effect than did either Fe(Salen) or methotrexate (MTX) without AMF exposure, suggesting that AMF exposure greatly enhanced the antitumor effect of Fe(Salen) by arterial injection by catheter. This is the first report that the effectiveness of Fe(Salen) was evaluated in the point of administration route; that is, selective intra-arterial injection by catheter. Taken together, these results indicate a new administration route; that is, selective arterial injection of Fe(Salen) by catheter, and the development of a new strategy of simultaneous hyperthermia-chemotherapy in the future.

The iron chelating agent, deferoxamine detoxifies Fe(Salen)-induced cytotoxicity.

Iron-salen, i.e., µ-oxo-N,N'-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine iron (Fe(Salen)) was a recently identified as a new anti-cancer compound with intrinsic magnetic properties. Chelation therapy has been widely used in management of metallic poisoning, because an administration of agents that bind metals can prevent potential lethal effects of particular metal. In this study, we confirmed the therapeutic effect of deferoxamine mesylate (DFO) chelation against Fe(Salen) as part of the chelator antidote efficacy. DFO administration resulted in reduced cytotoxicity and ROS generation by Fe(Salen) in cancer cells. DFO (25 mg/kg) reduced the onset of Fe(Salen) (25 mg/kg)-induced acute liver and renal dysfunction. DFO (300 mg/kg) improves survival rate after systematic injection of a fatal dose of Fe(Salen) (200 mg/kg) in mice. DFO enables the use of higher Fe(Salen) doses to treat progressive states of cancer, and it also appears to decrease the acute side effects of Fe(Salen). This makes DFO a potential antidote candidate for Fe(Salen)-based cancer treatments, and this novel strategy could be widely used in minimally-invasive clinical settings.

Establishment of successively transplantable rabbit VX2 cancer cells that express enhanced green fluorescent protein.

Morphological detection of cancer cells in the rabbit VX2 allograft transplantation model is often difficult in a certain region such as serosal cavity where reactive mesothelial cells mimic cancer cells and both cells share common markers such as cytokeratins. Therefore, tagging VX2 cells with a specific and sensitive marker that easily distinguishes them from other cells would be advantageous. Thus, we tried to establish a successively transplantable, enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-expressing VX2 model. Cancer cells obtained from a conventional VX2-bearing rabbit were cultured in vitro and transfected with an EGFP-encoding vector, and then successively transplanted in Healthy Japanese White rabbits (HJWRs) (n = 8). Besides, conventional VX2 cells were transplanted in other HJWRs (n = 8). Clinicopathological comparison analyses were performed between the two groups. The success rate of transplantation was 100% for both groups. The sensitivity and specificity of EGFP for immunohistochemical detection of VX2 cells were 84.3 and 100%, respectively. No significant differences in cancer cell morphology, tumor size (P = 0.742), Ki-67 labeling index (P = 0.878), or survival rate (P = 0.592) were observed between the two. VX2 cells can be genetically altered, visualized by EGFP, and successively transplanted without significant alteration of morphological and biological properties compared to those of the conventional model.

[A case of primary lung adenocarcinoma accompanied by Ewing's sarcoma successfully treated with ifosfamide].

We report a patient with primary lung adenocarcinoma who had Ewing's sarcoma and was successfully treated with ifosfamide. A 56-year-old Japanese man was referred to the Orthopedic Department of our hospital with a complaint of pain on his hip, ischuria, and dyschezia (vesicorectal disorder). MRI showed a mass in the sacrum. Open biopsy revealed Ewing's sarcoma (T2N0M0G4, Stage II B). Chest CT to screen showed an abnormal shadow in the left pulmonary lower lobe (S10). Bronchoscopic examination revealed primary lung adenocarcinoma(cT2N0M0, Stage I B). Because of a severe hip pain, treatment for Ewing's sarcoma by high-dose ifosfamide (day 1: 4 g/m2/day --> day 2-7: 2 g/m2/day: total 14 g/m2) was given in one course before lung surgery. The lung adenocarcinoma became small, the reduction ratio of the tumor was 26.5% and the tumor changed into a cavity. No serious adverse effect was observed.

Simultaneous hyperthermia-chemotherapy with controlled drug delivery using single-drug nanoparticles.

We previously investigated the utility of µ-oxo N,N'- bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine iron (Fe(Salen)) nanoparticles as a new anti-cancer agent for magnet-guided delivery with anti-cancer activity. Fe(Salen) nanoparticles should rapidly heat up in an alternating magnetic field (AMF), and we hypothesized that these single-drug nanoparticles would be effective for combined hyperthermia-chemotherapy. Conventional hyperthermic particles are usually made of iron oxide, and thus cannot exhibit anti-cancer activity in the absence of an AMF. We found that Fe(Salen) nanoparticles induced apoptosis in cultured cancer cells, and that AMF exposure enhanced the apoptotic effect. Therefore, we evaluated the combined three-fold strategy, i.e., chemotherapy with Fe(Salen) nanoparticles, magnetically guided delivery of the nanoparticles to the tumor, and AMF-induced heating of the nanoparticles to induce local hyperthermia, in a rabbit model of tongue cancer. Intravenous administration of Fe(Salen) nanoparticles per se inhibited tumor growth before the other two modalities were applied. This inhibition was enhanced when a magnet was used to accumulate Fe(Salen) nanoparticles at the tongue. When an AMF was further applied (magnet-guided chemotherapy plus hyperthermia), the tumor masses were dramatically reduced. These results indicate that our strategy of combined hyperthermia-chemotherapy using Fe(Salen) nanoparticles specifically delivered with magnetic guidance represents a powerful new approach for cancer treatment.

A magnetic anti-cancer compound for magnet-guided delivery and magnetic resonance imaging.

Research on controlled drug delivery for cancer chemotherapy has focused mainly on ways to deliver existing anti-cancer drug compounds to specified targets, e.g., by conjugating them with magnetic particles or encapsulating them in micelles. Here, we show that an iron-salen, i.e., µ-oxo N,N'- bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine iron (Fe(Salen)), but not other metal salen derivatives, intrinsically exhibits both magnetic character and anti-cancer activity. X-Ray crystallographic analysis and first principles calculations based on the measured structure support this. It promoted apoptosis of various cancer cell lines, likely, via production of reactive oxygen species. In mouse leg tumor and tail melanoma models, Fe(Salen) delivery with magnet caused a robust decrease in tumor size, and the accumulation of Fe(Salen) was visualized by magnetic resonance imaging. Fe(Salen) is an anti-cancer compound with magnetic property, which is suitable for drug delivery and imaging. We believe such magnetic anti-cancer drugs have the potential to greatly advance cancer chemotherapy for new theranostics and drug-delivery strategies.

Effect of ascorbic acid on reactive oxygen species production in chemotherapy and hyperthermia in prostate cancer cells.

Cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is increased by both temperature and anticancer drugs. Antioxidants are known to suppress ROS production while cancer patients may take them as dietary supplement during chemotherapy and hyperthermic therapy. We examined changes in ROS production in prostate cancer cells in the presence of various anticancer drugs and antioxidants at different temperatures. ROS production was increased with temperature in cancer cells, but not in normal cells; this increase was potently inhibited by ascorbic acid. ROS production was also increased in the presence of some anticancer drugs, such as vinblastine, but not by others. Dietary antioxidant supplements, such as ß-carotene, showed variable effects. Ascorbic acid potently inhibited ROS production, even in the presence of anticancer drugs, while ß-carotene showed no inhibition. Accordingly, our results suggest that cancer patients should carefully choose antioxidants during their cancer chemotherapy and/or hyperthermic therapy.