Inhibition of Angiogenesis by the Antiepidermal Growth Factor Receptor Antibody ImClone C225 in Androgen-independent Prostate Cancer Growing Orthotopically in Nude Mice

• Published in: Clinical cancer research 2002-05, Vol.8 (5), p.1253-1264
• Main Authors: KARASHIMA, Takashi, SWEENEY, Paul, DINNEY, Colin P. N, SLATON, Joel W, KIM, Sun J, KEDAR, Daniel, IZAWA, Jonathan I, ZHEN FAN, PETTAWAY, Curtis, HICKLIN, Daniel J, SHUIN, Taro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Androgens - physiology; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - pharmacology; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal - pharmacology; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic agents; Apoptosis - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Vessels - drug effects; Blood Vessels - pathology; Cell Cycle Proteins - drug effects; Cell Cycle Proteins - metabolism; Cell Division - drug effects; Cetuximab; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Epidermal Growth Factor - pharmacology; Humans; Immunotherapy; Interleukin-8 - blood; Interleukin-8 - genetics; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Neoplasm Metastasis - prevention & control; Neoplasm Transplantation; Neovascularization, Pathologic - prevention & control; Paclitaxel - pharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phosphorylation - drug effects; Prostatic Neoplasms - blood supply; Prostatic Neoplasms - drug therapy; Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - immunology; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - drug effects; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Suppressor Proteins - drug effects; Tumor Suppressor Proteins - metabolism; Tyrosine - metabolism; Up-Regulation; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
• ISSN: 1078-0432; 1557-3265

In human androgen-independent prostate cancer (PCa), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) regulates angiogenesis, tumor growth, and progression. In this study, we evaluated whether the blockade of EGFR by the anti-EGFR antibody ImClone C225 (IMC-C225) inhibited tumor growth and metastasis by inhibiting angiogenesis, and whether paclitaxel enhanced the results of therapy in androgen-independent PCa. PC-3M-LN4 PCa cells were implanted orthotopically in athymic nude mice and treated with i.p. IMC-C225 (1 mg twice a week) and/or paclitaxel (200 μg once a week). In vitro treatment of PC-3M-LN4 with IMC-C225 inhibited EGFR autophosphorylation without any significant antiproliferative effect. In contrast, in vivo therapy with IMC-C225 alone ( P < 0.05) or in combination with paclitaxel ( P < 0.005) significantly inhibited PCa growth and metastasis. Serum levels of interleukin (IL) 8 were lower after therapy, and IL-8 mRNA expression was down-regulated within the tumors after therapy. The down-regulation of IL-8 correlated with reduced microvessel density. IMC-C225 reduced tumor cell proliferation, enhanced p27 kip1 expression, and induced tumor and endothelial cell apoptosis. These studies indicate that IMC-C225 has significant antitumor effect in this murine model, mediated in part by inhibition of cellular proliferation and angiogenesis, and by enhancement of apoptosis. The simultaneous administration of paclitaxel enhanced this effect.