Inhibition of cysteine cathepsin protease activity enhances chemotherapy regimens by decreasing tumor growth and invasiveness in a mouse model of multistage cancer Journal Article


Authors: Bell-Mcguinn, K. M.; Garfall, A. L.; Bogyo, M.; Hanahan, D.; Joyce, J. A.
Article Title: Inhibition of cysteine cathepsin protease activity enhances chemotherapy regimens by decreasing tumor growth and invasiveness in a mouse model of multistage cancer
Abstract: Increases in protease expression and activity are associated with malignant progression and poor patient prognosis in a number of human cancers. Members of the papain family of cysteine cathepsins are among the protease classes that have been functionally implicated in cancer. Inhibition of the cysteine cathepsin family using a pan-cathepsin inhibitor, JPM-OEt, led to tumor regression in the RIP1-Tag2 (RT2) mouse model of pancreatic islet cell tumorigenesis. The present study was designed to determine whether this cathepsin inhibitor, when used in combination with chemotherapy, would increase antitumor efficacy. RT2 mice were treated in a late-stage regression trial with three different chemotherapy regimens, alone or in combination with the cathepsin inhibitor, JPM-OEt. Cyclophosphamide was administered in either a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) regimen, a "metronomic" continuous low-dose regimen, or a "chemoswitch" regimen consisting of MTD followed by metronomic dosing. Mice were sacrificed at a defined end point and tumor burden was assessed followed by a detailed analysis of cell proliferation, apoptosis, vascularization, and invasiveness in the treated and control lesions. An additional cohort of mice was followed for survival analysis. The cathepsin inhibitor plus the chemo-switch regimen of cyclophosphamide led to the most pronounced reduction in tumor burden and greatest increase in overall survival. Cysteine cathepsin inhibition resulted in a significant decrease in tumor invasiveness, which was further augmented in combination with each of the chemotherapy dosing regimens. These results encourage the development and continuing evaluation of cysteine cathepsin inhibitors as cancer therapeutics. ©2007 American Association for Cancer Research.
Keywords: cancer chemotherapy; cancer survival; controlled study; overall survival; drug efficacy; nonhuman; pancreatic neoplasms; cell proliferation; mouse; animals; mice; animal tissue; apoptosis; multiple cycle treatment; models, biological; tumor volume; animal experiment; animal model; cyclophosphamide; antineoplastic activity; cysteine proteinase inhibitors; neovascularization, pathologic; cancer model; cancer invasion; cancer regression; drug therapy, combination; tumor burden; antineoplastic agents, alkylating; cathepsin; proteinase; cathepsins; maximum tolerated dose; drug dose regimen; tumor vascularization; proteinase inhibitor; cysteine; pancreas islet cell carcinoma; islets of langerhans; proteinase inhibition
Journal Title: Cancer Research
Volume: 67
Issue: 15
ISSN: 0008-5472
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research  
Date Published: 2007-08-01
Start Page: 7378
End Page: 7385
Language: English
DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-07-0602
PUBMED: 17671208
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 23" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "CODEN: CNREA" - "Source: Scopus"
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Johanna A Joyce
    67 Joyce