Angiogenesis & Vasculature

About

Overview Tumor angiogenesis (blood vessel formation) and tumor vasculature have recently emerged as important targets in cancer treatment, applicable to multiple tumor types. Enzymes, specifically expressed in endothelial and sub-endothelial cells during tumor angiogenesis but not in normal vasculature represent an important target for inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis. The recent advance in identifying the role played by tubulin inhibitors in causing tumor vasculature shutdown also represents an attractive target for inhibiting tumor angiogenesis/vasculature. Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have developed novel hybrid inhibitors of tumor angiogenesis and vasculature with a dual mechanism of action, namely prevention of tubulin polymerization and enzyme inhibition. These novel compounds have the necessary built-in functionality to (i) inhibit endothelial cell proliferation and motility, (iii) prevent capillary tube formation, and (iv) cause tumour vasculature shutdown. Advantages The dual-mechanism of action compounds will target the tumour more effectively than drugs which only target one specific mode of action. The chemistry of these compounds is versatile such that pro drug variations can be synthesized. The novel anti-tubulin component of the hybrid is more efficacious than current therapies such as combrestatin A-4 and as this technology is a monotherapy and will be less toxic than cocktail therapies that are currently being employed. Development Stage The efficacy of the compounds at nanomolar concentrations has been demonstrated successfully in vitro utilizing tubulin polymerizeration assays. Lead compounds have been tested successfully in ex vivo aortic ring. Further developmental work is currently underway to examine the compounds for efficacy and toxicity in a variety of animal tumor models in vivo. Principal Inventor(s) Dr. John Walsh