Effect of pH and human serum albumin on the cytotoxicity of a glucuronide prodrug of 9-aminocamptothecin

Targeted internalization and activation of glycosidic switch liposomes by a biological macromolecule mPEG×EphA2 increases therapeutic efficacy against lung cancer

Glycosidic switch liposome (GSL) technology efficiently encapsulates and stabilizes potent anticancer drugs in liposomes using a reversible glucuronide ester. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the glucuronide switch in target cell lysosomes produces parental drug. Our study examined the potential of a bispecific macromolecule, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) engager (mPEG×EphA2), generated by fusing a humanized anti-methoxy PEG (mPEG) Fab with an anti-EphA2 single-chain antibody, to increase GSL uptake into cancer cells and boost the anticancer activity by targeting PEG on GSL and an internalizing tumor antigen. Combining GSL with the PEG engager creates αEphA2/GSL, targeting cancer cells to generate topoisomerase I poison 9-aminocamptothecin (9 AC) for cell killing. Targeted liposomes can bind CL1-5 human lung adenocarcinoma cells and increase GSL internalization from 0 % to 62.4 % in 60 min. αEphA2/GSL showed slightly higher cellular cytotoxicity than non-targeted GSL, but targeted GSL increased 9 AC intratumoral concentrations by 8.4 fold at 24 h. The 9 AC tumor/blood ratio of αEphA2/GSL was nearly 6-fold higher than αDNS/GSL (control engager GSL). Using targeted GSL, five of seven mice with solid CL1-5 tumors were cured. The mPEG×EphA2 engager can enhance GSL drug uptake and generation, boosting lung cancer treatment efficacy, suggesting that αEphA2/GSL is a promising treatment for tumors overexpressing EphA2.

The role of acid-base imbalance in statin-induced myotoxicity

Disturbances in acid-base balance, such as acidosis and alkalosis, have potential to alter the pharmacologic and toxicologic outcomes of statin therapy. Statins are commonly prescribed for elderly patients who have multiple comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular, and renal diseases. These patients are at risk of developing acid-base imbalance. In the present study, the effect of disturbances in acid-base balance on the interconversion of simvastatin and pravastatin between lactone and hydroxy acid forms have been investigated in physiological buffers, human plasma, and cell culture medium over pH ranging from 6.8-7.8. The effects of such interconversion on cellular uptake and myotoxicity of statins were assessed in vitro using C2C12 skeletal muscle cells under conditions relevant to acidosis, alkalosis, and physiological pH. Results indicate that the conversion of the lactone forms of simvastatin and pravastatin to the corresponding hydroxy acid is strongly pH dependent. At physiological and alkaline pH, substantial proportions of simvastatin lactone (SVL; ∼87% and 99%, respectively) and pravastatin lactone (PVL; ∼98% and 99%, respectively) were converted to the active hydroxy acid forms after 24 hours of incubation at 37°C. At acidic pH, conversion occurs to a lower extent, resulting in greater proportion of statin remaining in the more lipophilic lactone form. However, pH alteration did not influence the conversion of the hydroxy acid forms of simvastatin and pravastatin to the corresponding lactones. Furthermore, acidosis has been shown to hinder the metabolism of the lactone form of statins by inhibiting hepatic microsomal enzyme activities. Lipophilic SVL was found to be more cytotoxic to undifferentiated and differentiated skeletal muscle cells compared with more hydrophilic simvastatin hydroxy acid, PVL, and pravastatin hydroxy acid. Enhanced cytotoxicity of statins was observed under acidic conditions and is attributed to increased cellular uptake of the more lipophilic lactone or unionized hydroxy acid form. Consequently, our results suggest that comorbidities associated with acid-base imbalance can play a substantial role in the development and potentiation of statin-induced myotoxicity.

Antiangiogenesis targeting tumor microenvironment synergizes glucuronide prodrug antitumor activity

PURPOSE

This study is aimed at investigating the in vivo antitumor activity of a novel cell-impermeable glucuronide prodrug, 9-aminocamptothecin glucuronide (9ACG), and elucidating the synergistically antitumor effects of antiangiogenesis therapy by targeting the tumor microenvironment.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We analyzed the antitumor effects of 9ACG alone or combined with antiangiogenic monoclonal antibody DC101 on human tumor xenografts by measuring tumor growth and mouse survival in BALB/c nu/nu nude and NOD/SCID mice. The drug delivery, immune response, and angiogenesis status in treated tumors were assessed by high performance liquid chromatography, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence assays.

RESULTS

We developed a nontoxic and cell-impermeable glucuronide prodrug, 9ACG, which can only be activated by extracellular beta-glucuronidase to become severely toxic. 9ACG possesses potent antitumor activity against human tumor xenografts in BALB/c nu/nu nude mice but not for tumors implanted in NOD/SCID mice deficient in macrophages and neutrophils, suggesting that these cells play an important role in activating 9ACG in the tumor microenvironment. Most importantly, antiangiogenic monoclonal antibody DC101 potentiated single-dose 9ACG antitumor activity and prolonged survival of mice bearing resistant human colon tumor xenografts by providing strong beta-glucuronidase activity and prodrug delivery through enhancing inflammatory cell infiltration and normalizing tumor vessels in the tumor microenvironment. We also show that inflammatory cells (neutrophils) were highly infiltrated in advanced human colon cancer tissues compared with normal counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides in vivo evidence that 9ACG has potential for prodrug monotherapy or in combination with antiangiognesis treatment for tumors with infiltration of macrophage or neutrophil inflammatory cells.