SarCNU

Gateways to Clinical Trials are a guide to the most recent clinical trials in current literature and congresses. The data the following tables have been retrieved from the Clinical Trials Knowledge Area of Prous Science Integrity, the drug discovery and development portal, http://integrity.prous.com. This issues focuses on the following selection of drugs: (-)-Epigallocatechin gallate, (-)-gossypol, 2-deoxyglucose, 3,4-DAP, 7-monohydroxyethylrutoside; Ad5CMV-p53, adalimumab, adefovir dipivoxil, ADH-1, alemtuzumab, aliskiren fumarate, alvocidib hydrochloride, aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride, aminolevulinic acid methyl ester, amrubicin hydrochloride, AN-152, anakinra, anecortave acetate, antiasthma herbal medicine intervention, AP-12009, AP-23573, apaziquone, aprinocarsen sodium, AR-C126532, AR-H065522, aripiprazole, armodafinil, arzoxifene hydrochloride, atazanavir sulfate, atilmotin, atomoxetine hydrochloride, atorvastatin, avanafil, azimilide hydrochloride; Bevacizumab, biphasic insulin aspart, BMS-214662, BN-83495, bortezomib, bosentan, botulinum toxin type B; Caspofungin acetate, cetuximab, chrysin, ciclesonide, clevudine, clofarabine, clopidogrel, CNF-1010, CNTO-328, CP-751871, CX-717, Cypher; Dapoxetine hydrochloride, darifenacin hydrobromide, dasatinib, deferasirox, dextofisopam, dextromethorphan/quinidine sulfate, diclofenac, dronedarone hydrochloride, drotrecogin alfa (activated), duloxetine hydrochloride, dutasteride; Edaravone, efaproxiral sodium, emtricitabine, entecavir, eplerenone, epratuzumab, erlotinib hydrochloride, escitalopram oxalate, etoricoxib, ezetimibe, ezetimibe/simvastatin; Finrozole, fipamezole hydrochloride, fondaparinux sodium, fulvestrant; Gabapentin enacarbil, gaboxadol, gefitinib, gestodene, ghrelin (human); Human insulin, human papillomavirus vaccine; Imatinib mesylate, immunoglobulin intravenous (human), indiplon, insulin detemir, insulin glargine, insulin glulisine, intranasal insulin, istradefylline, i.v. gamma-globulin, ivabradine hydrochloride, ixabepilone; LA-419, lacosamide, landiolol, lanthanum carbonate, lidocaine/prilocaine, liposomal cisplatin, lutropin alfa; Matuzumab, MBP(82-98), mecasermin, MGCD-0103, MMR-V, morphine hydrochloride, mycophenolic acid sodium salt; Natalizumab, NCX-4016, neridronic acid, nesiritide, nilotinib, NSC-330507; O6-benzylguanine, olanzapine/fluoxetine hydrochloride, omalizumab; Panitumumab, parathyroid hormone (human recombinant), parecoxib sodium, PEG-filgrastim, peginterferon alfa-2a, peginterferon alfa-2b, pegvisomant, pemetrexed disodium, perospirone hydrochloride, pexelizumab, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine, posaconazole, pramiconazole, prasugrel, pregabalin, prilocaine; rAAV-GAD65, raclopride, rasagiline mesilate, retapamulin, rosuvastatin calcium, rotigotine, rufinamide; SarCNU, SB-743921, SHL-749, sirolimus-eluting stent, sitaxsentan sodium, sorafenib; TachoSil, tadalafil, talampanel, Taxus, tegaserod maleate, telithromycin, telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide, temsirolimus, tenatoprazole, teriflunomide, tetrathiomolybdate, ticilimumab, timcodar dimesilate, tipifarnib, tirapazamine, TPI, tramiprosate, trifluridine/TPI, trimethoprim; Ularitide, Urocortin 2; Valdecoxib, valganciclovir hydrochloride, valproate magnesium, valspodar, vardenafil hydrochloride hydrate, vitespen, vofopitant hydrochloride, volociximab, vorinostat; Yttrium 90 (90Y) ibritumomab tiuxetan; Ziprasidone hydrochloride, zotarolimus, zotarolimus-eluting stent.

Purpose: Our aims were to establish and characterize primary human hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts. They were used to screen new drugs and improve our current treatment regimens used in hepatocellular carcinoma.Experimental Design: Primary hepatocellular carcinomas were used to create the xenografts. Western blotting was used to determine the changes in proteins in these xenografts before and after therapies. Apoptotic and cell proliferation were analyzed by immunohistochemistry.Results: Seven lines of xenografts were established from primary human hepatocellular carcinomas. Lines 4-1318, 2-1318, 2006, and 26-1004 grew rapidly in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice and doubled its volume every 48 to 72 hours. Series 5-1318 (5-1318, 30-1004, and 29-1104) grew relatively slowly in SCID mice and required ∼6 to 10 days to double its tumor volume. Western blot analysis revealed that the growth rate of these xenografts was associated with abnormal expression of proteins associated with the cell cycle, signaling pathways, and tumor suppressor genes. Although hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts expressed the receptors for androgens, estrogens, and progesterone, their growth rate was not affected by either castration or sex steroid hormone supplementation. Cisplatin, oxaliplatin, vitamin D analogue EB1089, and Iressa had no effects on the growth rate in SCID mice. Although 5-fluorouracil exerted mild growth inhibition of these xenografts, i.p. delivery of 2-chloroethyl-3-sarcosinamide-1-nitrosourea (SarCNU) or doxorubicin resulted in a significant growth inhibition. Doxorubicin-induced growth suppression was associated with elevation of p53 and p21Cip1/Waf1. In addition to up-regulation of p53 and p21Cip1/Waf1, SarCNU also increased the levels of phosphorylated cdc-2 at Tyr15.Conclusion: Hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts are powerful tools for screening drugs and SarCNU may be useful in the treatment of this fatal disease.