Nab-paclitaxel efficacy in the orthotopic model of human breast cancer is significantly enhanced by concurrent anti-vascular endothelial growth factor A therapy

Neoplasia. 2008 Jun;10(6):613-23. doi: 10.1593/neo.08302.

Abstract

Nab-paclitaxel is an albumin-bound 130-nm particle form of paclitaxel that has shown an improved efficacy in experimental tumor models and clinical studies compared with solvent-based paclitaxel. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) antibody bevacizumab is known to enhance antitumor activity of cytotoxic drugs. This study evaluated the effects of combined nab-paclitaxel and bevacizumab therapy on growth and metastatic spread of orthotopic breast tumors. Cytotoxic and clonogenic assays measured VEGF-A-dependent modulation of nabpaclitaxel toxicity on cultured tumor cells. Antitumor effects were assessed in mice with luciferase-tagged, well-established MDA-MB-231 tumors (250-310 mm3) treated with one, two, or three cycles of nab-paclitaxel (10 mg/kg, daily for five consecutive days), bevacizumab (2-8 mg/kg, twice a week), or with combination of both drugs. VEGF-A protected MDA-MB-231 cells against nab-paclitaxel cytotoxicity, whereas bevacizumab sensitized cells to the effect of the drug. Combined bevacizumab and nab-paclitaxel treatment synergistically inhibited tumor growth and metastasis resulting in up to 40% of complete regressions of well-established tumors. This therapy also decreased the incidence of lymphatic and pulmonary metastases by 60% and 100%, respectively. The significant increase in the cure of tumor-bearing mice in the nab-paclitaxel/bevacizumab combined group compared with mice treated with single drugs strongly advocates for implementing such strategy in clinics.

MeSH terms

  • Albumins / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Bevacizumab
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • 130-nm albumin-bound paclitaxel
  • Albumins
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Bevacizumab
  • Luciferases
  • Paclitaxel