Inhibition of pulmonary metastasis in a human MT3 breast cancer xenograft model by dual liposomes preventing intravasal fibrin clot formation

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2010 May;121(1):13-22. doi: 10.1007/s10549-009-0448-4. Epub 2009 Jun 23.

Abstract

The process of metastasis formation in cancer is not completely understood and is the main reason cancer therapies fail. Previously, we showed that dual liposomes simultaneously containing the hemostatic inhibitor, dipyridamole and the anticancer drug, perifosine potently inhibited metastasis, causing a 90% reduction in the number of lung metastases in a murine experimental metastasis model. To gain deeper insight into the mechanisms leading to the inhibition of metastasis by these dual liposomes, in the present study, the development of metastases by MT3 breast cancer cells in a mouse xenograft model was analyzed in more detail with regard to tumor cell settlement and metastatic growth. We found that the development of lung metastases by MT3 tumor cells is essentially dependent on the formation of fibrin clots as a precondition for the pulmonary arrest of tumor cells and the subsequent intravascular expansion of micrometastases before their invasion into the surrounding tissue.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Blood Coagulation / drug effects
  • Blood Vessels / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dipyridamole / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Fibrin
  • Humans
  • Liposomes
  • Lung / blood supply
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology*
  • Metallothionein 3
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / prevention & control*
  • Phosphorylcholine / administration & dosage
  • Phosphorylcholine / analogs & derivatives
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Liposomes
  • Metallothionein 3
  • Mt3 protein, mouse
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Phosphorylcholine
  • perifosine
  • Dipyridamole
  • Fibrin