Ethoxyfagaronine, a synthetic analogue of fagaronine that inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-1, as a new anti-angiogeneic agent

Invest New Drugs. 2015 Feb;33(1):75-85. doi: 10.1007/s10637-014-0184-4. Epub 2014 Nov 19.

Abstract

Angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in tumorigenesis and also contributes to the pathogenesis of hematologic malignancies. A number of plant compounds have shown efficacy in preclinical and clinical studies and some of them possess an anti-angiogenic activity. Our present findings report anti-angiogenic activities of ethoxyfagaronine (etxfag), a synthetic derivative of fagaronine. Once determined the non-cytotoxic concentration of etxfag, we showed that the drug inhibits VEGF-induced angiogenesis in a Matrigel™ plug assay and suppresses ex vivo sprouting from VEGF-treated aortic rings. Each feature leading to neovascularization was then investigated and results demonstrate that etxfag prevents VEGF-induced migration and tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Moreover, etxfag also suppresses VEGF-induced VEGFR-2 phosphorylation and inhibits FAK phosphorylation at Y-861 as well as focal adhesion complex turnover. Beside these effects, etxfag modifies MT1-MMP localization at the endothelial cell membrane. Finally, immunoprecipitation assay revealed that etxfag decreases VEGF binding to VEGFR-2. As we previously reported that etxfag is able to prevent leukemic cell invasiveness and adhesion to fibronectin, all together our data collectively support the anti-angiogenic activities of etxfag which could represent an additional approach to current anti-cancer therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Aorta / drug effects
  • Aorta / physiology
  • Benzophenanthridines / pharmacology*
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / physiology
  • Humans
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / pharmacology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Benzophenanthridines
  • N-methyl-12-ethoxy-2-hydroxy-3,8,9-trimethoxybenzo(c)phenanthridinium
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • fagaronine
  • KDR protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2