PBI-05204, a supercritical CO₂ extract of Nerium oleander, inhibits growth of human pancreatic cancer via targeting the PI3K/mTOR pathway

Invest New Drugs. 2015 Apr;33(2):271-9. doi: 10.1007/s10637-014-0190-6. Epub 2014 Dec 6.

Abstract

Introduction Oleandrin, a cardiac glycoside, exerts strong anti-proliferative activity against various human malignancies in in vitro cells. Here, we report the antitumor efficacy of PBI-05204, a supercritical C0₂ extract of Nerium oleander containing oleandrin, in a human pancreatic cancer Panc-1 orthotopic model. Results While all the control mice exhibited tumors by the end of treatment, only 2 of 8 mice (25%) treated for 6 weeks with PBI-05204 (40 mg/kg) showed dissectible tumor at the end of the treatment period. The average tumor weight (222.9 ± 116.9 mg) in mice treated with PBI-05204 (20 mg/kg) was significantly reduced from that in controls (920.0 ± 430.0 mg) (p < 0.05). Histopathologic examination of serial sections from each pancreas with no dissectible tumor in the PBI-05204 (40 mg/kg) treated group showed that the pancreatic tissues of 5/6 mice were normal while the remaining mouse had a tumor the largest diameter of which was less than 2.3 mm. In contrast, while gemcitabine alone did not significantly reduce tumor growth, PBI-05204 markedly enhanced the antitumor efficacy of gemcitabine in this particular model. Ki-67 staining was reduced in pancreatic tumors from mice treated with PBI-05204 (20 mg/kg) compared to that of control, suggesting that PBI-05204 inhibited the proliferation of the Panc-1 tumor cells. PBI-05204 suppressed expression of pAkt, pS6, and p4EPB1 in a concentration-dependent manner in both Panc-1 tumor tissues and human pancreatic cancer cell lines, implying that this novel botanical drug exerts its potent antitumor activity, at least in part, through down-regulation of PI3k/Akt and mTOR pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cardiac Glycosides / pharmacology*
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Class Ib Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / biosynthesis*
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Deoxycytidine / pharmacology
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Nerium*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / biosynthesis
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Cardiac Glycosides
  • Plant Extracts
  • Deoxycytidine
  • MTOR protein, human
  • Class Ib Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase
  • PIK3CG protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Gemcitabine