Deregulated activity of Akt in epithelial basal cells induces spontaneous tumors and heightened sensitivity to skin carcinogenesis.

Aberrant activation of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/PTEN/Akt pathway, leading to increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis, has been implicated in several human pathologies including cancer. Our previous data have shown that Akt-mediated signaling is an essential mediator in the mouse skin carcinogenesis system during both the tumor promotion and progression stages. In addition, overexpression of Akt is also able to transform keratinocytes through transcriptional and posttranscriptional processes. Here, we report the consequences of the increased expression of Akt1 (wtAkt) or constitutively active Akt1 (myrAkt) in the basal layer of stratified epithelia using the bovine keratin K5 promoter. These mice display alterations in epidermal proliferation and differentiation. In addition, transgenic mice with the highest levels of Akt expression developed spontaneous epithelial tumors in multiple organs with age. Furthermore, both wtAkt and myrAkt transgenic lines displayed heightened sensitivity to the epidermal proliferative effects of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and heightened sensitivity to two-stage skin carcinogenesis. Finally, enhanced susceptibility to two-stage carcinogenesis correlated with a more sustained proliferative response following treatment with TPA as well as sustained alterations in Akt downstream signaling pathways and elevations in cell cycle regulatory proteins. Collectively, the data provide direct support for an important role for Akt signaling in epithelial carcinogenesis in vivo, especially during the tumor promotion stage.

Alterations of EGFR/HER, angiogenesis and apoptosis pathways after therapy with antagonists of growth hormone releasing hormone and bombesin in non-small cell lung cancer.

New therapeutic strategies are necessary to improve the treatment of lung cancer. We investigated the effects of bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) antagonist, RC-3940-II, and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) antagonists, MZ-J-7-114 and MZ-J-7-118, on the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/HER (-2, -3, and -4) family, angiogenic factors, VEGF-A and VEGF receptors (VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2), and the apoptotic molecules Bax and Bcl-2, in H-460 and A-549 non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Nude mice bearing xenografts of H-460 and A-549 NSCLC were treated daily with these peptide analogues for 4 weeks. The treatment resulted in growth inhibition of H-460 by 22-77% and A-549 NSCLCs by 64-84%. The inhibition of tumor growth was associated with a down-regulation of members of EGFR/HER family. A significant reduction of the levels of expression of EGFR/HER family on both tumors varied from 29-96%: the greatest inhibition being induced by RC-3940-II. Similarly, a significant decrease in the levels of VEGF-A in tumors by 19-60% and VEGF receptors (VEGF-R1, 24-74% and VEGF-R2, 25-50%) was detected after therapy. An up-regulation of Bax by 21-63% and a down-regulation of Bcl-2 by 23-39% was observed only for H-460 NSCLC. Our study demonstrates that human H-460 and A-549 NSCLC, express receptors for GHRH and bombesin/GRP, and respond to the respective antagonists. The antagonists of bombesin/GRP and GHRH could provide a new strategy for treatment of NSCLC through down-regulation of EGFR/HER family and an interference with the angiogenic and apoptotic pathways.

Inhibition of human androgen-independent PC-3 and DU-145 prostate cancers by antagonists of bombesin and growth hormone releasing hormone is linked to PKC, MAPK and c-jun intracellular signalling.

Bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide (BN/GRP) antagonists RC-3940-II and RC-3940-Et, and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) antagonists MZ-J-7-118 and RC-J-29-18 inhibit the growth of human androgen-independent PC-3 and DU-145 prostate cancers in nude mice. Additive inhibitory effects were observed after treatment with both classes of analogs. In the present study, we investigated the effects of these antagonists on intracellular signalling pathways of protein kinase C (PKC), mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) and c-fos and c-jun oncogenes that are involved in tumour cell proliferation. In PC-3 tumours, antagonists of BN/GRP and GHRH decreased significantly the expression of PKC isoforms alpha (alpha), eta (eta) and zeta (zeta) and increased that of delta (delta) PKC protein. MAPK was not detectable. In DU-145 tumours, which constitutively express MAPK, all treatments strongly decreased the levels of p42/44 MAPK. Treatment with the antagonists tended to reduce m-RNA for c-jun in both tumour models. In proliferation assays in vitro, inhibitors of PKC and MAPK diminished growth of DU-145 and PC-3 cells. These findings suggest that antagonists of BN/GRP and GHRH inhibit the growth of androgen-independent prostate cancer by affecting intracellular signalling mechanisms of PKC, MAPK and c-jun.

Antagonists of growth hormone releasing hormone and bombesin inhibit the expression of EGF/HER receptor family in H-69 small cell lung carcinoma.

Effects of in vivo treatment with antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), JV-1-65 and MZ-J-7-110, and bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide antagonist RC-3940-II, on the EGF receptor (EGFR) family, were investigated in H-69 SCLC. Tumors were analyzed by RT-PCR, immunoblotting and binding assays. Treatment with these analogs reduced the binding capacity of EGFR by 18-64%, and inhibited the mRNA expression for EGFR, HER-2 and -3 by 27-75.4, 17-26.3, and 13.8-46.6%, respectively. The antagonists also decreased the protein levels for EGFR by 21-34%, HER-2 by 36-68% and HER-3 by 43-49%. This is the first demonstration that antiproliferative effects of GHRH antagonists are associated with a downregulation of EGF/HER receptors.

Effective inhibition of experimental human ovarian cancers with a targeted cytotoxic bombesin analogue AN-215.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the cytotoxic analogue of bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) AN-215 can inhibit the in vivo growth of four human ovarian cancer cell lines. AN-215 consists of 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin (AN-201), a superactive derivative of doxorubicin linked to a bombesin antagonist carrier des-D-Tpi-RC-3095. This conjugate binds strongly to receptors for bombesin/GRP and can be targeted to tumors that express these receptors. Bombesin/GRP receptors are found in 77% of human ovarian cancer specimens. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Nude mice bearing xenografts of ES-2, SKOV-3, OV-1063, and UCI-107 human ovarian carcinomas were treated with AN-215. The antitumor effects and the toxicity were determined. The expression of bombesin receptor subtypes was measured by reverse-transcriptase PCR analysis, and the presence of bombesin/GRP receptors was determined by radioligand binding assays. RESULTS: AN-215 significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited growth of ES-2, OV-1063, and UCI-107 tumors, prevented the metastatic spread of ES-2 cancers, and prolonged the survival of nude mice bearing i.p. ES-2 xenografts. Cytotoxic radical AN-201, the unconjugated mixture of bombesin antagonist RC-3095 and AN-201 or RC-3095 alone had no significant effects. Blockade of bombesin/GRP receptors abolished the effect of AN-215. The expression of bombesin/GRP receptors was not changed after repeated treatment with AN-215. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that targeted chemotherapy with cytotoxic bombesin/GRP analogue AN-215 can inhibit ovarian tumors, which express bombesin/GRP receptors. AN-215 might provide a new treatment modality for women with advanced ovarian carcinoma.

Antagonists of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and of bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide (BN/GRP) suppress the expression of VEGF, bFGF, and receptors of the EGF/HER family in PC-3 and DU-145 human androgen-independent prostate cancers.

BACKGROUND: Antagonists of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) as well as antagonists of bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide (BN/GRP) inhibit the growth of various malignancies (cancers) including prostate cancer. METHODS: We investigated the effects of GHRH antagonists MZ-J-7-118 and RC-J-29-18, BN/GRP antagonists RC-3940-II and RC-3940-Et and the combination of MZ-J-7-118 and RC-3940-II on the growth of PC-3 and DU-145 human androgen independent prostate cancers xenografted s.c. into nude mice. To elucidate the mechanisms of action of these analogs, growth factors like IGF-II (insulin-like growth factor-II), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and epidermal growth factor receptor/human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R/HER) family were measured in tumors as well as IGF-I in serum. RESULTS: Antagonists of GHRH and BN/GRP alone or in combination significantly inhibited growth of PC-3 and DU-145 tumors, the greatest inhibition of tumor volume being achieved by combination of MZ-J-7-118 (5 microg/day) and RC-3940-II (10 microg/day). BN/GRP and GHRH antagonists and their combination also decreased the expression of VEGF significantly in PC-3 and non-significantly in DU-145, as measured by radioimmunoassay for VEGF protein and RT-PCR for mRNA levels of VEGF. GHRH and BN/GRP antagonists reduced bFGF concentrations and the maximal binding capacity of EGF receptors, and their mRNA levels in PC-3 and DU-145 tumors. mRNA levels for HER-2 and -3 were also diminished in PC-3 tumors by GHRH and BN/GRP antagonists. No changes in HER-4 were found after treatment. Serum IGF-I and tumoral IGF-II levels were not affected by the analogs. CONCLUSIONS: BN/GRP and GHRH antagonists inhibit growth of PC-3 and DU-145 prostate cancers by suppressing the expression of tumoral growth factors such as VEGF and bFGF as well as the receptors for EGF and related HER-2 and -3. Additive effects on tumor inhibition (TI) in vivo, but not on VEGF, bFGF, or members of the EGF/HER receptor family, can be achieved by the joint administration of both classes of analogs.

Growth inhibition of experimental non-Hodgkin's lymphomas with the targeted cytotoxic somatostatin analogue AN-238.

The cytotoxic analogue of somatostatin, AN-238, consisting of 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin (AN-201), a superactive derivative of doxorubicin (DOX), linked to somatostatin analogue carrier RC-121 binds with high affinity to receptors for somatostatin and can be targeted to tumors that express these receptors. Because somatostatin receptors are found in a high percentage of human non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs), we evaluated the antitumor effect of AN-238 in 2 human NHL cell lines in vivo. Nude mice bearing xenografts of RL and HT human NHL were treated with AN-238 or its components at equimolar doses, and antitumor effects were determined. Expression of mRNA for somatostatin receptor subtypes was measured by RT-PCR, and the presence of somatostatin receptors was determined by radioligand binding. Toxicity was evaluated by following white blood cell count (WBC) and body weight. AN-238 significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited growth of RL and HT xenografts and prolonged the tumor doubling time. Cytotoxic radical AN-201, the unconjugated mixture of somatostatin analogue RC-121 and AN-201 or RC-121 alone had no significant effects. Blockade of somatostatin receptors by excess RC-121 abolished the effect of AN-238, demonstrating targeting. Expression of somatostatin receptors was not changed after repeated treatment with AN-238. AN-201, but not AN-238, significantly lowered the WBC and caused a greater decrease in body weight than AN-238. Our findings demonstrate that targeted chemotherapy with AN-238 can strongly inhibit the growth of NHL cells, which express somatostatin receptors. AN-238 could be considered for the treatment for patients with NHL.

Suppression of growth of H-69 small cell lung carcinoma by antagonists of growth hormone releasing hormone and bombesin is associated with an inhibition of protein kinase C signaling.

We investigated the effects of antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) alone and in combination with bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide (BN/GRP) antagonist RC-3940-II on the growth of H-69 human small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) xenografted into nude mice. Since the activation of the signaling pathways involving protein kinase C (PKC) and the subsequent steps involving mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-fos and c-jun oncogenes are known to be important mechanisms implicated in cellular growth, we investigated how the blockade of tumoral GHRH receptor splice variants and BN/GRP receptors by these antagonists could interfere with these intracellular signaling pathways. Treatment with GHRH antagonists JV-1-65 or MZ-J-7-110 for 4 weeks significantly (p<0.05) decreased the tumor volume by 22.7+/-3.0% and 36.7 +/- 3.6%, respectively, as compared to controls. A larger decrease in tumor volume of 73.0 +/- 9.5% (p<0.01) was produced by BN/GRP antagonist RC-3940-II and its combination with JV-I-65 caused the greatest tumor reduction of 91.0 +/- 9.8% (p<0.01) vs. controls. H-69 SCLC tumors expressed alpha-, betaII-, delta- and eta-PKC isoforms. Antagonists of GHRH and BN/GRP decreased significantly (p<0.05) the expression of betaII- and delta-, but not of alpha- and eta-PKC isoforms. They also inhibited MAPK levels, the effects being significant (p<0.05) in the groups that received BN/GRP antagonist. In addition, expression of c-fos and c-jun mRNA was reduced after combined treatment with JV-1-65 and RC-3940-II. The proliferation of H-69 SCLC cells "in vitro" was also significantly inhibited after incubation of cells with GHRH antagonist, PKC inhibitors or MAPK inhibitor. These findings suggest that the anti-proliferative effects of antagonists of GHRH and BN/GRP on H69-SCLC involve an inhibition of the signaling pathways of specific PKC isoforms, MAPK and c-fos and c-jun oncogenes.