Aponecrotic, antiangiogenic and antiproliferative effects of a novel dextran derivative on breast cancer growth in vitro and in vivo

1 Since the sodium phenylacetate (NaPa) was reported to enhance the inhibitory effect of carboxymethyl benzylamide dextran (CMDB) on the breast cancer growth, we performed the esterification of CMDB with NaPa to obtain a new drug carrying the characteristics of these two components. A new molecule, phenylacetate carboxymethyl benzylamide dextran, was named NaPaC. We investigated in vitro and in vivo the effects of NaPaC on MCF‐7ras cell growth as well as its apoptotic and antiangiogenic effects in comparison to NaPa and CMDB. In addition, we assessed in vitro the antiproliferative effects of these drugs on other breast cancer cells, including MDA‐MB‐231, MDA‐MB‐435 and MCF‐7. In vitro , NaPaC inhibited MCF‐7ras cell proliferation by 40% at concentration lower than that of CMDB and NaPa (12 μ M vs 73 μ M and 10 m M ). IC 50 s were 6 and 28 μ M for NaPaC and CMDB, respectively. The similar results were obtained for three other breast cancer cell lines. NaPaC reduced the DNA replication and induced cell recruitment in G 0 /G 1 phase more efficiently than its components. Moreover, it induced a cell death at concentration 1000‐fold lower than NaPa. In vivo , CMDB (150 mg kg −1 ) and NaPa (40 mg kg −1 ) inhibited the MCF‐7ras tumour growth by 37 and 57%, respectively, whereas NaPaC (15 mg kg −1 ) decreased tumour growth by 66% without toxicity. NaPa or CMDB reduced the microvessel number in tumour by 50% after 7 weeks of treatment. NaPaC had the same effect after only 2 weeks. After 7 weeks, it generated a large necrosis area without detectable microvessels. In vitro , NaPaC inhibited human endothelial cell proliferation more efficiently than CMDB or NaPa. NaPaC interacts with vascular endothelial growth factor as observed by affinity electrophoresis. NaPaC acts like NaPa and CMDB but in more potent manner than components used separately. Its antiproliferative, aponecrotic and anti‐angiogenic actions make it a good candidate for a new anti‐cancer drug. British Journal of Pharmacology (2002) 135 , 1859–1871; doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704645