Liver Cancer
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2006; 12(42): 6771-6778
Published online Nov 14, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i42.6771
Inhibition of hepatic tumor cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo by taltobulin, a synthetic analogue of the tripeptide hemiasterlin
Yogesh K Vashist, Celine Tiffon, Christoforos Stoupis, Claudio A Redaelli
Yogesh K Vashist, Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Yogesh K Vashist, Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Clinic Bern, Switzerland
Celine Tiffon, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Switzerland
Christoforos Stoupis, Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Bern, Switzerland
Claudio A Redaelli, Gastrozentrum Hirslanden-Viszeralchirurgie, Hirslanden Klinik Zurich, Switzerland, Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery and Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Switzerland
Co-first-author: Celine Tiffon
Supported by grants of the Professor M Cloetta Foundation and OncoSwiss, SKL 1221-02-2002, both awarded to CA Redaelli
Correspondence to: Claudio A Redaelli, MD, Professor of Surgery, Gastrozentrum Hirslanden-Viszeralchirurgie, Hirslanden Klinik Zurich, Witellikerstrasse 40, Zurich 8032, Switzerland. contact@redaelli.ch
Telephone: +41-44-3873080 Fax: +41-44-3873083
Received: April 26, 2006
Revised: August 15, 2006
Accepted: August 27, 2006
Published online: November 14, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effects of taltobulin (HTI-286), a synthetic analogue of natural hemiasterlin derived from marine sponges, on hepatic tumor growth in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS: The potential anti-proliferative effects of HTI-286 on different hepatic tumor cell lines in vitro and in vivo were examined.

RESULTS: HTI-286 significantly inhibited proliferation of all three hepatic tumor cell lines (mean IC50 = 2 nmol/L ± 1 nmol/L) in vitro. Interestingly, no decrease in viable primary human hepatocytes (PHH) was detected under HTI-286 exposure. Moreover, intravenous administration of HTI-286 significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo (rat allograft model).

CONCLUSION: HTI-286 might be considered a potent promising drug in treatment of liver malignancies. HTI-286 is currently undergoing clinical evaluation in cancer patients.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Antimicrotubule agent; HTI-286