Effect of RasGAP N2 fragment-derived peptide on tumor growth in mice

J Natl Cancer Inst. 2009 Jun 3;101(11):828-32. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djp100. Epub 2009 May 26.

Abstract

Peptides that interfere with the natural resistance of cancer cells to genotoxin-induced apoptosis may improve the efficacy of anticancer regimens. We have previously reported that a cell-permeable RasGAP-derived peptide (TAT-RasGAP(317-326)) specifically sensitizes tumor cells to genotoxin-induced apoptosis in vitro. Here, we examined the in vivo stability of a protease-resistant D-form of the peptide, RI.TAT-RasGAP(317-326), and its effect on tumor growth in nude mice bearing subcutaneous human colon cancer HCT116 xenograft tumors. After intraperitoneal injection, RI.TAT-RasGAP(317-326) persisted in the blood of nude mice for more than 1 hour and was detectable in various tissues and subcutaneous tumors. Tumor-bearing mice treated daily for 7 days with RI.TAT-RasGAP(317-326) (1.65 mg/kg body weight) and cisplatin (0.5 mg/kg body weight) or doxorubicin (0.25 mg/kg body weight) displayed reduced tumor growth compared with those treated with either genotoxin alone (n = 5-7 mice per group; P = .004 and P = .005, respectively; repeated measures analysis of variance [ANOVA, two-sided]). This ability of the RI.TAT-RasGAP(317-326) peptide to enhance the tumor growth inhibitory effect of cisplatin was still observed at peptide doses that were at least 150-fold lower than the dose lethal to 50% of mice. These findings provide the proof of principle that RI.TAT-RasGAP(317-326) may be useful for improving the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor / methods
  • Drug Synergism
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / administration & dosage
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / pharmacology*
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Parenteral
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagens / pharmacology
  • Peptide Fragments / administration & dosage
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology*
  • Transplantation, Heterologous

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Mutagens
  • Peptide Fragments
  • TAT-RasGAP(317-326)
  • Cisplatin