New Agents for Taxol-Resistant Breast Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Over-expression of HER-2/neu has been linked to poorer prognosis and reduced survival in breast cancer patients. The basis for this association is likely multifactorial and includes therapeutic resistance, such as resistance to Taxol (paclitaxel), widely used in many chemotherapeutic regimens for this disease. We have recently reported that a paclitaxel copolymer, poly(L-glutamic acid)-paclitaxel (PGA-TXL), is active against Taxol-resistant human ovarian xenograft models in vivo (Auzenne et al. Superior therapeutic profile of poly-L-glutamic acid-paclitaxel copolymer compared to Taxol in xenogeneic compartmental models of human ovarian carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 8: 573-581, 2002). We therefore evaluated PGA-TXL in human HER-2/neu over-expressing (MDA- 361) and low/null-expressing (MDA-231) breast adenocarcinoma orthotopic xenograft models. PGA-TXL (20-37% paclitaxel, wIw) was administered as a single dose of 180 mg (paclitaxel equivalents)/kg i.p., near its MTD. Drug was administered either one week after tumor implantation or once tumors were 4-5 mm in diameter. Either regimen resulted in growth inhibition of 361 tumors, and even some apparent cures with early treatment (p < 0.04). An on-going experiment with the 231 model demonstrates a similar initial pattern. We conclude that systemic treatment with PGA-TXL is active against human breast adenocarcinoma orthotopic xenograft models despite overexpression of HER-2/neu.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADA411356

Entities

People

  • Jim Klostergaard

Organizations

  • The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Apoptosis
  • Biomedical Research
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cancer
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cells
  • Copolymers
  • Diameters
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Drug Therapy
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Neoplasms
  • Resistance
  • Xenografts

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Medicine

Readers

  • Breast cancer cell signaling and growth regulation.
  • Geochemistry
  • Toxicology/Environmental Toxicology

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics