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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
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Published on: March 10, 2015
Effect of endostatin on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon tumor in mice
Omur Karaca1, Tolga Ertekin, Ozlem Canoz
1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Balıkesir, Balıkesir, Turkey. omurkaraca@balikesir.edu.tr
Abstract:
Endostatin, one of the most potent negative regulators of angiogenesis, is naturally occurring as an inhibitor of angiogenesis capable of inhibiting tumor growth and their metastases. We aimed to investigate the in vivo activities of low dose of recombinant human endostatin on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced mice colon cancer. Thirty male Balb-c mice were injected with DMH (20 mg/kg/week) subcutaneously once a week for 12 weeks to induce colon cancer. Twelve weeks after the last DMH injection, 7 µg rh-endostatin was injected every day for 6 weeks. The animals were killed after 30 weeks for histopathological examination. The weight of the animals, tumor inhibition rates, death rates and the distribution of the lesions in colon were evaluated after the mice were killed. The mean colonic lesions incidence in single tumor bearing mice was 11 ± 4.0 in those treated with DMH and 8.1 ± 3.7 in those treated with endostatin. When we look at the distribution of lesions in the colon, they occurred in the distal colon. At the end of our study, we noticed that the number of lesions decreased by 25% in the group of endostatin, considering the number of the lesions in the group of DMH. But there was no statistical difference between the mice treated with endostatin and those treated with DMH. It will be very significant to identify endostatin therapeutic effects as long as proper dose of endostatin is administrated at the proper time, duration and proper tumor model.
Insights
Recombinant human endostatin showed a 25% reduction in colon cancer lesions in mice. However, this low-dose treatment did not yield statistically significant therapeutic effects, highlighting the need for optimized dosing and timing.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Endostatin is a potent endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis, crucial for tumor growth and metastasis.
- Angiogenesis inhibition is a key strategy in cancer therapy, targeting tumor vascularization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in vivo efficacy of low-dose recombinant human endostatin in a mouse model of colon cancer.
- To assess the impact of endostatin on tumor incidence, growth, and metastasis in chemically induced colon cancer.
Main Methods:
- Colon cancer was induced in male Balb-c mice using 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH).
- Mice received daily injections of low-dose recombinant human endostatin (7 µg) for 6 weeks post-induction.
- Tumor incidence, lesion distribution, animal weight, and survival rates were analyzed via histopathological examination.
Main Results:
- A 25% decrease in the number of colonic lesions was observed in the endostatin-treated group compared to the DMH-only group.
- Lesions were predominantly located in the distal colon in both groups.
- No statistically significant difference in lesion incidence was found between the endostatin-treated and control groups.
Conclusions:
- Low-dose recombinant human endostatin demonstrated a trend towards reducing colon cancer lesions in mice.
- Optimal therapeutic effects of endostatin may depend on precise administration timing, dosage, and duration within specific tumor models.
- Further research is warranted to determine the ideal parameters for endostatin-based cancer therapies.
