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Published on: January 19, 2019
Synergistic antitumor efficacy by combining adriamycin with recombinant human endostatin in an osteosarcoma model
Hairong Xu1, Xiaohui Niu, Qing Zhang
1Department of Orthopedic Oncology Surgery, Beijing Ji Shui Tan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100035, P.R. China.
Abstract:
In the last 15 years, chemotherapy-based therapeutic regimens for the treatment of osteosarcoma have failed to demonstrate improved survival rates. Novel approaches, including targeted therapy and antiangiogenic therapy, may provide new methods for the treatment of osteosarcoma, one of the most deadly malignant diseases. In the present study, the therapeutic efficacy of an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor, endostatin, was tested in combination with the chemotherapeutic agent, adriamycin. BALB/c mice, aged 4-6 weeks were fed animal chow and had access to water ad libitum. The mice were divided into groups and injected with tumor cells. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to identify the microvessel density. The TUNEL technique was also used to determine the apoptotic index. The combination of endostatin and adriamycin produced marked synergistic antitumor activity in a mouse osteosarcoma model. These findings provide new guidelines for designing future clinical trials and for the application of currently available clinical drugs (endostatin has been approved for clinical use) in the treatment of osteosarcoma.
Insights
Chemotherapy has failed to improve osteosarcoma survival. Combining endostatin, an angiogenesis inhibitor, with adriamycin showed synergistic antitumor effects in a mouse model, offering new treatment guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Research
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chemotherapy for osteosarcoma has not improved survival rates in the last 15 years.
- Novel therapeutic strategies like targeted and antiangiogenic therapies are needed for osteosarcoma, a deadly malignancy.
- Endostatin, an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor, presents a potential therapeutic agent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of combining endostatin with adriamycin in an osteosarcoma mouse model.
- To determine the synergistic antitumor activity of this combination therapy.
- To provide guidelines for future clinical trials and drug application in osteosarcoma treatment.
Main Methods:
- BALB/c mice were injected with osteosarcoma tumor cells and divided into experimental groups.
- Immunohistochemical staining was used to assess microvessel density.
- The TUNEL technique was employed to calculate the apoptotic index.
Main Results:
- The combination of endostatin and adriamycin demonstrated significant synergistic antitumor activity.
- Reduced microvessel density and increased apoptosis were observed in the combination treatment group.
- The combination therapy proved more effective than either agent alone.
Conclusions:
- Combining endostatin with adriamycin offers a promising synergistic approach for osteosarcoma treatment.
- This combination therapy warrants further investigation in clinical trials for osteosarcoma patients.
- Endostatin's established clinical use supports its potential integration into osteosarcoma treatment regimens.

