Antiproliferative Properties of Scandium Exopolysaccharide Complexes on Several Cancer Cell Lines

Javier Muñoz-Garcia1, Mattia Mazza2,3, Cyrille Alliot2,4

  • 1Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest, Université de Nantes, Blvd Jacques Monod, F-44805 Saint-Herblain, France.

Marine Drugs
|April 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Exopolysaccharide (EPS) derivatives from Alteromonas infernus show antimetastatic properties. When complexed with scandium, these EPS-scandium compounds enhance anti-proliferative effects on various cancer cells, indicating potential as drug delivery systems.

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Cancer Biology
  • Radiochemistry

Background:

  • Exopolysaccharides (EPS) from Alteromonas infernus exhibit antimetastatic properties against osteosarcoma cell lines.
  • EPS derivatives did not significantly affect cell cycle or induce apoptosis, suggesting potential as drug delivery vehicles.
  • A theranostic approach combining predictive biomarkers with therapeutic agents, such as scandium radionuclides (Sc-47/Sc-44), is under development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate if the biological properties of EPS remain intact after complexation with scandium.
  • To assess the anti-proliferative effects of scandium-EPS complexes on various human cancer cell lines.
  • To investigate the potential of EPS-scandium complexes as enhanced therapeutic agents.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro testing of scandium-EPS complexes on human osteosarcoma, melanoma, lung adenocarcinoma, glioma, breast cancer, and colon cancer cell lines.
  • Real-time cell proliferation monitoring using xCELLigence Real Cell Time Analysis (RTCA) technology over 160 hours.
  • Comparative analysis of anti-proliferative effects between EPS alone and scandium-EPS complexes.

Main Results:

  • Scandium-EPS complexes demonstrated a significant anti-proliferative effect on tested cancer cell lines.
  • The anti-proliferative efficacy of EPS was enhanced upon complexation with scandium.
  • Complexation-induced conformational changes in EPS, due to their polyelectrolyte nature, are hypothesized to cause this enhanced effect.
  • Potential mechanisms include alterations in growth factor-receptor signaling and transmembrane protein interactions.

Conclusions:

  • EPS can be effectively coupled with scandium to improve their biological effects, particularly anti-proliferative activity.
  • Scandium-EPS complexes show promise as enhanced therapeutic agents for various cancer types.
  • No major structural modifications were observed in the EPS ligand upon scandium complexation, preserving its biological activity.