Inhibition of prostate cancer growth by vinblastine and tamoxifen

K J Pienta1, T Replogle, J E Lehr

  • 1Meyer L Prentis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

The Prostate
|May 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Tamoxifen and vinblastine, microtubule inhibitors, show promise against hormone refractory prostate cancer. This combination proved cytotoxic to cancer cells and inhibited tumor growth in preclinical models.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Hormone refractory prostate cancer is an aggressive, fatal disease.
  • Microtubule-inhibiting agents demonstrate cytotoxicity against prostate cancer cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of tamoxifen and vinblastine in hormone refractory prostate cancer.
  • To assess the combined activity of these two microtubule inhibitors.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro cytotoxicity assays using Dunning rat prostate adenocarcinoma (MLL) and human prostate cancer (PC-3) cell lines.
  • Cell cycle analysis to determine effects on cell transit.
  • In vivo studies using implanted MLL cells to assess tumor growth inhibition.

Main Results:

  • Tamoxifen and vinblastine demonstrated cytotoxicity against both MLL and PC-3 cells at clinically achievable concentrations.
  • Both agents inhibited cell cycle progression.
  • In vivo, the combination therapy suppressed the growth of implanted MLL tumors.

Conclusions:

  • Tamoxifen and vinblastine exhibit potential as effective agents for treating hormone refractory prostate cancer.
  • The combination therapy warrants further investigation for clinical application.

Related Concept Videos

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules01:10

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
Inhibition of CDK Activity02:34

Inhibition of CDK Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...