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Heparin Octasaccharides Inhibit Angiogenesis In vivo

Authors' Affiliations: ¹ Cancer Research UK Departments of Medical Oncology and ² Experimental Pharmacology, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research; ³ Hematology Research Unit, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom; ⁴ Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom; ⁵ Cancer Research UK Department of Molecular Angiogenesis, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and ⁶ Unit of General Pathology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

Requests for reprints: Gordon C. Jayson, Christie Hospital, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4BX, United Kingdom. Phone: 44-161-446-3606; Fax: 44-161-446-3461; E-mail: Gordon.Jayson{at}christie-tr.nwest.nhs.uk.

Background: In previous experiments, we showed that heparin oligosaccharides inhibit the angiogenic cytokine fibroblast growth factor-2. Here, we present the first in vivo study of size-fractionated heparin oligosaccharides in four models of angiogenesis that are progressively less dependent on fibroblast growth factor-2.

Experimental Design: Heparin oligosaccharides were prepared using size-exclusion gel filtration chromatography and characterized through depolymerization and strong anion exchange high-performance liquid chromatography. Size-defined oligosaccharides (20 mg/kg/d) were given to mice bearing s.c. sponges that were injected with fibroblast growth factor-2 (100 ng/d). After 14 days, octasaccharides and decasaccharides reduced the microvessel density to levels below control. In a second experiment, HEC-FGF2 human endometrial cancer cells that overexpress fibroblast growth factor-2 were implanted in a hollow fiber placed s.c. in vivo. Oligosaccharides were given at 20 mg/kg/d for 2 weeks and the data again showed that octasaccharides significantly reduced microvessel density around the fiber (P = 0.03). In a more complex model, where angiogenesis was induced by a broad spectrum of growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor, we implanted H460 lung carcinoma cells in hollow fibers and treated the animals with oligosaccharides at 20 mg/kg/d over 3 weeks. Octasaccharides reduced the microvessel density to that of control. Preliminary investigation of 6-O-desulfated heparins showed that these also had antiangiogenic activity.

Results: Finally, we examined the inhibitory potential of hexasaccharides and octasaccharides given at 20 mg/kg/d and these inhibited the growth of H460 lung carcinoma in vivo. At clinically attainable concentrations, significant anticoagulation (activated partial thromboplastin time, anti–factor Xa, and anti–factor IIa) was not observed in vitro unless species containing 16 saccharide residues were investigated.

Conclusions: Thus, our preclinical data show that heparin octasaccharides represent novel antiangiogenic compounds that can be given without the anticoagulant effects of low molecular weight heparin.

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