A significant development in combination chemoprevention is the use of sulindac plus difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), which was recently demonstrated to reduce the recurrence of all human colon adenomas by 69% and of advanced adenomas by 92%. DFMO inhibits ornithine decarboxylase, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in polyamine synthesis, while sulindac stimulates polyamine acetylation and export. The end result is reduced polyamine levels leading to suppressed growth of cancer cells. Sulindac, however, has significant side effects: gastrointestinal (20%);CNS (10%), skin rash and pruritus (5%), and elevations of hepatic enzymes. Thus there is a need to develop safer and more effective agents. We have synthesized phospho-sulindac, a novel derivative of sulindac, that is over >14-fold more potent than conventional sulindac in inhibiting the growth of human colon cancer cells, and appears much safer than conventional sulindac based on in vitro toxicological evaluation and animal studies. Our hypothesis, supported by preliminary data, is that phospho-sulindac is an effective and safe chemopreventive agent that can be combined with DFMO for the prevention of colon cancer and that such combination is superior to the one using conventional sulindac. To evaluate this hypothesis and delineate the relevant mechanisms, we propose three specific aims: 1) Evaluate in vitro properties of phospho-sulindac that are relevant to chemoprevention: potency, synergy with DFMO and effect on cytokinetics. 2) Determine the mechanism of action of phospho-sulindac focusing on its effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS), key early mediators of the effect of chemopreventive agents, and on dependent signaling pathways including polyamines. 3) Determine in animal models of colon cancer (Min mice and xenografts) the effect of phosphosulindac plus DFMO on intestinal carcinogenesis and verify in these animal models key mechanistic findings.
These aims will assess important parameters of the pharmacological action of phospho-sulindac;explore its mechanism of action;and set the stage for its thorough preclinical evaluation that is required for its human application.

Public Health Relevance

The development of effective and safe chemopreventive agents represents a high priority. We have synthesized a new derivative of sulindac, phospho-sulindac, which is more effective and safer than conventional sulindac. We propose to evaluate phospho-sulindac in combination with difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) for the prevention of colon cancer. This is based on the recently demonstrated ability of conventional sulindac plus DFMO to reduce the recurrence of all human colon adenomas by 69% and of advanced adenomas by 92%. Conventional sulindac, however, has significant side effects: gastrointestinal (20%);CNS (10%), skin rash and pruritus (5%), and elevations of hepatic enzymes. We anticipate that phospho-sulindac will be safer and more effective than sulindac. The proposed work will contribute to its preclinical evaluation, which is required for phospho-sulindac to be tested in humans.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA139454-04
Application #
8215888
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-ONC-P (02))
Program Officer
Perloff, Marjorie
Project Start
2009-03-01
Project End
2014-01-31
Budget Start
2012-02-01
Budget End
2013-01-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$314,419
Indirect Cost
$113,144
Name
State University New York Stony Brook
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804878247
City
Stony Brook
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11794
Tsioulias, George J; Go, Mae F; Rigas, Basil (2015) NSAIDs and Colorectal Cancer Control: Promise and Challenges. Curr Pharmacol Rep 1:295-301
Rigas, Basil; Tsioulias, George J (2015) The evolving role of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in colon cancer prevention: a cause for optimism. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 353:2-8
Xie, Gang; Cheng, Ka-Wing; Huang, Liqun et al. (2014) The in vitro metabolism of phospho-sulindac amide, a novel potential anticancer agent. Biochem Pharmacol 91:249-55
Cheng, Ka-Wing; Wong, Chi C; Mattheolabakis, George et al. (2013) Curcumin enhances the lung cancer chemopreventive efficacy of phospho-sulindac by improving its pharmacokinetics. Int J Oncol 43:895-902
Mattheolabakis, George; Mackenzie, Gerardo G; Huang, Liqun et al. (2013) Topically applied phospho-sulindac hydrogel is efficacious and safe in the treatment of experimental arthritis in rats. Pharm Res 30:1471-82
Cheng, Ka Wing; Wong, Chi C; Alston, Ninche et al. (2013) Aerosol administration of phospho-sulindac inhibits lung tumorigenesis. Mol Cancer Ther 12:1417-28
Zhou, Dingying; Papayannis, Ioannis; Mackenzie, Gerardo G et al. (2013) The anticancer effect of phospho-tyrosol-indomethacin (MPI-621), a novel phosphoderivative of indomethacin: in vitro and in vivo studies. Carcinogenesis 34:943-51
Xie, Gang; Zhou, Dingying; Cheng, Ka-Wing et al. (2013) Comparative in vitro metabolism of phospho-tyrosol-indomethacin by mice, rats and humans. Biochem Pharmacol 85:1195-202
Wong, Chi C; Cheng, Ka-Wing; Xie, Gang et al. (2012) Carboxylesterases 1 and 2 hydrolyze phospho-nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: relevance to their pharmacological activity. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 340:422-32
Xie, Gang; Wong, Chi C; Cheng, Ka-Wing et al. (2012) In vitro and in vivo metabolic studies of phospho-aspirin (MDC-22). Pharm Res 29:3292-301

Showing the most recent 10 out of 24 publications