Abstract B12: The antitumor and antiangiogenic activity of brivanib, a dual inhibitor of VEGFR-2 and FGFR-1 kinases

Abstract

Abstract Angiogenesis plays a central supporting role in tumorigenesis in a wide variety of different cancer types. This complex and highly regulated process has been shown to be driven by various proangiogenic factors. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family of growth factors in conjunction with their associated tyrosine kinase receptors exert a major influence on tumor growth and dissemination, and potentially work synergistically to promote angiogenesis. Brivanib alaninate (BMS-582664) which is currently in phase III clinical trails is the orally active prodrug of brivanib (BMS-540215), a selective dual inhibitor of VEGF and FGF signaling. We demonstrate here that in vivo brivanib provides antitumor activity in a broad range of xenograft models over multiple dose levels, and that brivanib alaninate demonstrates dose-dependent efficacy equivalent to brivanib. Brivanib alaninate also reduces tumor cell proliferation as determined by a significant reduction in Ki-67 staining as well as a decrease in tumor vascular density as reflected by a reduction in CD34 staining, a cellsurface marker of endothelial cells. Additionally, using Matrigel™ plug assays in athymic mice we demonstrated that brivanib alaninate inhibits angiogenesis driven by VEGF or bFGF alone as well as when both of these cytokines are combined to drive angiogenesis in this model. Moreover, brivanib was more effective in inhibiting angiogenesis in this model system under all these conditions when compared to either bevacizumab, an antibody directed at the human VEGF cytokine or DC101, an antibody directed at the murine form of VEGF receptor-2. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, used to assess the effects of brivanib alaninate on tumor microcirculation, demonstrated a marked decrease in contrast agent uptake at an efficacious dose level, with a reduction in area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to 60 min (AUC60) at 24 h and 48 h of 54% and 64%, respectively. These results demonstrate that brivanib alaninate is an effective antitumor agent in preclinical tumor and angiogenesis models across a range of doses, and that efficacy is accompanied by changes in cellular and vascular activities. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):B12.