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Murine toxicology and pharmacokinetics evaluation of retinoic acid metabolism blocking agent (RAMBA), VN/12-1

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Abstract

Purpose

Novel retinoic acid metabolism blocking agent (RAMBA), VN/12-1, is a highly potent anti-cancer agent that induces autophagy. Its combination with autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CHL) has been shown to synergistically enhance apoptosis in breast cancer cells. The purpose of this study was to determine the toxicity and pharmacokinetic profile of VN/12-1 and its combination with CHL.

Methods

Preliminary toxicology of VN/12-1 was determined using female SCID mice (n = 4 for each group). ATRA was used for comparison. We selected four different doses of VN/12-1 and ATRA. Two of the doses were low and less frequent (2.5 and 5 mg/kg twice a week), and the remaining doses were high and more frequent (10 and 20 mg/kg every day). The dose of CHL was 50 mg/kg twice a week. For pharmacokinetic (PK) study, 20 mg/kg of VN/12-1 was injected subcutaneously (s.c.) into the mice, and their plasma was collected at various intervals (n = 2) and analyzed by HPLC.

Results

The lower and less frequent doses of VN/12-1 and ATRA were found to be least toxic. However, high and more frequent doses of these compounds were toxic to the mice. PK results showed that VN/12-1 has a half-life of 6 h. The area under the curve (AUC) for VN/12-1 was 83.78 h μg/ml.

Conclusions

VN/12-1 and ATRA are non-toxic when used as 5 mg/kg twice a week as single agents or in combination with CHL. The favorable PK properties of VN/12-1 can potentially be used for its further advanced pre-clinical and clinical development.

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Acknowledgments

This research study was supported by grants from the US Department of Defense under the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP, W81XW-04-1-0101, Njar, VCO), the US National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI, 1R01 CA129379-01A2 and 5R01 CA129379-02, Njar, VCO). We thank all these agencies for their generous support.

Conflict of interest

Vincent C. O. Njar holds an ownership interest in the RAMBAs patents and technologies thereof. The other authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

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Author notes

  1. Abhijit M. Godbole, Puranik Purushottamachar, Marlena S. Martin & Vincent C. O. Njar

    Present address: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, and Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201-1559, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jefferson School of Pharmacy, Thomas Jefferson University, 130 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA

    Abhijit M. Godbole, Puranik Purushottamachar, Marlena S. Martin & Vincent C. O. Njar

  2. Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA

    Vincent C. O. Njar

Authors
  1. Abhijit M. Godbole
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  2. Puranik Purushottamachar
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  3. Marlena S. Martin
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  4. Vincent C. O. Njar
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Correspondence to Vincent C. O. Njar.

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Godbole, A.M., Purushottamachar, P., Martin, M.S. et al. Murine toxicology and pharmacokinetics evaluation of retinoic acid metabolism blocking agent (RAMBA), VN/12-1. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 70, 339–344 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-012-1877-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-012-1877-z

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