Fumagillin, an unstable anti-angiogenesis mycotoxin, was syn
thesized into a stable lipase-labile prodrug and incorporated into integrin-targeted lipid-encapsulated nanoparticles (α
vβ
3-Fum-PD NP). Dual anti-angiogenic
therapy combining α
vβ
3-Fum-PD NP with zoledronic acid (ZA), a long-acting osteoclast inhibitor with proposed anti-angiogenic effects, was evaluated. In vitro, α
vβ
3-Fum-PD NP reduced (
P < 0.05) endo
thelial cell viability without impacting macrophage viability. ZA suppressed (
P < 0.05) macrophage viability at high dosages but not endo
thelial cell proliferation. 3D MR neovascular imaging of rabbit Vx2 tumors showed no effect with ZA, whereas α
vβ
3-Fum-PD NP alone and with ZA decreased angiogenesis (
P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry revealed decreased (
P < 0.05) microvascularity with α
vβ
3-Fum-PD NP and ZA and fur
ther microvascular reduction (
P < 0.05) with dual-
therapy. In vivo, ZA did not decrease tumor macrophage numbers nor cancer cell proliferation, whereas α
vβ
3-Fum-PD-NPs reduced both measures. Dual-
therapy with ZA and α
vβ
3-Fum-PD-NP may provide enhanced neo-adjuvant utility if macrophage ZA uptake is increased.
From the Clinical Editor
Although anti-angiogenesis is one of the treatment modalities in the fight against cancer, many cancers become resistant to VEGF pathway inhibitors. In this article, the authors investigated the use of dual therapy using fumagillin, integrin-targeted lipid-encapsulated nanoparticles (αvβ3- Fum-PD NP) and zoledronic acid (ZA), in both in-vitro and in-vivo experiments. This combination approach may provide an insight to the design of future drugs against cancers.