Epothilone B

In Vitro

Epothilone B inhibits HCT116 cells with IC50 of 0.8 nM in HCT-116 cell line cytotoxicity assay[1]. Epothilone B (Patupilone) is a microtubule (MT) targeting agent. As shown by MTT cell proliferation assay, after 72 h of treatment Epothilone B efficiently inhibits cell growth with an IC50 of 6 nM, while concentrations ≤1 nM are not cytotoxic. Epothilone B significantly inhibits transwell cell migration at the non-cytotoxic concentration of 1 nM, and the effect is more evident at 10 nM[2]. Epothilone B (Patupilone) is a novel, non-taxane-related and nonneurotoxic microtubule-stabilizing agent in human medulloblastoma cell lines. Epothilone B reduces the proliferative activity in the D341 cell line, with an IC50 of 0.53 nM; in the D425Med cell line, with an IC50 of 0.37 nM; and in the DAOY cell line, with an IC50 of 0.19 nM. In the D341Med cell line, the effect of Epothilone B on clonogenic survival is at dose range of Epothilone B similar to the level of proliferative activity and viability (IC50, 0.50-0.75 nM). However, the clonogenicity of D425Med and DAOY cells is already strongly reduced at a 10-fold lower concentration of Epothilone B (IC50, 30 pM). These results overall demonstrate that Epothilone B is highly potent against different medulloblastoma cell lines[3].

In Vivo

Treatment with Epothilone B (Patupilone) or ionizing radiation alone results in a partial tumor growth suppression over 10 days, whereas combined treatment exerts a strong supra-additive tumor growth control, with complete tumor regression in the follow-up period (P<0.005, for ionizing radiation or Epothilone B alone vs combined treatment)[3].

Target

EC0.01: 1.8 μM (Microtubule/Tubulin)[1]

Kinase Assay

Asp-Glu-Val-Asp (DEVD)ase activity is determined in cytosolic cell extracts. Cells are treated with increasing concentrations of Epothilone B (Patupilone) for 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. Cells are harvested thereafter by trypsin/EDTA, centrifuged, and washed with precooled PBS. The cell pellet is suspended in 5 volumes of precooled buffer A (20 mM HEPES-KOH [pH 7.5], 10 mM KCl, 1.5 mM MgCl2, 1 mM sodium EDTA, 1 mM sodium EGTA, 1 mM dithiothreitol [DDT], 250 mM sucrose, and 0.1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride [PMSF] supplemented with protease inhibitors [5 mg/mL pepstatin A, 10 mg/mL leupeptin, 2 mg/mL aprotinin, 2 mg/mL DTT, and 1 mM of PMSF]). After incubation on ice for 15 min, the cells are disrupted by freezing and thawing. Cell lysates are centrifuged at 1000g for 10 min at 4°C, and the supernatant is further centrifuged at 100 000g for 30 min. The resulting supernatant (S-100 fraction) is stored at −80°C. To determine caspase 3-like activity, 75 μg of protein from the S-100 fraction is incubated at 37°C with the colorimetric caspase 3 substrate N-acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp p-nitroanilide (100 mM; Ac-DEVD-pNA) and 1 mM dATP in a final volume of 120 μL. Cleavage of the caspase substrate is monitored at 405 nm using a GenTec spectrophotometer[3].

Cell Assay

Human glioblastoma cells (U87MG, ATCC) are routinely maintained at 37°C and 5% CO2 in EMEM medium, with NEAA, containing 10% fetal bovine serum, 2 mM of glutamine, 1% penicillin and streptomycin. U87MG cells are used for no more than 15 passages. Cells are seeded in 96-well plates (5000 cells/well). After 24 h cells are treated with Epothilone B. Growth inhibition of U87MG cells is measured after 72 h of drug treatment by using the MTT cell proliferation assay[2].

Animal Administration

Mice[3] D425Med cells (6×106) are injected subcutaneously on the backs of 4-6-week-old athymic nude mice. Tumor volumes are determined from caliper measurements of tumor length (L) and width (l) according to the formula (L×l2)/2. Tumors are allowed to expand to a volume of 200 mm3 (±10%) before treatment start. With the use of a customized shielding device, mice are given strictly loco regional radiotherapy of 3×3 Gy on 3 consecutive days using a Gulmay 200 kV X-ray unit at 100 cGy/min at room temperature. Epothilone B (2 mg/kg; dissolved in 30% PEG-300/70% saline) is applied intravenously 24 h before the first treatment with ionizing radiation (at day 0 of the treatment; n=5 per group). Tumor growth is monitored daily.

References & source

[1]. Regueiro-Ren A, et al. Synthesis and biological activity of novel epothilone aziridines. Org Lett. 2001 Aug 23;3(17):2693-6.

[2]. Pagano A, et al. Epothilone B inhibits migration of glioblastoma cells by inducing microtubule catastrophes and affecting EB1 accumulation at microtubule plus ends. Biochem Pharmacol. 2012 Aug 15;84(4):432-43.

[3]. Oehler C, et al. The microtubule stabilizer patupilone (epothilone B) is a potent radiosensitizer in medulloblastoma cells. Neuro Oncol. 2011 Sep;13(9):1000-10.

DC Chemicals original product information