Cediranib, an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor kinases, inhibits proliferation and invasion of prostate adenocarcinoma cells

Prostate Cancer is the second cause of cancer-related death in men and development of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is the major reason for its high mortality rate. Despite various treatments, all patients succumb to resistant disease, suggesting that there is a pressing need for novel and more efficacious treatments. Members of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family play key roles in the tumorigenesis of mCRPC, indicating that VEGF-targeted therapies may have potential anti-tumor efficacy in this malignancy. However, due to compensatory activation of other family members, clinical trials with single-targeted VEGF inhibitors were discouraging. Here, we determined the anti-neoplastic activity of Cediranib, a pan-VEGF receptor inhibitor, in the mCRPC cell lines. Anti-growth effects of Cediranib were studied by MTT and BrdU cell proliferation assays and crystal violet staining. Annexin V/PI, radiation therapy and cell motility assays were carried out to examine the effects of Cediranib on apoptosis, radio-sensitivity and cell motility. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analyses were conducted to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-tumor activity of Cediranib. Cediranib decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis via inhibition of the anti-apoptotic proteins. Combination with Cediranib synergistically increased Docetaxel sensitivity and potentiated the effects of radiation therapy. Furthermore, Cediranib impaired cell motility via decrease in the expression of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers. These findings suggest that Cediranib may have anti-tumor activity in mCRPC cells and warrant further investigation on the therapeutic activity of this pan-VEGF receptor inhibitor in mCRPC.