Abstract

Tumor growth is dependent upon angiogenesis. There is an intense search for pharmacological inhibitors of angiogenesis as a novel approach to treat angiogenic diseases, e.g., arthritis, diabetic retinopathy or cancer. A series of compounds, originally studied as potential protein kinase C inhibitors, included the diaminoanthraquinone NSC 639366 (1-[[3-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxypropyl]amino]-4-[(2,3- epoxypropyl)amino]-9,10-anthracenedione fumaric acid salt) (SPC-100097), was found to reversibly inhibit bovine endothelial cell growth with an IC50 that ranged between 1 and 4 nM. NSC 639366 reversibly inhibited endothelial cell migration, particularly endothelial cells stimulated by the potent angiogenic molecule, basic fibroblast growth factor. The activity of secreted urokinase-type plasminogen activator and active interstitial collagenase, but not gelatinase, was inhibited by NSC 639366. In vivo, angiogenesis was significantly inhibited by NSC 639366 by using the chick chorioallantoic membrane or the rat corneal bioassay. Two analogs of NSC 639366 did not inhibit endothelial cell growth. These experiments introduce a novel compound that could be clinically useful against angiogenic diseases and encourage further development of compounds that inhibit the plasminogen-plasmin system known to be a key regulator of angiogenesis.