Modulation of metastatic potential of B16F10 melanoma cells by acivicin: synergistic action of glutaminase and potentiation of cisplatin cytotoxicity.

Treatment for metastatic melanoma has mostly been unsatisfactory despite advances in ongoing medical research. Here we investigated the role of acivicin, a glutamine analogue, singly and in combination with either E. coli glutaminase or cisplatin, on the growth, angiogenic activity and invasiveness of B16F10 cells in vitro and after allografting in C57BL/6 mice. B16F10 melanoma colonization in the lungs of mice was measured by monitoring colony counts. Host toxicity was assessed with reference to tumor bearing host's weight and survivability. Acivicin promoted melanoma dormancy and reduced melanoma associated angiogenic factors like VEGF level and vessel diameter. Acivicin in combination with glutaminase significantly suppressed tumor growth by 66.7% and increased life-span by 43.5% without host toxicity. Tumor VEGF content was significantly lowered by combination therapy as assessed by ELISA. Accelerated cytotoxicity, reduced invasion and enhanced apoptosis of melanoma cells were exhibited in vitro by combined than by single agent treatment. Moreover, invasion of melanoma cells through matrigel chambers was reduced in presence of acivicin and glutaminase combination. These findings support future studies of acivicin in combination with other anticancer agents for prevention of melanoma metastasis.