Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Phor21-βCG(ala), a lytic peptide conjugate

Abstract

Phor21-βCG(ala), a 36-amino acid peptide comprised of a lytic peptide (Phor21) conjugated to a modified 15-amino acid segment of the β-chain of chorionic gonadotropin (βCG(ala)), selectively kills cancer cells that over-express luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin (LH/CG) receptors by disrupting cellular membrane structure. These studies were designed to further characterize its in-vitro inhibition and in-vivo destruction of prostate cancer cells, biostability and pharmacokinetics to determine its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile. Inhibitory effects of Phor21-βCG(ala) were tested in PC-3 and Caco-2 cells as well as in nude mice bearing PC-3 cells transfected with the luciferase gene (PC-3.luc). Plasma stability, protease hydrolysis and pharmacokinetics of Phor21-βCG(ala) were measured by using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Phor21-βCG(ala) selectively inhibited proliferation in-vitro and in-vivo metastases of PC-3 cells. Phor21-βCG(ala) was relatively stable in mouse, rat, dog and human plasma. Its degradation was partially due to protease hydrolysis and thermodynamic catalysis. Intravenous administration of Phor21-βCG(ala) showed its blood Cmax and AUC0→∞ around the in-vitro effective levels. In the tested rodents, Phor21-βCG(ala) displayed a moderate volume of distribution at steady state (VdSS) and slow clearance (Cl) in the rodents. In conclusion, Phor21-βCG(ala) displayed promising in-vitro and in-vivo anti-cancer activity with favourable pharmacokinetics, and may offer a novel approach to metastatic cancer chemotherapy.