Inhibition of tumor growth and neovascularization by an anti-gastric ulcer agent, irsogladine.

Irsogladine used clinically as an anti-gastric ulcer agent, at 10(-6)-10(-4)M, inhibited cell proliferation and tubular morphogenesis of vascular endothelial cells, but the proliferation of human epidermoid cancer or glioma cells was not inhibited by this drug, even at 10(-4)M. In vivo studies demonstrated that p.o. administration of irsogladine significantly inhibited tumor growth of human glioma cells in mice, and histological analysis showed a dramatic decrease of the neovascularization in the tumors. In mice transplanted with chambers containing human glioma cells or hepatic cancer cells, irsogladine also inhibited angiogenesis. These in vivo and in vitro assays demonstrate that irsogladine may be a unique and potent inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis.