Preferential inhibition of bone metastases by 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine and capecitabine in the 4T1/luc mouse breast cancer model

Oncol Rep. 2005 Sep;14(3):695-9.

Abstract

5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) and capecitabine are oral anti-cancer agents, which are enzymatically converted to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by thymidine phosphorylase in humans and uridine phosphorylase in mice. Since the activity of these phosphorylases is higher in cancerous tissue than in normal tissue, systemic administration of 5'-DFUR and capecitabine achieves high intratumoral 5-FU levels and low adverse effects on non-tumoral tissue. Accordingly, 5'-DFUR and capecitabine are widely used for the treatment of cancer patients. In the present study, we examined the effects of 5'-DFUR and capecitabine on bone metastases, one of the most common complications of breast cancer, using an animal model in which inoculation of 4T1/luc mouse breast cancer cells into the mammary fat pads of female BALB/c mice developed spontaneous metastases in distant organs including bone, lung and liver. Mice received 4T1/luc cell inoculation in the mammary fat pad at day 0 and oral 5'-DFUR (31, 62, 123 or 246 mg/kg) or capecitabine (90, 180 or 359 mg/kg) daily from day 7 to day 21. Both 5'-DFUR and capecitabine significantly inhibited orthotopic tumor formation and distant metastases to bone, lung and liver in a dose-dependent manner. Of note, the lowest dose of 5'-DFUR (31 mg/kg) and capecitabine (90 mg/kg), which failed to inhibit orthotopic tumor development and the lung and liver metastases, significantly reduced the bone metastases. In conclusion, our results suggest that oral 5'-DFUR and capecitabine are effective for the treatment of primary and secondary breast tumors. Most notably, they also suggest that these agents are preferentially beneficial for bone metastases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Bone Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Capecitabine
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Deoxycytidine / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Floxuridine / administration & dosage
  • Fluorouracil / analogs & derivatives
  • Luciferases / genetics
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / genetics
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / prevention & control*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Time Factors
  • Transfection
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Floxuridine
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Capecitabine
  • Luciferases
  • Fluorouracil
  • doxifluridine