INHIBITION OF BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR AND VASCULOTROPIN BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITIES ON CULTURED-CELLS BY ALMITRINE

Autonomous cell growth may result from interactions of cellular growth factors with their receptors leading to the establishment of external or internal autocrine loops which can induce tumor formation. Tumor p rogression above a small volume also requires an increase in blood sup ply. This is achieved by the release from the tumor of angiogenic grow th factors which diffuse toward preexisting capillaries. The search fo r compounds interfering with growth factors and their receptors repres ents a field of investigation of increasing importance. In this report we show that almitrine interferes with the binding of basic fibroblas t growth factor and vasculotropin/vascular endothelial growth factor t o their receptors present on vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells or retinal pigment epithelium. This molecule inhibits reversibl y serum and basic growth factors stimulated cell growth and motility w ithout affecting epidermal growth factor-stimulated proliferation.