Inhibition of intra-tumoral angiogenesis and glioma growth by the fibroblast growth factor inhibitor 1,3,6-naphthalenetrisulfonate

1,3,6-naphthalenetrisulfonate (NTS) can inhibit the proliferation in vitro of cells of various origin including glioma. We have studied the effects of NTS on intra;tumoral angiogenesis and tumor growth in the rabbit cornea af ter implantation of C6 rat glioma cells. It was found that neovascularizati on and glioma growth were abolished by topical administration of NTS. This effect could be mediated by both induction of programmed cell death and inh ibition of growth, in endothelium and in tumor cells, most likely as a cons equence of the disruption of the autocrine and paracrine effects of FGF rel eased from endothelial and tumor cells. The results suggest that NTS is a p romising candidate to lead the development of new angiogenesis inhibitors f or the treatment of cancer and other diseases whose progression is dependen t upon the development of new blood vessels.