Antiangiogenic and antitumor effects of tranilast on mouse lung carcinoma cells

We examined the effects of tranilast on tumor angiogenesis, tumor growth an d metastasis in the mouse Lewis lung carcinoma and C57BL mouse system. Tran ilast significantly reduced the dense capillary network induced by Lewis lu ng cancer cells in a mouse dorsal air sac angiogenesis model. Intraperitone al administration of tranilast at 200 mg/kg/day reduced the tumor size of m ouse Lewis lung carcinoma to about 63% of that of the control and suppresse d pulmonary metastasis in a spontaneous system. Immunohistochemistry reveal ed that tranilast reduced the tumor vascularity and increased apoptosis of the tumor cells ill vivo. Tranilast potentiated the inhibition of the tumor growth induced by cyclophosphamide, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), adri amycin and vindesine in vivo. These results suggest that tranilast has anti angiogenic and antitumor effects and might have possible therapeutic applic ations.