US 5,776,704 AGrant

Method of Detecting Angiogenic Protein

Issue Date:1998-07-07

•21 Claims

•9 Drawing Sheets

Abstract

The present invention is directed to methods of detecting angiostatin protein which is an endothelial cell inhibitor. The angiostatin protein is a protein isolated from blood or urine that is eluted as single peak from C4-reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. One method of the present invention includes combining a sample suspected of containing angiostatin protein with an antibody which is specific for angiostatin protein. Another method of the present invention includes isolating the protein and detecting the presence of angiostatin protein by performing an endothelial cell proliferation inhibiting assay.

Metadata

Assignee

The Children Medical Center Corporation

Inventors

Michael S. O'Reilly
M. Judah Folkman

Application Information

Application Number:US 4522605

Filing Date:1995-05-26

Priority Date:1994-04-26

Art Unit:181

Classifications

IPC:

G01N 33536C07K 120C07K 14435

Field of Search:

42443551443653094.644;13;217;7.2112536;538350;417

Patent Drawings (9 sheets)

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an endothelial inhibitor, called angiostatin, which reversibly inhibits proliferation of endothelial cells. More particularly, the present invention relates to angiostatin proteins that can be isolated from body fluids such as blood or urine or can be synthesized by recombinant, enzymatic or chemical methods. The angiostatin is capable of inhibiting angiogenesis related diseases and modulating angiogenic processes. In addition, the present invention relates to diagnostic assays for the angiostatin and to antibodies that are specific for the angiostatin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, the term "angiogenesis" means the generation of new blood vessels into a tissue or organ. Under normal physiological conditions, humans or animals undergo angiogenesis only in very specific restricted situations. For example, angiogenesis is normally observed in wound healing, fetal and embryonal development and formation of the corpus luteum, endometrium and placenta. The term "endothelium" means a thin layer of flat epithelial cells that lines serous cavities, lymph vessels, and blood vessels. The term "endothelial inhibiting activity" means the capability of a molecule to inhibit angiogenesis in general and, for example, to inhibit the growth of bovine capillary endothelial cells in culture in the presence of fibroblast growth factor.

Both controlled and uncontrolled angiogenesis are thought to proceed in a similar manner. Endothelial cells and pericytes, surrounded by a basement membrane, form capillary blood vessels. Angiogenesis begins with the erosion of the basement membrane by enzymes released by endothelial cells and leukocytes. The endothelial cells, which line the lumen of blood vessels, then protrude through the basement membrane. Angiogenic stimulants induce the endothelial cells to migrate through the eroded basement membrane. The migrating cells form a "sprout" off the parent blood vessel, where the endothelial cells undergo mitosis and proliferate. The endothelial sprouts merge with each other to form capillary loops, creating the new blood vessel.

Persistent, unregulated angiogenesis occurs in a multiplicity of disease states, tumor metastasis and abnormal growth by endothelial cells and supports the pathological damage seen in these conditions. The diverse pathological disease states in which unregulated angiogenesis is present have been grouped together as angiogenic dependent or angiogenic associated diseases.

The hypothesis that tumor growth is angiogenesis-dependent was first proposed in 1971. (Folkman J., Tumor angiogenesis: Therapeutic implications., N. Engl. Jour. Med. 285: 1182 1186, 1971) In its simplest terms it states: "Once tumor `take` has occurred, every increase in tumor cell population must be preceded by an increase in new capillaries converging on the tumor." Tumor `take` is currently understood to indicate a prevascular phase of tumor growth in which a population of tumor cells occupying a few cubic millimeters volume and not exceeding a few million cells, can survive on existing host microvessels. Expansion of tumor volume beyond this phase requires the induction of new capillary blood vessels. For example, pulmonary micrometastases in the early prevascular phase in mice would be undetectable except by high power microscopy on histological sections.

Examples of the indirect evidence which support this concept include:

(1) The growth rate of tumors implanted in subcutaneous transparent chambers in mice is slow and linear before neovascularization, and rapid and nearly exponential after neovascularization. (Algire G H, et al. Vascular reactions of normal and malignant tumors in vivo. I. Vascular reactions of mice to wounds and to normal and neoplastic transplants. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 6: 73-85, 1945)

(2) Tumors grown in isolated perfused organs where blood vessels do not proliferate are limited to 1-2 mm.sup.3 but expand rapidly to >1000 times this volume when they are transplanted to mice and become neovascularized. (Folkman J, et al., Tumor behavior in isolated perfused organs: In vitro growth and metastasis of biopsy material in rabbit thyroid and canine intestinal segments. Annals of Surgery 164: 491-502, 1966)

(3) Tumor growth in the avascular cornea proceeds slowly and at a linear rate, but switches to exponential growth after neovascularization. (Gimbrone, M. A., Jr. et al., Tumor growth and neovascularization: An experimental model using the rabbit cornea. J. Natl. Cancer Institute 52: 41-427, 1974)

(4) Tumors suspended in the aqueous fluid of the anterior chamber of the rabbit eye, remain viable, avascular and limited in size to <1 mm.sup.3. Once they are implanted on the iris vascular bed, they become neovascularized and grow rapidly, reaching 16,000 times their original volume within 2 weeks. (Gimbrone M A Jr., et al., Tumor dormancy in vivo by prevention of neovascularization. J. Exp. Med. 136: 261-276)

(5) When tumors are implanted on the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane, they grow slowly during an avascular phase of >72 hours, but do not exceed a mean diameter of 0.93+0.29 mm. Rapid tumor expansion occurs within 24 hours after the onset of neovascularization, and by day 7 these vascularized tumors reach a mean diameter of 8.0+2.5 mm. (Knighton D., Avascular and vascular phases of tumor growth in the chick embryo. British J. Cancer, 35: 347-356, 1977)

(6) Vascular casts of metastases in the rabbit liver reveal heterogeneity in size of the metastases, but show a relatively uniform cut-off point for the size at which vascularization is present. Tumors are generally avascular up to 1 mm in diameter, but are neovascularized beyond that diameter. (Lien W., et al., The blood supply of experimental liver metastases. II. A microcirculatory study of normal and tumor vessels of the liver with the use of perfused silicone rubber. Surgery 68: 334-340, 1970)

(7) In transgenic mice which develop carcinomas in the beta cells of the pancreatic islets, pre-vascular hyperplastic islets are limited in size to <1 mm. At 6-7 weeks of age, 4-10% of the islets become neovascularized, and from these islets arise large vascularized tumors of more than 1000 times the volume of the pre-vascular islets. (Folkman J, et al., Induction of angiogenesis during the transition from hyperplasia to neoplasia. Nature 339: 58-61, 1989)

(8) A specific antibody against VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) reduces microvessel density and causes "significant or dramatic" inhibition of growth of three human tumors which rely on VEGF as their sole mediator of angiogenesis (in nude mice). The antibody does not inhibit growth of the tumor cells in vitro. (Kim K J, et al., Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis suppresses tumor growth in vivo. Nature 362: 841-844, 1993)

(9) Anti-bFGF monoclonal antibody causes 70% inhibition of growth of a mouse tumor which is dependent upon secretion of bFGF as its only mediator of angiogenesis. The antibody does not inhibit growth of the tumor cells in vitro. (Hori A, et al., Suppression of solid tumor growth by immunoneutralizing monoclonal antibody against human basic fibroblast growth factor. Cancer Research, 51: 6180-6184, 1991)

(10) Intraperitoneal injection of bFGF enhances growth of a primary tumor and its metastases by stimulating growth of capillary endothelial cells in the tumor. The tumor cells themselves lack receptors for bFGF, and bFGF is not a mitogen for the tumors cells in vitro. (Gross J L, et al. Modulation of solid tumor growth in vivo by bFGF. Proc. Amer. Assoc. Canc. Res. 31: 79, 1990)

(11 ) A specific angiogenesis inhibitor (AGM-1470) inhibits tumor growth and metastases in vivo, but is much less active in inhibiting tumor cell proliferation in vitro. It inhibits vascular endothelial cell proliferation half-maximally at 4 logs lower concentration than it inhibits tumor cell proliferation. (Ingber D, et al., Angioinhibins: Synthetic analogues of fumagillin which inhibit angiogenesis and suppress tumor growth. Nature, 48: 555-557, 1990)

There is also indirect clinical evidence that tumor growth is angiogenesis dependent.

(12) Human retinoblastomas that are metastatic to the vitreous develop into avascular spheroids which are restricted to less than 1 mm.sup.3 despite the fact that they are viable and incorporate .sup.3 H-thymidine (when removed from an enucleated eye and analyzed in vitro).

(13) Carcinoma of the ovary metastasizes to the peritoneal membrane as tiny avascular white seeds (1-3 mm.sup.3). These implants rarely grow larger until one or more of them becomes neovascularized.

(14) Intensity of neovascularization in breast cancer (Weidner N, et al., Tumor angiogenesis correlates with metastasis in invasive breast carcinoma. N. Engl. J. Med. 324: 1-8, 1991, and Weidner N, et al., Tumor angiogenesis: A new significant and independent prognostic indicator in early-stage breast carcinoma, J Natl. Cancer Inst. 84: 1875-1887, 1992) and in prostate cancer (Weidner N, Carroll P R, Flax J, Blumenfeld W, Folkman J. Tumor angiogenesis correlates with metastasis in invasive prostate carcinoma. American Journal of Pathology, 143(2):401-409, 1993) correlates highly with risk of future metastasis.

(15) Metastasis from human cutaneous melanoma is rare prior to neovascularization. The onset of neovascularization leads to increased thickness of the lesion and an increasing risk of metastasis. (Srivastava A, et al., The prognostic significance of tumor vascularity in intermediate thickness (0.76-4.0 mm thick) skin melanoma. Amer. J. Pathol. 133: 419-423, 1988)

(16) In bladder cancer, the urinary level of an angiogenic peptide, bFGF, is a more sensitive indicator of status and extent of disease than is cytology. (Nguyen M, et al., Elevated levels of an angiogenic peptide, basic fibroblast growth factor, in urine of bladder cancer patients. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 85: 241-242, 1993)

Thus, it is clear that angiogenesis plays a major role in the metastasis of a cancer. If this angiogenic activity could be repressed or eliminated, then the tumor, although present, would not grow. In the disease state, prevention of angiogenesis could avert the damage caused by the invasion of the new microvascular system. Therapies directed at control of the angiogenic processes could lead to the abrogation or mitigation of these diseases.

What is needed therefore is a composition and method which can inhibit the unwanted growth of blood vessels, especially into tumors. The composition should be able to overcome the activity of endogenous growth factors in premetastatic tumors and prevent the formation of the capillaries in the tumors thereby inhibiting the growth of the tumors. The composition, and antibodies specific to the composition, should also be able to modulate the formation of capillaries in other angiogenic processes, such as wound healing and reproduction. Finally, the composition and method for inhibiting angiogenesis should preferably be non-toxic and produce few side effects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, compositions and methods are provided that are effective in inhibiting unwanted angiogenesis, especially angiogenesis related to tumor growth. The present invention includes a protein, which has been named "angiostatin", defined by its ability to overcome the angiogenic activity of endogenous growth factors such as bFGF, in vitro. Angiostatin comprises a protein having a molecular weight of between approximately 38 kilodaltons and 45 kilodaltons as determined by reducing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and having an amino acid sequence substantially similar to that of a fragment of murine plasminogen beginning at amino acid number 98 of an intact murine plasminogen molecule.

The amino acid sequence of angiostatin varies slightly between species. For example, in human angiostatin the amino acid sequence is substantially similar to the sequence of the above described murine plasminogen fragment, although an active human angiostatin sequence may start at either amino acid number 97 or 99 of an intact human plasminogen amino acid sequence. Further, human plasminogen has similar anti-angiogenic activity as shown in a mouse tumor model. It is to be understood that the number of amino acids in the active angiostatin molecule may vary and all amino acid sequences that have endothelial inhibiting activity are contemplated as being included in the present invention.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating diseases and processes mediated by undesired and uncontrolled angiogenesis by administering to a human or animal a composition comprising a substantially purified angiostatin or angiostatin derivative in a dosage sufficient to inhibit angiogenesis. The present invention is particularly useful for treating or for repressing the growth of tumors. Administration of angiostatin to a human or animal with prevascularized metastasized tumors will prevent the growth or expansion of those tumors.

The present invention also includes diagnostic methods and kits for detecting the angiostatin in biological fluids. The diagnostic method and kit can be in any configuration well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The present invention also includes antibodies specific for the angiostatin and antibodies that inhibit the binding of antibodies specific for the angiostatin. These antibodies can be polyclonal antibodies or monoclonal antibodies. The antibodies specific for the angiostatin can be used in diagnostic kits to detect the presence and quantity of angiostatin which is diagnostic or prognostic for the occurrence or recurrence of cancer or other disease mediated by angiogenesis. Antibodies specific for angiostatin may also be administered to a human or animal to passively immunize the human or animal against angiostatin, thereby reducing angiogenic inhibition.

The present invention also includes diagnostic methods and kits for detecting the presence and quantity of antibodies that bind angiostatin in body fluids. The diagnostic method and kit can be in any configuration well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a composition comprising an angiostatin.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of treating diseases and processes that are mediated by angiogenesis.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a diagnostic or prognostic method and kit for detecting the presence and amount of angiostatin in a body fluid.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and composition for treating diseases and processes that are mediated by angiogenesis including, but not limited to, hemangioma, solid tumors, leukemia, metastasis, telangiectasia psoriasis scleroderma, pyogenic granuloma, Myocardial angiogenesis, plaque neovascularization, cororany collaterals, ischemic limb angiogenesis, corneal diseases, rubeosis, neovascular glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retrolental fibroplasia, arthritis, diabetic neovascularization, macular degeneration, wound healing, peptic ulcer, fractures, keloids, vasculogenesis, hematopoiesis, ovulation, menstruation, and placentation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a composition for treating or repressing the growth of a cancer.

It is an object of present invention to provide a method for detecting and quantifying the presence of an antibody specific for an angiostatin in a body fluid.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for the detection or prognosis of cancer.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a therapy for cancer that has minimal side effects.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a review of the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A and 1B show SEQ ID NO:1, the amino acid sequence of the whole murine plasminogen.

FIG. 2A and 2B show the beginning sequence of the angiostatin for murine (SEQ ID NO:2) and compares the murine sequence with corresponding human (SEQ ID NO:3), Rhesus monkey (SEQ ID NO:4), porcine (SEQ ID NO:5) and bovine (SEQ ID NO:6) plasminogen peptide fragments. The mouse sequence is listed first, followed by human, Rhesus, porcine and bovine.

FIG. 3A shows BrdU labeling index of tumor cells in the lung in the presence or absence of a primary tumor. FIG. 3B shows mouse being weights in the presence of absence of a primary tumor.

FIG. 4 shows Matrigel analysis of the influence of a Lewis lung primary tumor on bFGF driven angiogenesis in vivo.

FIG. 5 shows dose response curve for serum derived from mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC-Low) versus serum from normal mice. Bovine capillary endothelial cells were assayed in a bFGF-driven 72-hour proliferation assay.

FIG. 6 shows that both low and high metastatic tumors contain endothelial mitogenic activity in their ascites, but only the low metastatic tumor line has endothelial inhibitory activity in the serum.

FIG. 7 shows a C4 Reverse Phase Chromatography profile of partially purified serum or urine from tumor-bearing animals.

FIG. 8 shows surface lung metastases after the 13 day treatment of mice with intact plasminogen molecule, active fraction from a lysine binding site I preparation, concentrated urine from tumor bearing mice and concentrated urine from normal mice.

FIG. 9 shows lung weight after the 13 day treatment of mice with intact plasminogen molecule, active fraction from lysine binding site I preparation, concentrated urine from tumor bearing mice and concentrated urine from normal mice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention includes compositions and methods for the treatment of diseases and processes that are mediated by or associated with angiogenesis. The composition is angiostatin, which can be isolated from body fluids including, but not limited to, serum, urine and ascites, or synthesized by chemical or biological methods (e.g. cell culture, recombinant gene expression, and in vitro enzymatic catalysis of plasminogen or plasmin to yield active angiostatin). Recombinant techniques include gene amplification from DNA sources using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and gene amplification from RNA sources using reverse transcriptase/PCR. Angiostatin inhibits the growth of blood vessels into tissues such as unvascularized or vascularized tumors. The present invention includes a protein that has a molecular weight of approximately 38 to 45 kilodaltons that is capable of overcoming the angiogenic activity of endogenous growth factors such as bFGF, in vitro. Angiostatin is a protein having a molecular weight of between approximately 38 kilodaltons and 45 kilodaltons as determined by reducing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and having an amino acid sequence substantially similar to that of a murine plasminogen fragment beginning at amino acid number 98 of an intact murine plasminogen molecule. The term "substantially similar," when used in reference to angiostatin amino acid sequences, means an amino acid sequence having anti-angiogenic activity and having a molecular weight of approximately 38 kD to 45 kD, which also has a high degree of sequence homology to the peptide fragment of mouse plasminogen beginning approximately at amino acid number 98 in mouse plasminogen and weighing 38 kD to 45 kD. A high degree of homology means approximately 60% amino acid homology, suitably approximately 70% amino acid homology, and desirably approximately 80% amino acid homology.

The amino acid sequence of the complete murine plasminogen molecule is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and in SEQ ID NO:1, The sequence for angiostatin begins approximately at amino acid 98. Active human angiostatin may start at either amino acid 97 or 99 of the intact human plasminogen molecule. The amino acid sequence of the first 339 amino acids of angiostatin from mouse is shown in FIG. 2A, 2B and 2C. (SEQ ID NO:2), and is compared with the sequences of corresponding plasminogen peptide fragments from human (SEQ ID NO:3, Rhesus monkey (SEQ ID NO:4), porcine (SEQ ID NO:5) and bovine (SEQ ID NO:6) plasminogen. Given that these sequences are identical in well over 50% of their amino acids, it is to be understood that the amino acid sequence of the angiostatin is substantially similar among species. The total number of amino acids in the angiostatin is not known precisely but is defined by the molecular weight of the active molecule. The amino acid sequence of the angiostatin of the present invention may vary depending upon from which species the plasminogen molecule is derived. Thus, although the angiostatin of the present invention that is derived from human plasminogen has a slightly different sequence than angiostatin derived from mouse it has anti-angiogenic activity as shown in a mouse tumor model.

Angiostatin has been shown to be capable of inhibiting the growth of endothelial cells in vitro. Angiostatin does not inhibit the growth of cell lines derived from other cell types. Specifically, angiostatin has no effect on Lewis lung carcinoma cell lines, mink lung epithelium, 3T3 fibroblasts, bovine aortic smooth muscle cells, bovine retinal pigment epithelium, MDCk (canine renal epithelium, W138 cells (human fetal lung fibroblasts) EFN cells (murine fetal fibroblasts) and LM cells (murine connective tissue).

Angiostatin has a specific three dimensional conformation that is defined by the kringle region of the plasminogen molecule. (Robbins, K. C., "The plasminogen-plasmin enzyme system" Hemostasis and Thrombosis. Basic Principles and Practice, 2nd Edition, ed. by Colman, R. W. et al. J. B. Lippincott Company, pp. 340-357, 1987) There are five such kringle regions, which are conformationally related motifs and have substantial sequence homology, in the NH.sub.2 terminal portion of the plasminogen molecule. The three dimensional conformation of angiostatin is believed to encompass plasminogen kringles 1 through 3 and a part of kringle 4. Each kringle region of the plasminogen molecule contains approximately 80 amino acids and contains 3 disulfide bonds. This cysteine motif is known to exist in other biologically active proteins. These proteins include, but are not limited to, prothrombin, hepatocyte growth fact/scatter factor and macrophage stimulating protein. (Yoshimura, T, et al., "Cloning, sequencing, and expression of human macrophage stimulating protein (MSP, MST1) confirms MSP as a member of the family of kringle proteins and locates the MSP gene on Chromosome 3" J. Biol. Chem.., Vol. 268, No. 21, pp. 15461-15468, 1993) It is contemplated that any isolated protein or peptide having a three dimensional kringle-like conformation or cysteine motif that has anti-angiogenic activity in vivo, is part of the present invention.

The present invention also includes the detection of the angiostatin in body fluids for the purpose of diagnosis or prognosis of diseases such as cancer. The present invention also includes methods of treating or preventing angiogenic diseases and processes including, but not limited to, arthritis and tumors by stimulating the production of angiostatin, and/or by administering substantially purified angiostatin to a patient. It is to be understood that the angiostatin can be animal or human in origin. Angiostatin can also be produced synthetically by chemical reaction or by recombinant techniques. Angiostatin can also be produced by enzymatically cleaving isolated plasminogen or plasmin to generate peptides having anti-angiogenic activity.

Passive antibody therapy using antibodies that specifically bind angiostatin can be employed to modulate angiogenic-dependent processes such as reproduction, development, and wound healing and tissue repair.

Angiostatin can be isolated on an HPLC C4 column (see Table 3). The angiostatin protein is eluted at 30 to 35% in an acetonitrile gradient. On a sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) gel under reducing conditions, the protein band with activity eluted as a single peak at approximately 38 kilodaltons.

The inventors have shown that a growing primary tumor is associated with the release into the blood stream specific inhibitor(s) of endothelial cell proliferation, including angiostatin which can suppress angiogenesis within a metastasis and thereby inhibit the growth of the metastasis itself. The source of the angiostatin associated with the primary tumor is not known. The compound may be produced by degradation of plasminogen by a specific protease, or angiostatin could be produced by expression of a specific gene coding for angiostatin. The angiogenic phenotype of a primary tumor depends on production of angiogenic peptides in excess of endothelial cell inhibitors which are elaborated by normal cells, but are believed to be down-regulated during transformation to neoplasia. While production of angiostatin may be down-regulated in an individual tumor cell relative to production by its parent, the total inhibitor elaborated by the whole tumor may be sufficient to enter the circulation and suppress endothelial growth at remote sites of micrometastases. Angiostatin remains in the circulation for a significantly longer time than the angiogenic peptide(s) released by a primary tumor. Thus, the angiogenic peptides appear to act locally, whereas endothelial cell inhibitor acts globally, circulating in the blood with relatively long half-lives. The half-life of the angiostatin is approximately 12 hours to 5 days.

Although not wanting to be bound by the following hypothesis, it is believed that when a tumor becomes angiogenic it releases one or more angiogenic peptides (e.g., aFGF, bFGF, VEGF, IL-8, GM-CSF, etc.), which act locally, target endothelium in the neighborhood of a primary tumor from an extravascular direction, and do not circulate (or circulate with a short half-life). These angiogenic peptides must be produced in an amount sufficient to overcome the action of endothelial cell inhibitor (inhibitors of angiogenesis) for a primary tumor to continue to expand its population. Once such a primary tumor is growing well, it continues to release endothelial cell inhibitors into the circulation. According to this hypothesis, these inhibitors act at a distance from the primary tumor, target capillary endothelium of a metastasis from an intravascular direction, and continue to circulate. Thus, just at the time when a remote metastasis might begin to initiate angiogenesis, the capillary endothelium in its neighborhood could be swamped by incoming angiostatin.

Once a primary tumor has reached sufficient size to cause angiostatin to be released continuously into the circulation, it is difficult for a second tumor implant (or a micrometastasis) to initiate or increase its own angiogenesis. If a second tumor implant (e.g., into the subcutaneous space, or into the cornea, or intravenously to the lung) occurs at the same time, or shortly after the primary tumor is implanted, the primary tumor will not be able to suppress the secondary tumor (because angiogenesis in the secondary tumor will already be well underway). If two tumors are implanted simultaneously (e.g., in opposite flanks), the inhibitors may have an equivalent inhibiting effect on each other.

The angiostatin of the present invention can be:

(i) Administered to tumor-bearing humans or animals as anti-angiogenic therapy.

(ii) Monitored in human or animal serum or urine as prognostic markers.

(iii) Used as the basis to analyze serum and urine of cancer patients for similar angiostatic molecules.

Angiostatin can be used therapeutically as a long-term anti-metastatic therapy Angiostatin can also be used to develop methods and kits for measuring the concentration in a body fluid such as urine or blood. By measuring the concentration of the angiostatin in a body fluid, such as blood or urine, one can diagnose a cancer or determine the prognosis of the disease.

It is contemplated as part of the present invention that angiostatin can be isolated from a body fluid such as blood or urine of patients or the angiostatin can be produced by recombinant DNA methods or synthetic peptide chemical methods that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Protein purification methods are well known in the art and a specific example of a method for purifying angiostatin, and assaying for inhibitor activity is provided in the examples below. Isolation of human endogenous angiostatin is accomplished using similar techniques.

One example of a method of producing angiostatin using recombinant DNA techniques entails the steps of (1) identifying and purifying an angiostatin as discussed above, and as more fully described below, (2) determining the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified inhibitor, (3) synthetically generating a DNA oligonucleotide probe that corresponds to the N-terminal amino acid sequence, (4) generating a DNA gene bank from human or other mammalian DNA, (5) probing the gene bank with the DNA oligonucleotide probe, (6) selecting clones that hybridize to the oligonucleotide, (7) isolating the inhibitor gene from the clone, (8) inserting the gene into an appropriate vector such as an expression vector, (9) inserting the gene-containing vector into a microorganism or other expression system capable of expressing the inhibitor gene, and (10) isolating the recombinantly produced inhibitor. The above techniques are more fully described in laboratory manuals such as "Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual" Second Edition by Sambrook et al., Cold Spring Harbor Press, 1989. The DNA sequence of human plasminogen has been published (Browne, M. J., et al., "Expression of recombinant human plasminogen and aglycoplasminogen in HeLa cells" Fibrinolysis Vol.5 (4). 257-260, 1991) and is incorporated herein by reference

The gene for angiostatin may also be isolated from cells or tissue (such as tumor cells) that express high levels of angiostatin by (1) isolating messenger RNA from the tissue, (2) using reverse transcriptase to generate the corresponding DNA sequence and then (3) using PCR with the appropriate primers to amplify the DNA sequence coding for the active angiostatin amino acid sequence.

Yet another method of producing angiostatin, or biologically active fragments thereof, is by peptide synthesis. Once a biologically active fragment of an angiostatin is found using the assay system described more fully below, it can be sequenced, for example by automated peptide sequencing methods. Alternatively, once the gene or DNA sequence which codes for angiostatin is isolated, for example by the methods described above, the DNA sequence can be determined, which in turn provides information regarding the amino acid sequence. Thus, if the biologically active fragment is generated by specific methods, such as tryptic digests, or if the fragment is N-terminal sequenced, the remaining amino acid sequence can be determined from the corresponding DNA sequence.

Once the amino acid sequence of the peptide is known, the fragment can be synthesized by techniques well known in the art, as exemplified by "Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis: A Practical Approach" E. Atherton and R. C. Sheppard, IRL Press, Oxford England. Similarly, multiple fragments can be synthesized which are subsequently linked together to form larger fragments.

Angiostatin is effective in treating diseases or processes that are mediated by, or involve, angiogenesis. The present invention includes the method of treating an angiogenesis mediated disease with an effective amount of angiostatin. The angiogenesis mediated diseases include, but are not limited to, solid tumors; blood born tumors such as leukemias; tumor metastasis; benign tumors, for example hemangiomas, acoustic neuromas, neurofibromas, trachomas, and pyogenic granulomas; rheumatoid arthritis; psoriasis; ocular angiogenic diseases, for example, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, macular degeneration, corneal graft rejection, neovascular glaucoma, retrolental fibroplasia, rubeosis; Osler-Webber Syndrome; myocardial angiogenesis; plaque neovascularization; telangiectasia; hemophiliac joints; angiofibroma; and wound granulation. Angiostatin is useful in the treatment of disease of excessive or abnormal stimulation of endothelial cells. These diseases include, but are not limited to, intestinal adhesions, atherosclerosis, scleroderma, and hypertrophic scars, i.e., keloids. Angiostatin can be used as a birth control agent by preventing vascularization required for embryo implantation.

Angiostatin may be used in combination with other compositions and procedures for the treatment of diseases. For example, a tumor may be treated conventionally with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy combined with angiostatin and then angiostatin may be subsequently administered to the patient to extend the dormancy of micrometastases and to stabilize any residual primary tumor.

The angiostatin of the present invention also can be used to generate antibodies that are specific for the inhibitor. The antibodies can be either polyclonal antibodies or monoclonal antibodies. These antibodies that specifically bind to the angiostatin can be used in diagnostic methods and kits that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art to detect or quantify the angiostatin in a body fluid. Results from these tests can be used to diagnose or predict the occurrence or recurrence of a cancer and other angiogenic mediated diseases.

The angiostatin also can be used in a diagnostic method and kit to detect and quantify antibodies capable of binding angiostatin. Patients that have such circulating anti-angiostatin antibodies may be more likely to develop tumors and cancers, and may be more likely to have recurrences of cancer after treatments or periods of remission.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of blocking the action of excess endogenous angiostatin. This can be done by passively immunizing a human or animal with antibodies specific for the undesired angiostatin in the system. This treatment can be important in treating abnormal ovulation, menstruation and placentation, and vasculogenesis.

It is to be understood that the present invention is contemplated to include any derivatives of the angiostatin that have endothelial inhibitory activity. The present invention includes the entire angiostatin protein, derivatives of the angiostatin protein and biologically-active fragments of the angiostatin protein. These include proteins with angiostatin activity that have amino acid substitutions or have sugars or other molecules attached to amino acid functional groups. The present invention also includes genes that code for angiostatin and to proteins that are expressed by those genes.

The proteins and protein fragments with the angiostatin activity described above can be provided as isolated and substantially purified proteins and protein fragments in pharmaceutically acceptable formulations using formulation methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art. These formulations can be administered by standard routes. In general, the combinations may be administered by the topical, transdermal, intraperitoneal, oral, rectal or parenteral (e.g., intravenous, subcutaneous or intramuscular) route. In addition, the angiostatin may be incorporated into biodegradable polymers allowing for sustained release of the compound, the polymers being implanted in the vicinity of where drug delivery is desired, for example, at the site of a tumor or implanted so that the angiostatin is slowly released systemically. The biodegradable polymers and their use are described, for example, in detail in Brem et al., J. Neurosurg. 74: 441-446 (1991), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The dosage of the angiostatin of the present invention will depend on the disease state or condition being treated and other clinical factors such as weight and condition of the human or animal and the route of administration of the compound. For treating humans or animals, between approximately 0.5 mg/kilogram to 500 mg/kilogram of the angiostatin can be administered. Depending upon the half-life of the angiostatin in the particular animal or human, the angiostatin can be administered between several times per day to once a week. It is to be understood that the present invention has application for both human and veterinary use. The methods of the present invention contemplate single as well as multiple administrations, given either simultaneously or over an extended period of time.

The angiostatin formulations include those suitable for oral, rectal, ophthalmic (including intravitreal or intracameral), nasal, topical (including buccal and sublingual), vaginal or parenteral (including subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, intravenous, intradermal, intratracheal, and epidural) administration. The angiostatin formulations may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form and may be prepared by conventional pharmaceutical techniques. Such techniques include the step of bringing into association the active ingredient and the pharmaceutical carrier(s) or excipient(s). In general, the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredient with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.

Formulations suitable for parenteral administration include aqueous and non-aqueous sterile injection solutions which may contain anti-oxidants, buffers, bacteriostats and solutes which render the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient; and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions which may include suspending agents and thickening agents. The formulations may be presented in unit-dose or multi-dose containers, for example, sealed ampules and vials, and may be stored in a freeze-dried (lyophilized) condition requiring only the addition of the sterile liquid carrier, for example, water for injections, immediately prior to use. Extemporaneous injection solutions and suspensions may be prepared from sterile powders, granules and tablets of the kind previously described.

Preferred unit dosage formulations are those containing a daily dose or unit, daily sub-dose, as herein above recited, or an appropriate fraction thereof, of the administered ingredient. It should be understood that in addition to the ingredients, particularly mentioned above, the formulations of the present invention may include other agents conventional in the art having regard to the type of formulation in question.

This invention is further illustrated by the following examples, which are not to be construed in any way as imposing limitations upon the scope thereof. On the contrary, it is to be clearly understood that resort may be had to various other embodiments, modifications, and equivalents thereof which, after reading the description herein, may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention and/or the scope of the appended claims.

EXAMPLE 1

Choice of an animal-tumor system in which growth of metastasis is inhibited by the primary tumor and is accelerated after removal of the primary tumor

By screening a variety of murine tumors capable of inhibiting their own metastases, a Lewis lung carcinoma was selected in which the primary tumor most efficiently inhibited lung metastasis. Syngeneic C57B16/J six-week-old male mice were injected (subcutaneous dorsum) with 1.times.10.sup.6 tumor cells. Visible tumors first appeared after 3-4 days. When tumors were approximately 1500 mm.sup.3 in size, mice were randomized into two groups. The primary tumor was completely excised in the first group and left intact in the second group after a sham operation. Although tumors from 500 mm.sup.3 to 3000 mm.sup.3 inhibited growth of metastases, 1500 mm.sup.3 was the largest primary tumor that could be safely resected with high survival and no local recurrence.

After 21 days, all mice were sacrificed and autopsied. In mice with an intact primary tumor, there were four +2 visible metastases, compared to fifty +5 metastases in the mice in which the tumor had been removed (p<0.0001). These data were confirmed by lung weight, which correlates closely with tumor burden, as has been previously demonstrated. There was a 400% increase in wet lung weight in the mice that had their tumors removed compared to mice in which the tumor remained intact (p<0.0001).

This experimental model gave reproducible data and the experiment described is reproducible. This tumor is labeled "Lewis lung carcinoma--low metastatic" (LLC-Low). The tumor also suppressed metastases in a nearly identical pattern in SCID mice, which are deficient in both B and T lymphocytes.

EXAMPLE 2

Isolation of a variant of Lewis lung carcinoma tumor that is highly metastatic, whether or not the primary tumor is removed

A highly metastatic variant of Lewis lung carcinoma arose spontaneously from the LLC-Low cell line in one group of mice and has been isolated according to the methods described in Example I and repeatedly transplanted. This tumor (LLC-High) forms more than 30 visible lung metastases whether or not the primary tumor is present.

EXAMPLE 3

Size of metastases and proliferation rate of tumor cells within them. Effect of the primary tumor that inhibits metastases (LLC-Low)

C57BI6/J mice were used in all experiments. Mice were inoculated subcutaneously with LLC-Low cells, and 14 days later the primary tumor was removed in half of the mice. At 5, 10 and 15 days after the tumor had been removed, mice were sacrificed. Histological sections of lung metastases were obtained. Mice with an intact primary tumor had micrometastases in the lung which were not neovascularized. These metastases were restricted to a diameter of 12-15 cell layers and did not show a significant size increase even 15 days after tumor removal. In contrast, animals from which the primary tumor was removed, revealed large vascularized metastases as early as 5 days after operation. These metastases underwent a further 4-fold increase in volume by the 15th day after the tumor was removed (as reflected by lung weight and histology). Approximately 50% of the animals who had a primary tumor removed died of lung metastases before the end of the experiment. All animals with an intact primary tumor survived to the end of the experiment.

Replication rate of tumor cells within metastases was determined by counting nuclei stained with BrdU which had been previously injected into the mice. The high percentage of tumor cells incorporating BrdU in small, avascular metastases of animals with an intact primary tumor was equivalent to the BrdU incorporation of tumor cells in the large vascularized metastases of mice from which the primary tumor had been removed (FIG. 3A). This finding suggests that the presence of a primary tumor has no direct effect on the replication rate of tumor cells within a metastasis.

FIG. 3A shows BrdU labeling index of tumor cells in the lung in the presence or absence of a primary tumor. Before immunohistochemical staining, sections were permeabilized with 0.2M HCl for 10 minutes and digested with 1 .mu.g/ml proteinase K (Boehringer Mannheim GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) in 0.2M Tris-HCl 2 mM CaCl.sub.2 at 37.degree. C. for 15 minutes. Labeling index was estimated by counting percentage of positive nuclei at 250 power. FIG. 3B depicts an analysis of total lung weight of tumors with primary tumors intact or removed 5, 10 and 15 days after operation. Animals were sacrificed 6 hours after intraperitoneal injection of BrdU (0.75 mg/mouse).

EXAMPLE 4

Inhibition of angiogenesis in lung metastases in the presence of an intact primary tumor

To measure the degree of vascularization in lung metastases, tissues were stained with antibodies against von Willebrand factor (an endothelial specific marker, available from Dako Inc., Carpenteria, Calif.). Metastases from animals with intact tumors formed a thin cuff (8-12 tumor cell layers) around existing pulmonary vessels. Except for the endothelial cells of the vessel lining, no or few cells were positive for von Willebrand factor. In contrast, lung metastases of animals 5 days after removal of the primary tumor were not only larger but were also infiltrated with capillary sprouts (arrows) containing endothelial cells which stained strongly for von Willebrand factor.

In immunohistochemical analysis of the presence of endothelial cells in lung metastases, lung metastasis with the primary tumor intact 19 days after inoculation in the lung, had a cuff of tumor cells around a pre-existing microvessel in the lung. The metastasis was limited to 8 to 12 cell layers. There was no evidence of neovascularization around the microvessel, and it did not contain any new microvessels. This was typical of the maximum size of an avascular pre-angiogenic metastasis.

In an immunohistochemical analysis of tissue collected five days after the primary tumor was resected (19 days after inoculation of the primary tumor), the metastasis surrounded a pre-existing vessel in the lung. In contrast, in the sample where the primary tumor was not resected, the tumor was neovascularized. Thus, an intact primary tumor inhibits formation of new capillary blood vessels in metastases, but proliferation of tumor cells within a metastasis are not affected by the primary tumor.

EXAMPLE 5

A primary tumor inhibits angiogenesis of a second tumor implanted in the mouse cornea. Growth of this second tumor is inhibited

A 0.25 to 0.5 mm.sup.2 Lewis lung tumor (LLC-Low) was implanted in the mouse cornea on day 0. (Muthukkaruppan Vr., et al., Angiogenesis in the mouse cornea. Science 205: 1416-1418, 1979) A primary tumor was formed by inoculating 1.times.10.sup.6 LLC-Low cells subcutaneously in the dorsum, either 4 or 7 days before the corneal implant; or on the day of the corneal implant; or 4 or 7 days after the corneal implant. Control mice received the corneal implant but not the subcutaneous tumor. Other control mice received the corneal implant and an inoculation of LLC-High tumor cells in the dorsum 4 days before the corneal implant. The corneas were evaluated daily by slit-lamp stereomicroscopy for the growth of the corneal tumor (measured by an ocular micrometer) and for the growth of new capillary vessels from the edge of the corneal limbus.

In control mice not bearing a primary subcutaneous tumor, a majority of corneas (6/8) developed neovascularization starting at day 6 to 7 days after corneal implantation and continuing to day 10. By day 10, the vascularized corneal tumors had reached approximately a quarter of the volume of the whole eye. In the presence of the primary subcutaneous LLC-Low tumor, the corneal implants did not become vascularized if the primary was in place by at least 4 days or more before the corneal implant (Table 1). In the absence of neovascularization, corneal tumors grew slowly as thin, white, avascular discs within the cornea.

However, if the primary tumor was not implanted until 4 days after the corneal implant, corneas became vascularized and 3/3 corneal tumors grew at similar rates as the non-tumor bearing controls. In the presence of the primary subcutaneous LLC-High tumor, the majority of corneas (2/3) developed neovascularization starting at day 7 after corneal implantation and continuing to day 10. By day 10, the vascularized corneal tumors again had reached approximately a quarter of the volume of the whole eye.

EXAMPLE 6

Primary intact tumor inhibits angiogenesis induced by a secondary subcutaneous implant of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF.)

Although the experiments described in Examples 4 and 5 show that a primary tumor inhibits angiogenesis in a secondary metastasis, these studies do not reveal whether the primary tumor: (i) inhibits endothelial proliferation (or angiogenesis) directly, or (ii) indirectly by down-regulating the angiogenic activity of the metastatic tumor cells. To distinguish between these two possibilities, a focus of subcutaneous angiogenesis was induced by an implant of matrigel containing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). (Passaniti A, et al., A simple, quantitative method for assessing angiogenesis and anti-angiogenic agents using reconstituted basement membrane, heparin and fibroblast growth factor. Lab. Invest. 67: 519, 1992)

Matrigel (an extract of basement membrane proteins), containing either 25 or 50 ng/ml bFGF in the presence of heparin, was injected subcutaneously on the ventral surface of normal and tumor-bearing mice (LLC-Low). Mice were sacrificed 4 days later and hemoglobin concentration in the gel was measured to quantify blood vessel formation. It has previously been shown that the number of new vessels which enter the matrigel is correlated with hemoglobin concentration. (Folkman J., Angiogenesis and its inhibitors in "Important Advances in Oncology 1985", V T DeVita, S. Hellman and S. Rosenberg, editors, J. B. Lippincott, Philadelphia 1985) Some gels were also prepared for histological examination. In normal mice, matrigel pellets which contained 50 ng/ml bFGF were completely red. They were heavily invaded by new capillary vessels, and contained 2.4 g/dl hemoglobin. Matrigel which lacked bFGF was translucent and gray and contained only 0.4 g/dl hemoglobin (a 6-fold difference). In contrast, matrigel from mice with a primary tumor contained only 0.5 g/dl (FIG. 4).

The near complete inhibition of angiogenesis in this experiment suggests that the presence of a Lewis lung primary tumor can inhibit bFGF-induced angiogenesis directly.

EXAMPLE 7

Transfer of serum from a tumor-bearing animal to an animal from which the primary tumor has been removed suppresses metastases

Mice were implanted with Lewis lung carcinoma as described above. After 15 days, when tumors were approximately 1500 mm.sup.3, the mice were randomized into four groups. Three groups underwent complete surgical resection of the primary tumor; in one group the tumors were left in place (after a sham surgical procedure). The mice in the three resection groups then received daily intraperitoneal injections of saline, serum from normal nontumor bearing mice, or serum from mice with 1500 mm.sup.3 Lewis lung carcinomas. The group of mice with the tumors left intact received intraperitoneal saline injections. All mice were treated for 21 days, after which the animals were euthanized and lung metastases were counted (Table 2).

These results were confirmed by lung weight. p=<0.0001 for the difference between the two groups (55 & 50) vs. (7 & 3)!.

EXAMPLE 8

Bovine capillary endothelial (BCE) cell assay

BCE cells are used between passages 9 and 14 only. At day 0, BCE cells are plated onto gelatinized (1.5% gelatin in PBS at 370, 10% CO.sub.2 for 24 hours and then rinsed with 0.5 ml 20 PBS) 24 well plates at a concentration of 12,500 cells/well. Cell counts are performed using a hemocytometer. Cells are plated in 500 .mu.l DMEM with 10% heat-inactivated (56.degree. C. for 20 minutes) bovine calf serum and 1% glutamine-pen-strep (GPS).

BCE cells are challenged as follows: Media is removed and replaced with 250 .mu.l of DMEM/5% BCS/1%GPS. The sample to be tested is then added to wells. (The amount varies depending on the sample being tested) Plates are placed at 37.degree. C./10% CO.sub.2 for approximately 10 minutes. 250 .mu.l of DMEM/5% BCS/1% GPS with 2 ng/ml bFGF is added to each well. The final media is 500 .mu.l of DMEM/5% BCS/1%GPS/ with 1 ng/ml bFGF. The plate is returned to 37.degree. C./10% CO.sub.2 incubator for 72 hours.

At day 4, cells are counted by removing the medium and then trypsinizing all wells (0.5 ml trypsin/EDTA) for 2 to 3 minutes. The suspended cells are then transferred to scintillation vials with 9.5 ml Hemetall and counted using a Coulter counter. A unit of activity is that amount of serum containing angiostatin that is capable of producing half-maximal inhibition of capillary endothelial proliferation when endothelial cells are incubated in bFGF 1 ng/ml for 72 hours.

EXAMPLE 9

Serum from mice bearing the low metastatic Lewis lung tumor (LLC-Low) inhibits capillary endothelial cell proliferation in vitro

Bovine capillary endothelial cells were stimulated by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF 1 ng/ml), in a 72-hour proliferation assay. The serum of tumor-bearing mice added to these cultures inhibited endothelial cell proliferation in a dose-dependent and reversible manner. Normal serum was not inhibitory (FIG. 5). Endothelial cell proliferation was inhibited in a similar manner (relative to controls) by serum obtained from tumor-bearing nu/nu mice and SCID mice. After the primary tumor was removed, angiostatin activity disappeared from the serum by 3-5 days.

Tumor-bearing serum also inhibited bovine aortic endothelial cells and endothelial cells derived from a spontaneous mouse hemangioendothelioma, (Obeso, et al., "Methods in Laboratory Investigation, A Hemangioendothelioma-derived cell line; Its use as a Model for the Study of Endothelial Cell Biology," Lab Invest., 63(2), pgs 259-269, 1990) but did not inhibit Lewis lung tumor cells, 3T3 fibroblasts, aortic smooth muscle cells, mink lung epithelium, or W138 human fetal lung fibroblasts.

EXAMPLE 10

Serum from mice bearing the Lewis lung tumor (LLC-High) that does not inhibit metastases, does not inhibit capillary endothelial cell proliferation in vitro

Serum from mice bearing a primary tumor of the LLC-High did not significantly inhibit proliferation of bFGF-stimulated bovine capillary endothelial cells relative to controls. Also, when this serum was subjected to the first two steps of purification (heparin-Sepharose chromatography and gel filtration), angiostatin activity was not found in any fractions.

EXAMPLE 11

Ascites from Lewis lung carcinoma (low metastatic), also generates angiostatin in serum

Mice received intraperitoneal injections of either LLC-Low or LLC-High tumor cells (10.sup.6), and one week later, 1-2 ml of bloody ascites was obtained from each of 10-20 mice. Mesenteric tumor seeding was seen. The mice were then euthanized. Serum was obtained by cardiac puncture. Serum was also obtained from normal, non-tumor-bearing mice as a control. Serum and ascites were centrifuged to remove cells, and the supernate was assayed on bovine capillary endothelial cells stimulated by bFGF (1 ng/ml) (see Example 8). Ascites originating from both tumor types stimulated significant proliferation of capillary endothelial cells (e.g., 100% proliferation) over controls after 72 hours (FIG. 6A and 6B). In contrast, serum from the low metastatic mice inhibited endothelial cell proliferation (inhibition to 79% of controls) (FIG. 6A). The serum from the high metastatic line was stimulatory by 200% (FIG. 6B).

These data show that the ascites of the low metastatic line contains a predominance of endothelial growth stimulator over angiostatin. This condition is analogous to a solid primary tumor. Furthermore, angiostatin activity appears in the serum, as though it were unopposed by stimulatory activity. This pattern is similar to the solid primary tumor (LLC-Low). The ascites from the high metastatic tumor (LLC-High) also appears to contain a predominance of endothelial cell stimulator, but angiostatin cannot be identified in the serum.

EXAMPLE 12

Fractionation of angiostatin from serum by column chromatography and analysis of growth-inhibitory fractions by SDS-PAGE

To purify the angiostatin(s), serum was pooled from tumor-bearing mice. The inhibitory activity, assayed according the above-described in vitro inhibitor activity assay, was sequentially chromatographed using heparin-Sepharose, Biogel A0.5 m agarose, and several cycles of C4-reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). SDS-PAGE of the HPLC fraction which contained endothelial inhibitory activity, revealed a discrete band of apparent reduced M.sub.r Of 38,000 Daltons, which was purified approximately 1 million-fold (see Table 3) to a specific activity of approximately 2.times.10.sup.7. At different stages of the purification, pooled fractions were tested with specific antibodies for the presence of known endothelial inhibitors. Platelet factor-4, thrombospondin, or transforming growth factor beta, were not found in the partially purified or purified fractions.

EXAMPLE 13

Fractionation of angiostatin from urine by column chromatography and analysis of growth-inhibitory fractions by SDS-PAGE

Purification of the endothelial cell inhibitor(s) from serum is hampered by the small volume of serum that can be obtained from each mouse and by the large amount of protein in the serum.

Urine from tumor bearing mice was analyzed and found that it contains an inhibitor of endothelial cell proliferation that is absent from the urine of non-tumor bearing mice and from mice with LLC-high tumors. Purification of the endothelial cell inhibitory activity was carried out by the same strategy that was employed, for purification of serum (described above)

FIG. 7A and 7B shows C4 reverse phase chromatography of partially purified serum or urine from tumor-bearing animals. All fractions were assayed on bovine capillary endothelial cells with bFGF in a 72-hour proliferation assay as described in Example 8. A discrete peak of inhibition was seen in both cases eluting at 30-35% acetonitrile in fraction 23.

SDS-poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis of inhibitory fraction from third cycle of C4 reverse phase chromatography of serum from tumor-bearing animals showed a single band at about 38,000 Daltons.

EXAMPLE 14

Characterization of circulating angiostatin

Endothelial inhibition was assayed according to the procedure described in Example 9. Angiostatin was isolated on a Synchropak HPLC C4 column. (Synchrom, Inc. Lafayette, Ind.) The inhibitor was eluted at 30 to 35% acetonitrile gradient. On a sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) gel under reducing conditions (.beta.-mercaptoethanol(5% v/v), the protein band with activity eluted at 38 kilodaltons. Under non-reducing conditions, the protein with activity eluted at 28 kilodaltons. The activity is found at similar points whether the initial sample was isolated from urine or from serum. Activity was not detected with any other bands.

Activity associated with the bands was lost when heated (100.degree. C. for 10 minutes) or treated with trypsin. When the band with activity was extracted with a water/chloroform mixture (1:1), the activity was found in the aqueous phase only.

EXAMPLE 15

Purification of inhibitory fragments from human plasminogen

Plasminogen lysine binding site I was obtained from Sigma Chemical Company. The preparation is purified human plasminogen after digestion with elastase. Lysine binding site I obtained in this manner is a population of peptides that contain, in aggregate, at least the first three triple-loop structures (numbers 1 through 3) in the plasmin A-chain (Kringle 1 +2+3). (Sotrrup-Jensen, L., et al. in Progress in Chemical Fibrinolysis and Thrombolysis, Vol. 3, 191, Davidson, J. F., et al. eds. Raven Press, New York 1978 and Wiman, B., et al., Biochemica et Biophysica Acta, 579, 142 (1979)). Plasminogen lysine binding site I (Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, Mo.) was resuspended in water and applied to a C4-reversed phase column that had been equilibrated with HPLC-grade water/0.1% TFA. The column was eluted with a gradient of water/0.1% TFA to acetonitrile/0.1% TFA and fractions were collected into polypropylene tubes. An aliquot of each was evaporated in a speed vac, resuspended with water, and applied to BCE's in a proliferation assay. This procedure was repeated two times for the inhibitory fractions using a similar gradient for elution. The inhibitory activity eluted at 30-35% acetonitrile in the final run of the C4 column. SDS-PAGE of the inhibitory fraction revealed 3 discreet bands of apparent reduced molecular mass of 40, 42.5, and 45 kd. SDS-PAGE under non-reducing conditions revealed three bands of molecular mass 30, 32.5, and 35 kd respectively.

EXAMPLE 16

Extraction of inhibitory activity from SDS-PAGE

Purified inhibitory fractions from human plasminogen based purifications were resolved by SDS-PAGE under non-denaturing conditions. Areas of the gel corresponding to bands seen in neighboring lanes loaded with the same samples by silver staining were cut from the gel and incubated in one ml of phosphate buffered saline at 4.degree. C. for 12 hours in polypropylene tubes. The supernatant was removed and dialyzed twice against saline for 6 hours (MWCO=6-8000) and twice against distilled water for 6 hours. The dialysate was evaporated by vacuum centrifugation. The product was resuspended in saline and applied to bovine capillary endothelial cells stimulated by 1 ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor in a 72 hour assay. Protein extracted from each of the three bands inhibited the capillary endothelial cells.

EXAMPLE 17

Plasminogen Fragment Treatment Studies

Mice were implanted with Lewis lung carcinomas and under went resections when the tumors were 1500-2000 mm.sup.3. On the day of operation, mice were randomized into 6 groups of 6 mice each. The mice received daily intra-peritoneal injections with the three purified inhibitory fragments of human plasminogen, whole human plasminogen, urine from tumor-bearing animals, urine from normal mice, or saline. One group of tumor-bearing animals that had only a sham procedure was treated with saline injections. Immediately after removal of the primary tumor, the mice receive an intraperitoneal injection of 24 .mu.g (1.2 mg/kg/day/mouse) of the inhibitory plasminogen fragments as a loading dose. They then receive a daily intraperitoneal injections of 12 .mu.g of the inhibitory fragment (0.6 mg/kg/day/mouse) for the duration of the experiment. Control mice receive the same dose of the whole plasminogen molecule after tumor removal. For the urine treatments, the urine of normal or tumor bearing mice is filtered, dialyzed extensively, lyophilized, and then resuspended in sterile water to obtain a 250 fold concentration. The mice are given 0.8 ml of the dialyzed urine concentrate, either from tumor bearing mice or normal mice, in two intraperitoneal injections on the day of removal of the primary tumor as a loading dose. They then receive daily intraperitoneal injections of 0.4 ml of the dialyzed and concentrated urine for the course of the experiment. Treatments were continued for 13 days at which point all mice were sacrificed and autopsied.

The results of the experiment are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 shows surface lung metastases after the 13 day treatment. Surface lung metastases refers to the number of metastases seen in the lungs of the mice at autopsy. A stereomicroscope was used to count the metastases. FIG. 8 shows the mean number of surface lung metastases that was counted and the standard error of the mean. As shown, the group of mice with the primary tumor present showed no metastases. The mice in which the primary tumor was resected and were treated with saline showed extensive metastases. The mice treated with the human derived plasminogen fragment showed no metastases. The mice treated with whole plasminogen showed extensive metastases indicating that the whole plasminogen molecule has no endothelial inhibitory activity. Those mice treated dialyzed and concentrated urine from tumor bearing mice showed no metastases. Mice treated with concentrated urine from normal mice showed extensive metastases. When the weight of the lung was measured, similar results were obtained (FIG. 9)

EXAMPLE 18

Amino acid sequence of murine and human angiostatin

The amino acid sequence of angiostatin isolated from mouse urine and angiostatin isolated from the human lysine binding site I fragment preparation was determined on an Applied Biosystem Model 477A protein sequencer. Phenylthiohydantoin amino acid fractions were identified with an on-line ABI Model 120A HPLC. The amino acid sequence determined from the N-terminal sequence and the tryptic digests of the murine and human angiostatin indicate that the sequence of the angiostatin is similar to the sequence beginning at amino acid number 98 of murine plasminogen. Thus, the amino acid sequence of the angiostatin is a molecule comprising a protein having a molecular weight of between approximately 38 kilodaltons and 45 kilodaltons as determined by reducing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and having an amino acid sequence substantially similar to that of a murine plasminogen fragment beginning at amino acid number 98 of an intact murine plasminogen molecule. The beginning amino acid sequence of the murine angiostatin (SEQ ID NO:2) is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The length of the amino acid sequence may be slightly longer or shorter than that shown in the FIGS. 1A and 1B.

N terminal amino acid analysis and tryptic digests of the active fraction of human lysine binding site I (See Example 15) show that the sequence of the fraction begins at approximately amino acid 97 or 99 of human plasminogen and the human angiostatin is homologous with the murine angiostatin. The beginning amino acid sequence of the human angiostatin (starting at amino acid 98) is shown in FIG. 2A, 2B and 2C. (SEQ ID NO:3). The amino acid sequence of murine and human angiostatin is compared in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C to corresponding internal amino acid sequences from plasminogen of other species including porcine, bovine, and Rhesus monkey plasminogen, indicating the presence of angiostatin in those species.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates only to preferred embodiments of the present invention and that numerous modifications or alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. A method of detecting angiostatin protein in a sample, wherein the angiostatin protein contains approximately kringle regions 1 through 4 of a plasminogen molecule and has; anti-angiogenic activity, comprising: a. combining a sample suspected of containing angiostatin protein with an angiostatin protein-specific binding antibody; and b. detecting the presence of binding between angiostatin protein and the antibody, thereby detecting angiostatin protein in the sample.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the angiostatin protein has a molecular weight of between approximately 38 kilodaltons and 45 kilodaltons as determined by reducing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the angiostatin protein has an amino-terminal amino acid sequence beginning at approximately amino acid 98 of a plasminogen molecule.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the angiostatin protein has a beginning amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3. SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO: 5, and SEQ ID NO:6.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the angiostatin protein has endothelial cell proliferation inhibiting activity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample is taken from the body fluid of a mammal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the body fluid is blood or urine.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the mammal has an angiogenesis mediated disease or condition.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the mammal has a cancer.

10. A method of isolating and detecting angiostatin protein in a sample, wherein the angiostatin protein contains approximately kringle regions 1 through 4 of a plasminogen molecule and has endothelial cell proliferation inhibiting activity, comprising: a. fractionating the sample containing angiostatin protein over a reverse phase high performance liquid phase chromatography column by eluting with an acetonitrile gradient to yield a fraction containing angiostatin protein; b. detecting the presence of angiostatin protein in the fraction by performing an endothelial cell proliferation inhibiting assay with the fraction, wherein inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation is indicative of the presence of angiostatin protein.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the fraction containing angiostatin protein is eluted at approximately 30% to 35% acetonitrile.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising repeating the fractionating step multiple times.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising prior to the fractionating step, the step of separating a portion of the sample containing angiostatin protein with heparin-sepharose.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising prior to the fractionating step, the step of separating a portion of the sample containing angiostatin protein with agarose.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the angiostatin protein has a molecular weight of between approximately 38 kilodaltons and 45 kilodaltons as determined by reducing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the angiostatin protein has an amino-terminal amino acid sequence beginning at approximately amino acid 98 of a plasminogen molecule.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the angiostatin protein has a beginning amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO: 5, and SEQ ID NO:6.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the sample is taken from the body fluid of a mammal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the body fluid is blood or urine.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the mammal has an angiogenesis mediated disease or condition.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the mammal has a cancer.

Patent Citations (1)

Patent	Date	Inventor	Cited By
WOXWO91/10424	1991-07-01

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