Open Access

ARTICLE

Exploring the effects of taurolidine on tumor weight and microvessel density in a murine model of osteosarcoma

by LISANNE K.A. NEIJENHUIS^1,2,3,#, LEUTA L. NAUMANN^4,#, SONIA A.M. FERKEL¹, SAMUEL J.S. RUBIN¹, STEPHAN ROGALLA^1,*

1 Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, USA
2 Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
3 Centre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, 2333 CL, The Netherlands
4 Department of General, Visceral, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, 10117, Germany

* Corresponding Author: STEPHAN ROGALLA. Email:

Oncology Research 2024, 32(7), 1163-1172. https://doi.org/10.32604/or.2024.050907

Received 22 February 2024; Accepted 22 April 2024; Issue published 20 June 2024

Abstract

Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant primary bone tumor. The prognosis for patients with disseminated disease remains very poor despite recent advancements in chemotherapy. Moreover, current treatment regimens bear a significant risk of serious side effects. Thus, there is an unmet clinical need for effective therapies with improved safety profiles. Taurolidine is an antibacterial agent that has been shown to induce cell death in different types of cancer cell lines. Methods: In this study, we examined both the antineoplastic and antiangiogenic effects of taurolidine in animal models of osteosarcoma. K7M2 murine osteosarcoma cells were injected, both intramuscular and intraperitoneal, into 60 BALB/c mice on day zero. Animals were then randomized to receive treatment with taurolidine 2% (800 mg/kg), taurolidine 1% (400 mg/kg), or NaCl 0.9% control for seven days by intravenous or intraperitoneal administration. Results: After 35 days, mice were euthanized, and the tumors were harvested for analysis. Eighteen mice were excluded from the analysis due to complications. Body weight was significantly lower in the 2% taurolidine intraperitoneal treatment group from day 9 to 21, consistent with elevated mortality in this group. Intraperitoneal tumor weight was significantly lower in the 1% (p = 0.003) and 2% (p = 0.006) intraperitoneal taurolidine treatment groups compared to the control. No antineoplastic effects were observed on intramuscular tumors or for intravenous administration of taurolidine. There were no significant differences in microvessel density or mitotic rate between treatment groups. Reduced body weight and elevated mortality in the 2% taurolidine intraperitoneal group suggest that the lower 1% dose is preferable. Conclusions: In conclusion, there is no evidence of antiangiogenic activity, and the antitumor effects of taurolidine on osteosarcoma observed in this study are limited. Moreover, its toxic profile grants further evaluation. Given these observations, further research is necessary to refine the use of taurolidine in osteosarcoma treatment.

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