Angiogenesis and Cancers: Comparing the anti-angiogenic efficacy of Efavirenz to Thalidomide

Joint Event on 2^nd International Conference on Cancer Biology, Therapeutics and Drug Discovery and Delivery & 10^th Annual Congress on Biomarkers, Clinical Research & Therapeutics

October 03-04, 2018 | Los Angeles, USA

Rosie McNeil and Penny C B

Sefako Makgatho University, South Africa
University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, South Africa

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Cancer Sci Ther

Abstract :

Statement of the Problem: HIV infection has been associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), cervical cancer and Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. WHO guidelines on ART recommends efavirenz as a first-line drug in HIV management therapy for all ages, gender and gestational age. Nevertheless, Efavirenz has not been adequately studied in cases of advanced HIV disease (CD4 counts < 50 cells/ mm3) and after the failure of other regimens. Methods: This study compares Efavirenz, marketed as Sustiva to the known anti-angiogenic and anti-cancer agent, thalidomide. With animal ethics clearance (No 2008/7/1), 30 chicks chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) was used as an in vivo vascular test environment to test the effect of Efavirenz (marketed as Sustiva) in comparison to that of thalidomide (Sigma-Aldrich, T144). CAM images were captured on day5 and 15 of treatment. Results were analyzed using the one-way Analysis of Variance and Fischer exact test (p â?¤ 0.05). Results: Fischer exact test showed an association between treatment drugs and CAM angiogenesis (p<0.05). Unlike thalidomide, efavirenz suppressed both angiogenesis and erythropoiesis, reducing mean CAM blood vessels score to 0.0. Conclusion: Angiogenesis inhibitors are potent anti-cancer agents. This study showed Efavirenz to be a more potent anti-angiogenic agent than thalidomide, possessing an absolute anti-angiogenic effect in the developing chick CAM. And unlike thalidomide, it suppressed erythropoiesis. This awards Efavirenz an additional score when compared to thalidomide. From this work, we conclude that there is a possible future clinical use for Efavirenz as an anti-cancer drug and with no fear of adverse effects for pregnant women and their babies, in utero.

Biography :

E-mail: rosie.mcneil@smu.ac.za