LAUSR

Several studies have indicated that thiamine, and more specifically its lipid soluble derivative benfotiamine, exerts an anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effect on the body. However, its effect in preventing cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis is not yet clearly understood. It is known that angiogenesis plays a significant role in the growth and spread of many cancers but the role of benfotiamine in neovascularization is not yet known. Therefore, in this study, we hypothesized that benfotiamine would prevent VEGF-induced angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. To examine this, we have treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; 10 ng/ml) in the absence and presence of benfotiamine (0-100 uM) in a time and dose-dependent manner. We then examined the cell viability by MTT assay and apoptosis by Annexin-V staining and found that benfotiamine alone had minimal effect on cell viability and it prevents VEGF-induced cell proliferation. In vitro angiogenesis assay indicates that benfotiamine prevented the VEGF -induced tube formation of HUVECs. Further, benfotiamine regulated the expression of VEGF-induced growth factors such as VEGF, PIGF, IGFBP-1, ECGF, FGF-1 and 2, anti-angiogenic enzymes such as Serpin E1, TIMP-1, MMP-8, TSP-1, PTX3 and uPA and cytokines such as IL-8, Prolactin, ET-1, Endostatin, and CCL3. We will next examine how benfotiamine prevents in vivo angiogenesis by utilizing a rat Matrigel plug model of angiogenesis in rats. The Matrigel sections will be stained with CD36, vWF, and other angiogenic markers to visualize the effect of benfotiamine on VEGF-induced angiogenesis. In conclusion, our current results indicate that benfotiamine has anti-angiogenic potential via inhibition of various pro-angiogenic growth factors and promoting anti-angiogenic factors in vitro and in vivo. Thus, our studies demonstrate that benfotiamine could be further developed as a novel therapeutic agent to prevent cancer growth and metastasis. Citation Format: Kieran V. Allowitz, Trevor J. Plowman, Kota V. Ramana. Vitamin b1 derivative, benfotamine, prevents VEGF-induced angiogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4598.