Pharmacokinetic profile and in vivo anticancer efficacy of anagrelide administered subcutaneously in rodents

Anagrelide (ANA) is a phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A) inhibitor, commonly prescribed for essential thrombocythemia. It also functions as a molecular glue, inducing complex formation between PDE3A and Schlafen 12. This association either triggers apoptosis or inhibits proliferation in tumor cells, suppo...

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Main Authors: Kirsi Toivanen, Luna De Sutter, Agnieszka Wozniak, Karo Wyns, Nanna Merikoski, Sami Salmikangas, Jianmin Duan, Mikael Maksimow, Maria Lahtinen, Tom Böhling, Patrick Schöffski, Harri Sihto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Drug Delivery
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10717544.2025.2463433
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author Kirsi Toivanen
Luna De Sutter
Agnieszka Wozniak
Karo Wyns
Nanna Merikoski
Sami Salmikangas
Jianmin Duan
Mikael Maksimow
Maria Lahtinen
Tom Böhling
Patrick Schöffski
Harri Sihto
author_facet Kirsi Toivanen
Luna De Sutter
Agnieszka Wozniak
Karo Wyns
Nanna Merikoski
Sami Salmikangas
Jianmin Duan
Mikael Maksimow
Maria Lahtinen
Tom Böhling
Patrick Schöffski
Harri Sihto
author_sort Kirsi Toivanen
collection DOAJ
description Anagrelide (ANA) is a phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A) inhibitor, commonly prescribed for essential thrombocythemia. It also functions as a molecular glue, inducing complex formation between PDE3A and Schlafen 12. This association either triggers apoptosis or inhibits proliferation in tumor cells, supporting its use in cancer therapy. Conventionally administered orally, ANA undergoes rapid metabolism and elimination, resulting in a short drug exposure time at the site of action. Here, we explored the pharmacokinetic profile of a subcutaneously (SC) injected ANA formulation in Sprague-Dawley rats by quantifying plasma ANA and metabolite concentrations using liquid-chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. We further evaluated the in vivo tumor regression efficacy of orally and SC administered ANA in a patient-derived gastrointestinal stromal xenograft mouse model – UZLX-GIST2B – characterized by a KIT exon 9 driver mutation. The SC ANA exhibited extended-release plasma concentration–time profiles compared to intravenous and oral administrations. After a single administration in rats, plasma concentrations of ANA were detected up to 56 days later, and ANA metabolites up to 30 days later. The SC formulation also significantly reduced tumor volumes and demonstrated dose-dependent histological responses, nearly eradicating tumor tissue in 11 days with the highest dose. These findings suggest that the SC slow-release formulation maintains stable drug concentrations during treatment, potentially improving therapeutic efficacy at the target site.
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spelling doaj-art-ca31d77ea09943e684bf820109de44962025-08-20T02:29:59ZengTaylor & Francis GroupDrug Delivery1071-75441521-04642025-12-0132110.1080/10717544.2025.2463433Pharmacokinetic profile and in vivo anticancer efficacy of anagrelide administered subcutaneously in rodentsKirsi Toivanen0Luna De Sutter1Agnieszka Wozniak2Karo Wyns3Nanna Merikoski4Sami Salmikangas5Jianmin Duan6Mikael Maksimow7Maria Lahtinen8Tom Böhling9Patrick Schöffski10Harri Sihto11Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Oncology, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven Cancer Institute, Leuven, BelgiumDepartment of Oncology, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven Cancer Institute, Leuven, BelgiumDepartment of Oncology, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven Cancer Institute, Leuven, BelgiumDepartment of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, FinlandDuan Pharmaceutical Consulting Inc., Laval, CanadaSartar Therapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, FinlandSartar Therapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Oncology, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven Cancer Institute, Leuven, BelgiumDepartment of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, FinlandAnagrelide (ANA) is a phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A) inhibitor, commonly prescribed for essential thrombocythemia. It also functions as a molecular glue, inducing complex formation between PDE3A and Schlafen 12. This association either triggers apoptosis or inhibits proliferation in tumor cells, supporting its use in cancer therapy. Conventionally administered orally, ANA undergoes rapid metabolism and elimination, resulting in a short drug exposure time at the site of action. Here, we explored the pharmacokinetic profile of a subcutaneously (SC) injected ANA formulation in Sprague-Dawley rats by quantifying plasma ANA and metabolite concentrations using liquid-chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. We further evaluated the in vivo tumor regression efficacy of orally and SC administered ANA in a patient-derived gastrointestinal stromal xenograft mouse model – UZLX-GIST2B – characterized by a KIT exon 9 driver mutation. The SC ANA exhibited extended-release plasma concentration–time profiles compared to intravenous and oral administrations. After a single administration in rats, plasma concentrations of ANA were detected up to 56 days later, and ANA metabolites up to 30 days later. The SC formulation also significantly reduced tumor volumes and demonstrated dose-dependent histological responses, nearly eradicating tumor tissue in 11 days with the highest dose. These findings suggest that the SC slow-release formulation maintains stable drug concentrations during treatment, potentially improving therapeutic efficacy at the target site.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10717544.2025.2463433Anagrelidesubcutaneousslow-releasepharmacokineticsGIST
spellingShingle Kirsi Toivanen
Luna De Sutter
Agnieszka Wozniak
Karo Wyns
Nanna Merikoski
Sami Salmikangas
Jianmin Duan
Mikael Maksimow
Maria Lahtinen
Tom Böhling
Patrick Schöffski
Harri Sihto
Pharmacokinetic profile and in vivo anticancer efficacy of anagrelide administered subcutaneously in rodents
Drug Delivery
Anagrelide
subcutaneous
slow-release
pharmacokinetics
GIST
title Pharmacokinetic profile and in vivo anticancer efficacy of anagrelide administered subcutaneously in rodents
title_full Pharmacokinetic profile and in vivo anticancer efficacy of anagrelide administered subcutaneously in rodents
title_fullStr Pharmacokinetic profile and in vivo anticancer efficacy of anagrelide administered subcutaneously in rodents
title_full_unstemmed Pharmacokinetic profile and in vivo anticancer efficacy of anagrelide administered subcutaneously in rodents
title_short Pharmacokinetic profile and in vivo anticancer efficacy of anagrelide administered subcutaneously in rodents
title_sort pharmacokinetic profile and in vivo anticancer efficacy of anagrelide administered subcutaneously in rodents
topic Anagrelide
subcutaneous
slow-release
pharmacokinetics
GIST
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10717544.2025.2463433
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