Human angiostatin inhibits murine hemangioendothelioma tumor growth in vivo

Angiostatin inhibits angiogenesis and metastatic tumor growth; however, its usefulness in treating primary nonmetastasizing tumors is less well understood. We now report the effectiveness of human angiostatin administration in a mouse hemangioendothelioma model. Human angiostatin was administered to mice with s.c. hemangioendothelioma and associated disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (Kasabach-Merritt syndrome). Angiostatin significantly reduced tumor volume in comparison to nontreated controls, increased survival, and prevented the profound thrombocytopenia and anemia of Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. Apoptosis of tumor cells was induced by angiostatin, but tumor cell proliferation was not inhibited. These data suggest angiostatin as a novel treatment for nonmetastasizing vascular tumors and for Kasabach-Merrit syndrome.