Angiogenesis Inhibition by Minocycline

We describe a new inhibitor of angiogenesis, minocycline, a semisynthetic tetracycline antimicrobial with anticollagenase properties. Mino cycline was incorporated into controlled release polymers and tested inthe rabbit cornea against neovascularization in the presence of the VX2 mcarcinoma. Inhibition by minocycline was shown to be comparable to that of the combination of heparin and cortisone, a potent inhibitor of angio genesis. Minocycline decreased tumor-induced angiogenesis by a factor of 4.5, 4.4, and 2.9 at 7, 14, and 21 days, respectively. At the end of the experiment, whereas the corneas with empty polymers had large, inva sive, exophytic tumors, none of the corneas with minocycline had such vascular masses. Recently, studies of agents that disrupt collagen synthe sis and deposition have yielded several new angiogenesis inhibitors. We suggest that investigation of agents that disrupt collagenolysis may similarly identify other angiogenesis inhibitors and further clarify the mechanisms of angiogenesis.