VEGFR-2 kinase domain inhibition as a scaffold for anti-angiogenesis: Validation of the anti-angiogenic effects of carotenoids from Spondias mombin in DMBA model of breast carcinoma in Wistar rats

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) mediated tumorigenesis, metastasis, and angiogenesis are the cause of the increased levels of mortality associated with breast cancer and other forms of cancer. Inhibition of VEGF and VEGFR-2 provides a great therapeutic option in the management of cancer. This study employed VEGFR-2 kinase domain inhibition as an anti-angiogenic scaffold and further validate the anti-angiogenic effects of the lead phytochemicals, carotenoids from Spondias mombin in 7, 12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) model of breast carcinoma in Wistar rats. Phytochemicals characterized from 6 reported anti-cancer plants were screened against the VEGFR-2 kinase domain. The lead phytochemicals, carotenoids from Spondias mombin were isolated and subjected to Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) for characterization. The anti-angiogenic potentials of the carotenoid isolates were validated in the DMBA model of breast carcinoma in female Wistar rats through assessment of the expression of anti-angiogenic related mRNAs, histopathological analysis, and molecular docking. Treatment with carotenoid isolates (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) downregulated the expression of VEGF, VEGFR, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1(HIF-1), and Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) mRNAs in the mammary tumours, while the expression of Chromodomain Helicase DNA-Binding Protein-1 (CHD-1) mRNA was significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated. DMBA induced comedo and invasive ductal subtypes of breast carcinoma. The binding of astaxanthin, 7,7',8,8'-tetrahydro-β,β-carotene, and beta-carotene-15,15′-epoxide to the ATP binding site led to the DFG-out conformation with binding energies of -8.2 kcal/mol, -10.3 kcal/mol, and -10.5 kcal/mol respectively. Carotenoid isolates demonstrated anti-angiogenic and anti-proliferating potentials via VEGFR-2 kinase domain inhibition.