NM-3 is an orally available anti-angiogenic inhibitor with anti-tumour activity.NM-3 is used as a radiation modulator in vitro and in vivo.NM-3 inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), thereby inhibiting the proliferation of endothelial cells. This inhibits the proliferation of endothelial cells. NM-3 is associated with a mechanism of apoptosis induction by reactive oxygen species.

NM-3 (100 ng/ml) is cytotoxic to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) but not to Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells nor Seg-1, esophageal adenocarcinoma cells, in clonogenic survival assays (1,000 ng/ml ; 4h).[1]

C57BL/6 female mice bearing LLC tumors were given injections for 4 consecutive days with NM-3 (25 mg/kg/day) and treated with IR (20 Gy) for 2 consecutive days. Combined treatment with NM-3 and IR significantly reduced mean tumor volume compared with either treatment alone. An increase in local tumor control was also observed in LLC tumors in mice receiving NM-3/IR therapy. When athymic nude mice bearing Seg-1 tumor xenografts were treated with NM-3 (100 mg/kg/day for 4 days) and 20 Gy (four 5 Gy fractions), significant tumor regression was observed after combined treatment (NM-3 and IR) compared with IR alone. Importantly, no increase in systemic or local tissue toxicity was observed after combined treatment (NM-3 and IR) when compared with IR alone. The bioavailability and nontoxic profile of NM-3 suggests that the efficacy of this agent should be tested in clinical radiotherapy.[1]