To test compound inhibition against various RAF kinase isoforms, Sorafenib is added to a mixture of Raf-1 (80 ng), wt BRAF, or V599E BRAF (80 ng) with MEK-1 (1 μg) in assay buffer [20 mM Tris (pH 8.2), 100 mM NaCl, 5 mM MgCl₂, and 0.15% β-mercaptoethanol] at a final concentration of 1% DMSO. The RAF kinase assay (final volume of 50 μL) is initiated by adding 25 μL of 10 μM γ-[³³P]ATP (400 Ci/mol) and incubated at 32°C for 25 minutes. Phosphorylated MEK-1 is harvested by filtration onto a phosphocellulose mat, and 1% phosphoric acid is used to wash away unbound radioactivity. After drying by microwave heating, a β-plate counter is used to quantify filter-bound radioactivity^[1].

MCE has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

The 10-0505, 06-0606, and 26-1004 tumors are finely minced and washed three times with modified Eagle medium (MEM). Cells are harvested by centrifuging at 800× g for 10 min. Cells are treated with 3 or 6 μM of Sorafenib in serum free MEM in the presence or absence of 5 μg/mL anti-human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) antibody for 48 hrs. A total of 2 mL of conditioned medium from vehicle- or Sorafenib-treated (without anti-human antibody) is collected and concentrated using a VIVASPIN 20 and secreted HGF in conditioned medium is determined by western blotting^[2].

MCE has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

Mice^[2]
For dose-response experiment, mice bearing the 06-0606 and 10-0505 xenografts are given four doses of Sorafenib (10, 30, 50 and 100 mg/kg daily) orally for 12 days. Each treatment group comprised of five mice. To investigate the antitumor effects of Sorafenib, mice bearing tumors are orally administered 50 mg/kg Sorafenib daily for 12 days. Each treatment group is comprised of 14 animals and each experiment is repeated at least twice. Treatment started on day 7 after tumor implantation. By this time, the HCC xenografts reached the size of approximately 100 mm³. To study the effects of Rapamycin plus Sorafenib on the growth of 10-0505 xenograft, mice bearing tumors (14 per group) are orally administered either 200 μL of vehicle, or 50 mg/kg of Sorafenib, or 1 mg/kg of Rapamycin, or Rapamycin plus Sorafenib daily for indicated days. Tumor growth is monitored at least twice weekly by Vernier caliper measurement of the length and width of tumor. Tumor volume is calculated as follows: [length×width²×π/6]. At the end of the study, the mice are killed with body and tumor weights being recorded, and the tumors harvested for analysis.
Rats^[3]
In the study, 100- to 120-g male albino rats are utilized. After acclimatization period, rats are weighed and randomly divided into three groups: Group 1 (normal control group; n=10) is given the vehicle daily for 8 weeks. Group 2 (DENA group; n=15) receive i.p. single dose of 200 mg/kg DENA. Group 3 (Sorafenib group; n=12) is given Sorafenib orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg daily for 2 weeks, 6 weeks after DENA i.p. injection. At the end of the experiment (8 weeks), rats are weighed, anesthetized by ether, and killed, and their livers are dissected. Fresh liver is washed twice with ice-cold saline, dried on clean paper towel, and weighed. Liver index is calculated as liver weight (g)/final body weight (g)×100. The liver is divided into five portions: one portion is preserved in 10 % formalin for histopathological examination and the other portions are immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at ?80°C.

MCE has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

• [1]. Wilhelm SM, et al. BAY 43-9006 exhibits broad spectrum oral antitumor activity and targets the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway and receptor tyrosine kinases involved in tumor progression and angiogenesis. Cancer Res. 2004 Oct 1;64(19):7099-109.  [Content Brief]

  [2]. Huynh H, et al. Sorafenib and rapamycin induce growth suppression in mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cell Mol Med. 2009 Aug;13(8B):2673-83.  [Content Brief]

  [3]. El-Ashmawy NE, et al. Sorafenib effect on liver neoplastic changes in rats: more than a kinase inhibitor. Clin Exp Med. 2016 Apr 16.  [Content Brief]

  [4]. Zhu W, et al. Combination of sorafenib and Valproic acid synergistically induces cell apoptosis and inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma growth via down-regulating Notch3 and pAkt. Am J Cancer Res. 2017 Dec 1;7(12):2503-2514.  [Content Brief]