Transient reexpression of an embryonic autonomous growth phenotype by adult carotid artery smooth muscle cells after vascular injury

High rates of vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) replication are observed, at least transiently, after injury to the arterial wall and contribute to the formation of a neointima. Neutralizing antibodies designed to inhibit growth of SMC have only been variably successful in inhibiting neointima formation, raising the possibility that neointimal cell proliferation involves unique growth mechanisms. This study examined the possibility that SMC isolated from injured rat carotid arteries would express an autonomous, mitogen-independent growth phenotype similar to that utilized by embryonic vascular SMC during periods of rapid growth. We found that primary cultures of SMC isolated 7 and 14 days after injury, times at which high in vivo replication rates were observed, demonstrated high intrinsic DNA synthetic rates compared to SMC isolated from uninjured arteries or at 2, 4, 21, and 28 days after injury where in vivo replication rates were far less. Subcultured SMC isolated from 7-day injured vessels (Neo7 SMC) exhibited a stable, autonomous growth phenotype, did not secrete detectable mitogenic activity, and had decreased alpha-actin and myosin expression compared to mitogen-dependent SMC. Heterokaryons constructed between autonomous Neo7 SMC and mitogen-dependent SMC exhibited a mitogen-dependent growth phenotype suggesting that nonautonomous SMC produce factors that actively inhibit autonomous growth. In contrast, heterokaryons constructed between Neo7 SMC and autonomous embryonic SMC retained an autonomous growth phenotype. We examined the expression of known tumor suppressors to determine if any of these factors played a role in inhibiting SMC autonomous growth. p27, p53, pRb, and PTEN were abundantly expressed by Neo7 SMC and e17 SMC under both basal and serum stimulated conditions. The data suggest that the mechanisms driving SMC replication during neointimal formation are self-driven and self-regulated, and that at specific times after injury, SMC escape normal growth suppressive mechanisms through the loss of intracellular growth suppressor activity.     

Heterogeneity within and between primary colorectal carcinomas and matched metastases as revealed by analysis of Ki-ras and p53 mutations

Analysis of the genetic status of Ki-ras and p53 in primary colorectal carcinomas and matched colorectal liver metastasis from 30 patients reveals an overall heterogeneity both within and between the two tumoral tissues. Both genes were found mutated with a similar frequency in both tissues; however, identical mutations in primary tumor and matched metastasis were found less frequently in the case of the Ki-ras than the p53 gene. Only in three cases the same p53 and Ki-ras mutations found in the primary tumor were found also in the metastasis. In several metastatic specimens the DNA bearing a mutation detected also in the primary tumor appears significantly less abundant than the wild-type DNA. These data are discussed in the light of current models of primary tumor/metastasis relationships.     

人血管生成抑制素抑瘤研究进展

肿瘤的发展和转移需要新生血管的形成。人血管生成抑制素是近年发现的能够专一性抑制血管内皮细胞的内皮抑制因子。大量研究表明,在体外用血管生成抑制素处理血管内皮细胞可以抑制新生血管的形成,在体内单独使用血管生成抑制素,或者将血管生成抑制素与其他物质如基质金属蛋白酶、尿激酶联合处理荷瘤小鼠,可以降低小鼠体内肿瘤组织新生血管密度,抑制肿瘤的生长和肿瘤细胞的迁移。简要综述了血管生成抑制素抑制肿瘤生长和转移及其作用机理。     

Opposing roles for CD34 in B16 melanoma tumor growth alter early stage vasculature and late stage immune cell infiltration

Tumor growth and metastasis are determined by the complex interplay of factors, including those intrinsic to tumor cells and extrinsic factors associated with the tumor microenvironment. Our previous work demonstrated key roles for CD34 in the maintenance of vascular integrity and eosinophil and mast cell homing. Since both of these functions affect tumor development, we characterized the effect of CD34 ablation on tumor growth using the B16F1 melanoma model. Intriguingly, we found that CD34 plays a biphasic role in tumor progression. In early growth, both subcutaneous-injected tumors and intravenous-injected lung metastases grew more slowly in Cd34(-/-) mice. This correlated with abnormal vessel morphology and increased vascular permeability in these mice. Bone marrow transplantation experiments confirmed that this reflects a non-hematopoietic function of CD34. At later stages, subcutaneous tumor growth was accelerated in Cd34(-/-) mice and surpassed growth in wildtype mice. Bone marrow chimera experiments demonstrated this difference was due to a hematopoietic function for CD34 and, correspondingly we found reduced intra-tumor mast cell numbers in Cd34(-/-) mice. In aggregate, our analysis reveals a novel role for CD34 in both early and late tumor growth and provides novel insights into the role of the tumor microenvironment in tumor progression.     

Lycorine inhibits breast cancer growth and metastasis via inducing apoptosis and blocking Src/FAK-involved pathway

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer type worldwide among women and more than 90% of patients die from tumor metastasis. Lycorine, a natural alkaloid, has been widely reported possessing potential efficacy against cancer proliferation and metastasis. In our study, the anti-tumor potency on breast cancer was evaluated in vitro and in vivo for the first time. Our results indicated that lycorine inhibited breast cancer cells growth, migration and invasion as well as induced their apoptosis.In in vivo study, lycorine not only suppressed breast tumor growth in xenograft models and inhibited breast tumor metastasis in MDA-MB-231 tail vein model. More importantly, we found lycorine had less toxicity than first-line chemotherapy drug paclitaxel at the same effective dose in vivo. Furthermore, on mechanism, lycorine inhibited tumor cell migration and invasion via blocking the Src/FAK(focal adhesion kinase)-involved pathway. In conclusion, our study implied lycorine was a potential candidate for the treatment of breast cancer by inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis.     

Vasoactive drugs and tumor blood flow

Different observations on the reactivity of tumor vessels to vasoactive drugs have suggested a decreased, a similar or an increased reactivity to vasoactive stimuli in the vascular bed of tumors as compared to normal tissues. No adrenergic innervation of newly developed tumor vessels has been found, while preexisting normal vessels incorporated during tumor growth may retain some innervation. In transplantable rat tumors, contractile cells, including smooth muscle cells, have been seen in tumor vessels. From recent experimental studies, it was concluded that the tumor's vascular bed is probably in a state of maximal dilatation and therefore sensitive to vasoconstriction, but less sensitive to pharmacological dilatation. These observations may correspond to regional tumor hypoxia and progressive development of tumor necrosis during tumor growth. The results of experimental tumor studies might question the reliability of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in clinical oncology, which are based on differences in the reactivity to vasoactive drugs between normal and malignant tissues.     

Inhibition of endothelial FAK activity prevents tumor metastasis by enhancing barrier function

Pharmacological focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibition prevents tumor growth and metastasis, via actions on both tumor and stromal cells. In this paper, we show that vascular endothelial cadherin (VEC) tyrosine (Y) 658 is a target of FAK in tumor-associated endothelial cells (ECs). Conditional kinase-dead FAK knockin within ECs inhibited recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) and tumor-induced VEC-Y658 phosphorylation in vivo. Adherence of VEGF-expressing tumor cells to ECs triggered FAK-dependent VEC-Y658 phosphorylation. Both FAK inhibition and VEC-Y658F mutation within ECs prevented VEGF-initiated paracellular permeability and tumor cell transmigration across EC barriers. In mice, EC FAK inhibition prevented VEGF-dependent tumor cell extravasation and melanoma dermal to lung metastasis without affecting primary tumor growth. As pharmacological c-Src or FAK inhibition prevents VEGF-stimulated c-Src and FAK translocation to EC adherens junctions, but FAK inhibition does not alter c-Src activation, our experiments identify EC FAK as a key intermediate between c-Src and the regulation of EC barrier function controlling tumor metastasis.     

The Vascular Basement Membrane as “Soil” in Brain Metastasis

Brain-specific homing and direct interactions with the neural substance are prominent hypotheses for brain metastasis formation and a modern manifestation of Paget''s “seed and soil” concept. However, there is little direct evidence for this “neurotropic” growth in vivo. In contrast, many experimental studies have anecdotally noted the propensity of metastatic cells to grow along the exterior of pre-existing vessels of the CNS, a process termed vascular cooption. These observations suggest the “soil” for malignant cells in the CNS may well be vascular, rather than neuronal. We used in vivo experimental models of brain metastasis and analysis of human clinical specimens to test this hypothesis. Indeed, over 95% of early micrometastases examined demonstrated vascular cooption with little evidence for isolated neurotropic growth. This vessel interaction was adhesive in nature implicating the vascular basement membrane (VBM) as the active substrate for tumor cell growth in the brain. Accordingly, VBM promoted adhesion and invasion of malignant cells and was sufficient for tumor growth prior to any evidence of angiogenesis. Blockade or loss of the β1 integrin subunit in tumor cells prevented adhesion to VBM and attenuated metastasis establishment and growth in vivo. Our data establishes a new understanding of CNS metastasis formation and identifies the neurovasculature as the critical partner for such growth. Further, we have elucidated the mechanism of vascular cooption for the first time. These findings may help inform the design of effective molecular therapies for patients with fatal CNS malignancies.     

Suppression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) promotes mammary tumor metastasis

The insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins are cytoplasmic adaptors that organize signaling complexes downstream of activated cell surface receptors. Here, we show that IRS-1 and IRS-2, despite significant homology, play critical yet distinct functions in breast cancer, and we identify specific signaling pathways that are influenced by IRS-1 using the polyoma virus middle-T (PyV-MT) transgenic mouse model of mammary carcinoma and Irs-1 null (Irs1(-/-)) mice. The absence of Irs-1 expression enhanced metastatic spread significantly without a significant effect on primary tumor growth. Orthotopic transplant studies revealed that the increased metastatic potential of Irs1-deficient tumor cells is cell autonomous. Mammary tumors that developed in PyV-MT::Irs1(-/-) mice exhibited elevated Irs-2 function and enhanced phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/mTor activity, suggesting that one mechanism by which Irs-1 impedes metastasis is to suppress Irs-2-dependent signaling. In support of this mechanism, reduction of Irs-2 expression in Irs1(-/-) tumor cells restored mTor signaling to wild-type levels. PyV-MT::Irs1(-/-) tumors also exhibited a significant increase in vascular endothelial growth factor expression and microvessel density, which could facilitate their dissemination. The significance of our findings for human breast cancer is heightened by our observation that Irs-1 is inactivated in wild-type, metastatic mammary tumors by serine phosphorylation. Collectively, our findings reveal that inactivation of IRS-1 enhances breast cancer metastasis and support the novel hypothesis that IRS-1 has metastasis suppressor functions for breast cancer.     

Blockade of angiotensin AT1a receptor signaling reduces tumor growth,angiogenesis, and metastasis

It was reported that angiotensin II stimulates angiogenesis in vivo, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors inhibit angiogenesis. We found that an AT1-receptor (AT1-R) antagonist, TCV-116, inhibited tumor growth, tumor-associated angiogenesis, and metastasis in a murine model. Tumor growth of Sarcoma 180 (S-180) cells and of fibrosarcoma (NFSA) cells was strongly inhibited by administration of TCV-116 in the diet at a dose of approximately 100 mg/kg/day. This reduction was accompanied with a marked reduction in tumor-associated angiogenesis. The same treatment also reduced the lung metastasis of intravenously injected Lewis lung carcinoma cells. These effects of TCV-116 were equivalent to those of the ACE inhibitor, lisinopril. In S-180 and NFSA tumor tissues, ACE and AT1a receptor (AT1a-R) mRNAs were expressed when assessed with RT-PCR. AT1b receptor and AT2 receptor, however, were not detected. Immunoreactive AT1-R was detected mainly on the neovascularized vascular endothelial cells in which expression was reduced by TCV-116 and lisinopril. These results suggested that TCV-116 inhibits the angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis of tumors highly dependent on AT1a-R blockade. Blockade of AT1a-R signaling may therefore become an effective novel strategy for tumor chemoprevention.     

The effect of rate of heating or cooling prior to heating on tumor and normal tissue microcirculatory blood flow

Single vessel responses to hyperthermia were studied in tumor and normal tissues using a transparent access window chamber. Rates of heating less than or equal to .68 degrees C/minute preserved relatively better vascular function in normal than tumor tissue. A rate of heating of 1.0 degrees C/minute lowered normal tissue statis temperatures so they were no different from tumor. Cooling to 30 degrees C prior to heating slowed normal arteriolar flows to less than 5% of 38 degrees C controls. Heating resulted in increased flow in those vessels, but maximum flows never exceeded 5% of flows achieved in similar vessels which were not cooled first. The implications of this work are that rate of heating and cooling prior to heating can alter normal tissue vascular response to heat in a way that could prove deleterious to maintaining efficient vascular function in that tissue relative to tumor.     

Pigment epithelium-derived factor regulates the vasculature and mass of the prostate and pancreas

Angiogenesis sustains tumor growth and metastasis, and recent studies indicate that the vascular endothelium regulates tissue mass. In the prostate, androgens drive angiogenic inducers to stimulate growth, whereas androgen withdrawal leads to decreased vascular endothelial growth factor, vascular regression and epithelial cell apoptosis. Here, we identify the angiogenesis inhibitor pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) as a key inhibitor of stromal vasculature and epithelial tissue growth in mouse prostate and pancreas. In PEDF-deficient mice, stromal vessels were increased and associated with epithelial cell hyperplasia. Androgens inhibited prostatic PEDF expression in cultured cells. In vivo, androgen ablation increased PEDF in normal rat prostates and in human cancer biopsies. Exogenous PEDF induced tumor epithelial apoptosis in vitro and limited in vivo tumor xenograft growth, triggering endothelial apoptosis. Thus, PEDF regulates normal pancreas and prostate mass. Its androgen sensitivity makes PEDF a likely contributor to the anticancer effects of androgen ablation.     

Mechanisms and significance of bifunctional NK4 in cancer treatment

Based on the background that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and c-Met/HGF receptor tyrosine kinase play a definite role in tumor invasion and metastasis, NK4, four-kringles containing intramolecular fragment of HGF, was isolated as a competitive antagonist for the HGF-c-Met system. Independent of its HGF-antagonist action, NK4 inhibited angiogenesis induced by vascular endothelial cell growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor, as well as HGF, indicating that NK4 is a bifunctional molecule that acts as an HGF-antagonist and angiogenesis inhibitor. Interestingly, kringle domains in distinct types of proteins, e.g., plasminogen, prothrombin, plasminogen activators, apolipoprotein(a), and HGF, share angioinhibitory actions. In experimental models of distinct types of cancers, NK4 protein administration or NK4 gene therapy inhibited tumor invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis-dependent tumor growth. Cancer treatment with NK4 may prove to suppress malignant tumors to be 'static' in both tumor growth and spreading, as based on biological characteristics of malignant tumors.     

Tumor cell-mediated neovascularization and lymphangiogenesis contrive tumor progression and cancer metastasis

Robust neovascularization and lymphangiogenesis have been found in a variety of aggressive and metastatic tumors. Endothelial sprouting angiogenesis is generally considered to be the major mechanism by which new vasculature forms in tumors. However, increasing evidence shows that tumor vasculature is not solely composed of endothelial cells (ECs). Some tumor cells acquire processes similar to embryonic vasculogenesis and produce new vasculature through vasculogenic mimicry, trans-differentiation of tumor cells into tumor ECs, and tumor cell–EC vascular co-option. In addition, tumor cells secrete various vasculogenic factors that induce sprouting angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Vasculogenic tumor cells actively participate in the formation of vascular cancer stem cell niche and a premetastatic niche. Therefore, tumor cell-mediated neovascularization and lymphangiogenesis are closely associated with tumor progression, cancer metastasis, and poor prognosis. Vasculogenic tumor cells have emerged as key players in tumor neovascularization and lymphangiogenesis and play pivotal roles in tumor progression and cancer metastasis. However, the mechanisms underlying tumor cell-mediated vascularity as they relate to tumor progression and cancer metastasis remain unclear. Increasing data have shown that various intrinsic and extrinsic factors activate oncogenes and vasculogenic genes, enhance vasculogenic signaling pathways, and trigger tumor neovascularization and lymphangiogenesis. Collectively, tumor cells are the instigators of neovascularization. Therefore, targeting vasculogenic tumor cells, genes, and signaling pathways will open new avenues for anti-tumor vasculogenic and metastatic drug discovery. Dual targeting of endothelial sprouting angiogenesis and tumor cell-mediated neovascularization and lymphangiogenesis may overcome current clinical problems with anti-angiogenic therapy, resulting in significantly improved anti-angiogenesis and anti-cancer therapies.     

抗VEGF/VEGFR靶向肿瘤血管药物的研究进展

研究表明,肿瘤的生长转移和新血管的生成有密切关系,其中血管内皮细胞生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)及其信号途径在肿瘤血管生成中起关键作用。阻断该途径的任何环节均可有效抑制肿瘤血管的生成,进而抑制肿瘤的生长和转移。近年来,已有多种以VEGF/VEGFR为靶点的抗肿瘤血管生成药物投入临床应用,其中bevacizumab为第一个获批上市的抗肿瘤血管生成药物。继bevacizumab后,一种以基因工程手段获得的人Fc融合蛋白Zaltrap也成功在美国上市,这种杂交分子的药代动力学明显优于单克隆抗体,能更好的遏制肿瘤血管的发生并消退已形成的肿瘤血管。在肿瘤的临床治疗中,Zaltrap比bevacizumab显示出更大的优势。此外,VEGFC/D Trap及小分子酪氨酸激酶抑制剂也能有效抑制肿瘤血管的生成。在此对以VEGF/VEGFR为靶点的抗肿瘤血管生成药物进行综述。     

Systems Analysis of a Mouse Xenograft Model Reveals Annexin A1 as a Regulator of Gene Expression in Tumor Stroma

Annexin A1 is a multi functional molecule which is involved in inflammation, innate and adaptive immune systems, tumor progression and metastasis. We have previously showed the impaired tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis and wound healing in annexin A1 knockout mice. While tumor is a piece of heterogeneous mass including not only malignant tumor cells but also the stroma, the importance of the tumor stroma for tumor progression and metastasis is becoming increasingly clear. The tumor stroma is comprised by various components including extracellular matrix and non-malignant cells in the tumor, such as endothelial cells, fibroblasts, immune cells, inflammatory cells. Based on our previous finding of pro-angiogenic functions for annexin A1 in vascular endothelial cell sprouting, wound healing, tumor growth and metastasis, and the previously known properties for annexin A1 in immune cells and inflammation, this study hypothesized that annexin A1 is a key functional player in tumor development, linking the various components in tumor stroma by its actions in endothelial cells and immune cells. Using systems analysis programs commercially available, this paper further compared the gene expression between tumors from annexin A1 wild type mice and annexin A1 knockout mice and found a list of genes that significantly changed in the tumor stroma that lacked annexin A1. This revealed annexin A1 to be an effective regulator in tumor stroma and suggested a mechanism that annexin A1 affects tumor development and metastasis through interaction with the various components in the microenvironment surrounding the tumor cells.     

Fungal polysaccharopeptide inhibits tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth in mice

Angiogenesis is crucial to tumor growth and metastasis, and interruption of this process is a prime avenue for therapeutic intervention of tumor proliferation. The present study has made use of the S180 tumor-bearing mouse model to investigate the polysaccharopeptide, PSP, isolated from the edible mushroom Coriolus versicolor, a herbal medicine known for its anti-angiogenesis properties. Quantitative analysis of microcorrosion casting of the tumor tissue showed more angiogenic features such as dense sinusoids and hot spots, in control (untreated) than in PSP-treated animals. Immunostaining of tumor tissues with antibody against the endothelial cell marker (Factor VIII) demonstrated a positive correlation in that both the vascular density and tumor weight were lower in mice treated with PSP. Morphometric analysis of corrosion casts revealed that, even though the total amount of new vessel production was reduced, the basic tumor type-specific vascular architecture was retained. However, the expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) in these tumors was suppressed. In conclusion, anti-angiogenesis should be one of the pathways through which PSP mediated its anti-tumor activity.     

PTEN:抑制肿瘤侵袭及转移的新靶点

侵袭与转移是恶性肿瘤的主要生物学特征之一,并影响肿瘤的疗效及预后.其主要通过肿瘤细胞与血管内皮细胞以及细胞基质之间的相互作用,穿透血管内皮细胞、降解细胞外基质,从而向局部及远处转移.多种信号转导分子参与了肿瘤的侵袭、转移过程.PTEN基因表达的蛋白具有蛋白磷酸酶及脂质磷酸酶双重活性,其作为抑癌基因通过对细胞内多种信号转导通路的调控,参与维持细胞的正常生理活动;负调控肿瘤细胞的生长、细胞周期;诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡;抑制肿瘤细胞的侵袭、浸润及转移.本文就PTEN如何参与抑制肿瘤细胞侵袭及转移做一综述.     

The arrangement of nucleosomes in nucleoprotein complexes from polyoma virus and SV40.

Androgen-dependent and androgen-independent (autonomous), cloned, cultured cell lines of the androgen-dependent mouse mammary adenocarcinoma, Shionogi carcinoma 115, have been established. Growth of the dependent cells requires the presence of androgen, provided they are grown in suspension culture in medium containing dextran-charcoal-treated fetal calf serum. The growth rate of autonomous cells in the presence or absence of DHT is similar to that of dependent cells grown in its presence. An agar culture method has been developed that enables the proportion of dependent and autonomous cells in mixed populations to be determined. Autonomous cells appear in dependent clones, and their frequency increases with increasing time of subculture. Dependent cells from tumors preferentially in male animals, and dependent cell cytosols contain significant amounts (approximately 300 femtomoles per mg protein) of a specific androgen-binding macromolecule. Autonomous cells formed tumors equally well in both male and female mice, and autonomous cell cytosols contain very low levels (≤ 7 femtomoles per mg protein) of the specific androgen-binding macromolecule(s). These studies delineate a system which can be used to investigate the mechanism of steroid hormone-dependent and autonomous tumor growth, and the transitions between the hormone-dependent and autonomous states.