Study of motogenic signal in human melanoma cells

The components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are more than just adhesion sites for migrating tumor cells: following enzymatic degradation of the ECM, the release of sequestrated growth factors increases, thus they become available for tumor cells. In a number of cancers dysfunction of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-Met) contribute to the malignant transformation that directly regulates cell proliferation, survival and motility. Furthermore, intracellular calcium level plays an important role in the regulation of the tyrosine kinase pathway. In our preclinical experiments, by administering heparin-derived oligosaccharides we influenced the interaction between human melanoma cells and ECM. In vitro cell migration was inhibited by heparin fragments. Moreover, two of the effective oligosaccharides reduced the number of lung colonies formed in SCID mice. In human melanoma cells an important element of Ca2+ homeostasis, the purinergic Ca2+ channel P2X7 proved to be an anti-apoptotic protein. EGFR and c-Met showed constitutive activity in human melanoma cells, and their inhibition in vitro caused decreased proliferation, migration and elevated apoptosis. Administration of a selective c-Met-TKI significantly decreased primary tumor growth in vivo as well as the capacity for liver colony formation in SCID mice. Selective EGFR-TKI had less inhibitory effect on metastasis formation, and had no effect on the primary tumor. Our results suggest the necessity of a rational dual-specific drug design for the purpose in the therapy of malignant melanoma.