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Sun Z, Gu C, Wang X, Shang A, Quan W, Wu J, Ji P, Yao Y, Liu W, Li D. A novel bivalent anti-c-MET/PD-1 bispecific antibody exhibits potent cytotoxicity against c-MET/PD-L1-positive colorectal cancer. Invest New Drugs 2023; 41:737-750. [PMID: 37646958 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-023-01381-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Previously, we generated a novel bispecific antibody (BsAb) simultaneously targeting both c-MET and PD-1 (PDCD1), which can bridge T cells and c-MET positive tumor cells. However, the specific mechanisms and antitumor activities of the BsAb against c-MET/PD-L1 (CD274) positive colorectal cancer (CRC) is not completely understood. In this study, in addition to the tumor intrinsic mechanism investigation with molecular biology assay in vitro, a humanized mouse model was used to evaluate antitumor activity of the BsAb in vivo. The BsAb could inhibit c-MET/PD-L1+ CRC cell migration and show strong antitumor activity against HCT116 tumors in mice, potentially by inducing the degradation of c-MET protein in a dose and time-dependent manner. The BsAb could suppress the phosphorylation of c-MET downstream proteins GRB2-associated-binding protein 1 (Gab1) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Considering the tumor extrinsic mechanism, the BsAb may promote phagocytosis of macrophage. Furthermore, the level of plasma exosomal-c-MET/PD-L1 is able to distinguish CRC patients from healthy controls. In summary, the BsAb exhibited potent anti-tumor activities by two distinguished mechanisms: inhibition of c-MET signal transduction and promotion of macrophage-mediated phagocytosis. Our BsAb may provide a novel therapeutic agent for patients with c-MET/PD-L1+ CRC, and the status of exosomal-c-MET/PD-L1 can serve as a biomarker to predict responsiveness to treatment of our BsAb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Sun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - C Gu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - X Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Putuo People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - A Shang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, 222006, China
| | - W Quan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - J Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - P Ji
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Y Yao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - W Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China.
| | - D Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China.
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2
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Jones GS, Hoadley KA, Olsson LT, Hamilton AM, Bhattacharya A, Kirk EL, Tipaldos HJ, Fleming JM, Love MI, Nichols HB, Olshan AF, Troester MA. Hepatocyte growth factor pathway expression in breast cancer by race and subtype. Breast Cancer Res 2021; 23:80. [PMID: 34344422 PMCID: PMC8336233 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-021-01460-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND African American women have the highest risk of breast cancer mortality compared to other racial groups. Differences in tumor characteristics have been implicated as a possible cause; however, the tumor microenvironment may also contribute to this disparity in mortality. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a stroma-derived marker of the tumor microenvironment that may affect tumor progression differentially by race. OBJECTIVE To examine whether an HGF gene expression signature is differentially expressed by race and tumor characteristics. METHODS Invasive breast tumors from 1957 patients were assessed for a 38-gene RNA-based HGF gene expression signature. Participants were black (n = 1033) and non-black (n = 924) women from the population-based Carolina Breast Cancer Study (1993-2013). Generalized linear models were used to estimate the relative frequency differences (RFD) in HGF status by race, clinical, and demographic factors. RESULTS Thirty-two percent of tumors were positive for the HGF signature. Black women were more likely [42% vs. 21%; RFD = + 19.93% (95% CI 16.00, 23.87)] to have HGF-positive tumors compared to non-black women. Triple-negative patients had a higher frequency of HGF positivity [82% vs. 13% in non-triple-negative; RFD = + 65.85% (95% CI 61.71, 69.98)], and HGF positivity was a defining feature of basal-like subtype [92% vs. 8% in non-basal; RFD = + 81.84% (95% CI 78.84, 84.83)]. HGF positivity was associated with younger age, stage, higher grade, and high genomic risk of recurrence (ROR-PT) score. CONCLUSION HGF expression is a defining feature of basal-like tumors, and its association with black race and young women suggests it may be a candidate pathway for understanding breast cancer disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gieira S Jones
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 253 Rosenau Hall, CB #7435, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Katherine A Hoadley
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Linnea T Olsson
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 253 Rosenau Hall, CB #7435, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Alina M Hamilton
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Arjun Bhattacharya
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Erin L Kirk
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 253 Rosenau Hall, CB #7435, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Heather J Tipaldos
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jodie M Fleming
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Michael I Love
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Hazel B Nichols
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 253 Rosenau Hall, CB #7435, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Andrew F Olshan
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 253 Rosenau Hall, CB #7435, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Melissa A Troester
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 253 Rosenau Hall, CB #7435, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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3
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Moosavi F, Giovannetti E, Peters GJ, Firuzi O. Combination of HGF/MET-targeting agents and other therapeutic strategies in cancer. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2021; 160:103234. [PMID: 33497758 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2021.103234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
MET receptor has emerged as a druggable target across several human cancers. Agents targeting MET and its ligand hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) including small molecules such as crizotinib, tivantinib and cabozantinib or antibodies including rilotumumab and onartuzumab have proven their values in different tumors. Recently, capmatinib was approved for treatment of metastatic lung cancer with MET exon 14 skipping. In this review, we critically examine the current evidence on how HGF/MET combination therapies may take advantage of synergistic effects, overcome primary or acquired drug resistance, target tumor microenvironment, modulate drug metabolism or tackle pharmacokinetic issues. Preclinical and clinical studies on the combination of HGF/MET-targeted agents with conventional chemotherapeutics or molecularly targeted treatments (including EGFR, VEGFR, HER2, RAF/MEK, and PI3K/Akt targeting agents) and also the value of biomarkers are examined. Our deeper understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying successful pharmacological combinations is crucial to find the best personalized treatment regimens for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Moosavi
- Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Elisa Giovannetti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Pharmacology Lab, AIRC Start Up Unit, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Pisa, Italy
| | - Godefridus J Peters
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Omidreza Firuzi
- Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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4
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Crizotinib inhibits activation of MET pathway caused by MET extracellular SEMA domain duplication. Lung Cancer 2020; 147:64-70. [PMID: 32673828 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2020.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Aberrant MET activation, which promotes cell proliferation and tumor metastasis, occurs in many types of cancer and results from multiple mechanisms. A novel MET duplication mutation was found in a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient. The clinical response to crizotinib was investigated and the functional relevance was characterized in cellular models. MATERIALS AND METHODS Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed on the tumor tissue and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) of a patient with advanced NSCLC. In vitro studies including western blot, proliferation assays and colony formation assays were used to confirm the clinical observations. RESULTS The patient was identified to harbor a duplication of the MET SEMA domain. After a month of treatment, the patient showed a marked response to crizotinib, a multikinase inhibitor with potent activity against MET. Functional in vitro studies demonstrated that expression of MET SEMA duplication in NIH-3T3 cells stimulated the activation of MET signaling. Crizotinib treatment obviously repressed cell proliferation, colony formation, and MET signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Crizotinib treatment resulted in a clinical response in a patient with MET SEMA duplication. Results of cellular analyses together with the clinical data suggest that this novel alteration may represent an actionable target in NSCLC patients.
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5
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MET targeting: time for a rematch. Oncogene 2020; 39:2845-2862. [PMID: 32034310 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1193-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
MET, the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) for hepatocyte growth factor, is a proto-oncogene involved in embryonic development and throughout life in homeostasis and tissue regeneration. Deregulation of MET signaling has been reported in numerous malignancies, prompting great interest in MET targeting for cancer therapy. The present review offers a summary of the biology of MET and its known functions in normal physiology and carcinogenesis, followed by an overview of the most relevant MET-targeting strategies and corresponding clinical trials, highlighting both past setbacks and promising future prospects. By placing their efforts on a more precise stratification strategy through the genetic analysis of tumors, modern trials such as the NCI-MATCH trial could revive the past enthusiasm for MET-targeted therapy.
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6
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Malka D, François E, Penault-Llorca F, Castan F, Bouché O, Bennouna J, Ghiringhelli F, de la Fouchardière C, Borg C, Samalin E, Bachet JB, Raoul JL, Miglianico L, Bengrine-Lefèvre L, Dahan L, Lecaille C, Aparicio T, Stanbury T, Perrier H, Cayre A, Laurent-Puig P, Gourgou S, Emile JF, Taïeb J. FOLFOX alone or combined with rilotumumab or panitumumab as first-line treatment for patients with advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (PRODIGE 17-ACCORD 20-MEGA): a randomised, open-label, three-arm phase II trial. Eur J Cancer 2019; 115:97-106. [PMID: 31129386 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2019.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 04/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) pathways, which promote tumour growth and proliferation, are often deregulated in advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas. We assessed whether adding panitumumab (an EGFR inhibitor) or rilotumumab (a HGF inhibitor) to first-line fluoropyrimidine-based and platinum-based chemotherapy (modified oxaliplatin, leucovorin and fluorouracil [mFOLFOX6]) benefits to patients with advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS This phase II, open-label, randomised, three-arm study enrolled patients ≥18 years, with advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1 and no known HER2 overexpression. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) mFOLFOX6 (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, leucovorin 400 mg/m2, 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 bolus then 2400 mg/m2 over 46 h) alone or combined with panitumumab (6 mg/kg) or rilotumumab (10 mg/kg) every 2 weeks until limiting toxicity, patient's refusal or disease progression. The primary end-point was the 4-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate. Secondary end-points included overall survival (OS) and tolerance. RESULTS The study enrolled 162 patients in 29 French centres. The median follow-up was 23.6 months (interquartile range = 16.4-29.0). The 4-month PFS rate was 71% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 57-82) with chemotherapy alone, 57% (95% CI = 42-71) combined with panitumumab and 61% (95% CI = 47-74) combined with rilotumumab. Median OS was 13.1 months (95% CI = 8.7-16.9) with chemotherapy alone, 8.3 months (95% CI = 6.2-13.2) combined with panitumumab and 11.5 months (95% CI = 7.9-17.1) combined with rilotumumab. Adverse events grade ≥III occurred less frequently with chemotherapy alone (62%) than with panitumumab (83%) and rilotumumab (89%). CONCLUSIONS We found no benefit in adding panitumumab or rilotumumab to mFOLFOX6 first-line chemotherapy to treat advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION European Clinical Trials Database, number 2009-012797-12.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Malka
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France.
| | - Eric François
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
| | - Frédérique Penault-Llorca
- Pathology Unit, Centre Jean Perrin, UMR 1240 INSERM IMoST, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Florence Castan
- Biometrics Unit, Institut du Cancer de Montpellier-Val d'Aurelle, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Olivier Bouché
- Department of Hepatogastroenterology and Digestive Oncology, Hôpital Robert Debré, Reims, France
| | - Jaafar Bennouna
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest René Gauducheau, Saint-Herblain, France
| | | | | | - Christophe Borg
- Cancer Immunotherapy, INSERM U1098 EFS/BFC, Besançon, France
| | - Emmanuelle Samalin
- Digestive Oncology Unit, Institut du Cancer de Montpellier-Val d'Aurelle, Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Bachet
- Sorbonne Université, Hôpitaux Universitaires Pitié-Salpétrière, Department of Hepatogastroenterology, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Luc Raoul
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Laurent Miglianico
- Department of Radiotherapy, Centre Hospitalier Privé Saint Grégoire, Saint Grégoire, France
| | | | - Laetitia Dahan
- Department of Digestive Oncology, Centre Hospitalier La Timone, Marseille, France
| | - Cédric Lecaille
- Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Polyclinique Bordeaux Nord Aquitaine, Bordeaux, France
| | - Thomas Aparicio
- Department of Gastroenterology and Digestive Cancerology, Hôpital Avicenne, HUPSSD, Bobigny, Paris 13 University, Sorbonne, Paris Cité, France
| | | | - Hervé Perrier
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hôpital Saint Joseph, Marseille, France
| | - Anne Cayre
- Department of Pathology, LBM OncoGenAuvergne, Clermont Ferrand, France
| | - Pierre Laurent-Puig
- Université Paris Descartes, Centre de Ressources Biologiques EPIGENETEC, Unité INSERM U775U1147, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Gourgou
- Biometrics Unit, Institut du Cancer de Montpellier-Val d'Aurelle, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-François Emile
- Department of Pathology & EA4340, Hôpital Ambroise Paré & Versailles University, Boulogne Billancourt, France
| | - Julien Taïeb
- Department of Hepatogastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris Descartes University, France
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7
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c-Src Recruitment is Involved in c-MET-Mediated Malignant Behaviour of NT2D1 Non-Seminoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20020320. [PMID: 30646583 PMCID: PMC6358843 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20020320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
c-MET pathway over-activation is the signature of malignancy acquisition or chemotherapy resistance of many cancers. We recently demonstrated that type II Testicular Germ Cell Tumours (TGCTs) express c-MET receptor. In particular, we elucidated that the non-seminoma lesions express c-MET protein at higher level, compared with the seminoma ones. In line with this observation, NTERA-2 clone D1 (NT2D1) non-seminoma cells increase their proliferation, migration and invasion in response to Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF). One of the well-known adaptor-proteins belonging to c-MET signaling cascade is c-Src. Activation of c-Src is related to the increase of aggressiveness of many cancers. For this reason, we focused on the role of c-Src in c-MET-triggered and HGF-dependent NT2D1 cell activities. In the present paper, we have elucidated that this adaptor-protein is involved in HGF-dependent NT2D1 cell proliferation, migration and invasion, since Src inhibitor-1 administration abrogates these responses. Despite these biological evidences western blot analyses have not revealed the increase of c-Src activation because of HGF administration. However, notably, immunofluorescence analyses revealed that cytoplasmic and membrane-associated localization of c-Src shifted to the nuclear compartment after HGF stimulation. These results shed new light in the modality of HGF-dependent c-Src recruitment, and put the basis for novel investigations on the relationship between c-Src, and TGCT aggressiveness.
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8
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Scheri KC, Leonetti E, Laino L, Gigantino V, Gesualdi L, Grammatico P, Bizzari M, Franco R, Oosterhuis JW, Stoop H, Looijenga LHJ, Ricci G, Catizone A. c-MET receptor as potential biomarker and target molecule for malignant testicular germ cell tumors. Oncotarget 2018; 9:31842-31860. [PMID: 30159127 PMCID: PMC6112764 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Type II testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) represent the most frequent malignancy in Caucasian males (20–40 years). Even if diagnosed with disseminated disease, >80% of patients are cured; however, a small percentage of cases progress and result in death. It is commonly accepted that these cancers arise from a disturbed testicular embryonic niche that leads to the block of gonocyte differentiation. The subsequent development of the invasive seminomas and non-seminomas is due to a combination of genetic, epigenetic and microenvironment-based alterations (genvironment). Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is present in the testicular microenvironment, together with its receptor c-MET, from early embryonic development to an adult stage. In addition, c-MET is a well-known proto-oncogene involved in the onset and progression of various human cancers. Herein, we have investigated the expression and availability of HGF and c-MET in TCam-2, NCCIT and NT2D1 cells, which are type II (T)GCT representative cell lines, and the effect of c-MET activation/repression on the regulation of cancerous biological processes. We found that NT2D1 cells increase their proliferation, polarized migration, and invasion in response to HGF administration. NCCIT cells respond to HGF stimulation only partially, whereas TCam-2 cells do not respond to HGF, at least according to the investigated parameters. Interestingly, the immunohistochemical study of c-MET distribution in TGCTs confirm its presence in both seminoma and non-seminoma lesions with different patterns. Notably, we found the highest c-MET immunoreactivity in the epithelial elements of the various components of TGCTs: teratoma, yolk sac tumor and choriocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katia Corano Scheri
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic-Medicine and Orthopaedics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Erica Leonetti
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic-Medicine and Orthopaedics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Laino
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Genetics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Gigantino
- Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori I.R.C.C.S. "Fondazione Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Luisa Gesualdi
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic-Medicine and Orthopaedics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Grammatico
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Genetics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariano Bizzari
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Systems Biology Group Lab, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
| | - Renato Franco
- Pathological Anatomy Unit, Department of Psychic and Physic health and preventive medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - J Wolter Oosterhuis
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory for Experimental Patho-Oncology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Stoop
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory for Experimental Patho-Oncology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leendert H J Looijenga
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory for Experimental Patho-Oncology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Giulia Ricci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Angela Catizone
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic-Medicine and Orthopaedics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy
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9
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Ahn DH, Grothey A. Continued disappointments with targeted agents in first-line therapy of advanced gastric cancers. Lancet Oncol 2017; 18:1427-1428. [PMID: 28958501 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(17)30714-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel H Ahn
- Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Axel Grothey
- Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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10
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Chae YK, Arya A, Chiec L, Shah H, Rosenberg A, Patel S, Raparia K, Choi J, Wainwright DA, Villaflor V, Cristofanilli M, Giles F. Challenges and future of biomarker tests in the era of precision oncology: Can we rely on immunohistochemistry (IHC) or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to select the optimal patients for matched therapy? Oncotarget 2017; 8:100863-100898. [PMID: 29246028 PMCID: PMC5725070 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular techniques have improved our understanding of the pathogenesis of cancer development. These techniques have also fueled the rational development of targeted drugs for patient populations stratified by their genetic characteristics. These novel methods have changed the classic paradigm of diagnostic pathology; among them are IHC, FISH, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microarray technology. IHC and FISH detection methods for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) were recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as routine clinical practice for cancer patients. Here, we discuss general challenges related to the predictive power of these molecular biomarkers for targeted therapy in cancer medicine. We will also discuss the prospects of utilizing new biomarkers for fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and hepatocyte growth factor receptor (cMET/MET) targeted therapies for developing new and robust predictive biomarkers in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Kwang Chae
- Developmental Therapeutics Program of the Division of Hematology Oncology, Chicago, IL, USA.,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ayush Arya
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lauren Chiec
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hiral Shah
- Developmental Therapeutics Program of the Division of Hematology Oncology, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ari Rosenberg
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sandip Patel
- University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Kirtee Raparia
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jaehyuk Choi
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Derek A Wainwright
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Victoria Villaflor
- Developmental Therapeutics Program of the Division of Hematology Oncology, Chicago, IL, USA.,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Massimo Cristofanilli
- Developmental Therapeutics Program of the Division of Hematology Oncology, Chicago, IL, USA.,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Francis Giles
- Developmental Therapeutics Program of the Division of Hematology Oncology, Chicago, IL, USA.,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
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11
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Preferential Localization of MET Expression at the Invasion Front and in Spreading Cells Through Air Spaces in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinomas. Am J Surg Pathol 2017; 41:414-422. [PMID: 28098570 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000000810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The involvement of the HGF/MET pathway in acquisition of an invasive phenotype in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs) suggests that MET inhibitors might prove effective against these cancers, but clinical trials have yielded conflicting results. The aim of our study was to evaluate how intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) of MET staining affects the determination of MET status for therapeutic purposes. We analyzed 64 NSCLC samples, including 33 adenocarcinomas (ADCs) and 31 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). We used immunohistochemistry to detect MET and phospho-MET on whole slides and determined the MET SP44 immunoscore and the H-score. A high METMab score (2+/3+) was observed in 34% of NSCLCs and was more prevalent in ADCs (52%) than in SCCs (16%). We found ITH in 73% of ADCs and 77% of SCCs, with higher levels of MET and phospho-MET at the invasion front (in 52% of ADCs and 22% of SCCs) and in tumor cells spreading through air spaces in ADCs. Within-sample ITH was high in 40% of the ADCs and 29% of the SCCs. When different samples from the same tumor were compared, discordant assessments (high MET vs. low MET) were made for 12% of the ADCs and 10% of the SCCs. C-MET and phospho-MET overexpression occurred preferentially in ADCs and in areas involved in tumor progression, in support of the view that MET activation plays a role in the development of an invasive phenotype in NSCLC. To use MET status adequately as a biomarker, one must take the resulting high level of ITH into account.
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12
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Moran-Jones K. The Therapeutic Potential of Targeting the HGF/cMET Axis in Ovarian Cancer. Mol Diagn Ther 2017; 20:199-212. [PMID: 27139908 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-016-0201-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Survival rates for ovarian cancer have remained relatively stable for the past 2 decades despite advances in surgical techniques and cytotoxic chemotherapeutics, indicating a requirement for better therapies. One pathway currently proposed for targeting is the HGF/cMET pathway. Upregulated in a number of tumour types, cMET is a tyrosine kinase receptor expressed on epithelial cells. In ovarian cancer, it has been identified as highly expressed in the four major subtypes, with expression estimates ranging from 11 to 68 % of cases. HGF, the only known ligand for cMET, is found at high levels in both serum and ascites in women with ovarian cancer, and is proposed to induce both migration and metastasis. However, clinically validated biomarkers are not yet available for either HGF or cMET, preventing a clear understanding of the true rate of overexpression, or its correlation with prognosis. Despite this, a number of agents against HGF and cMET are currently being investigated in clinical trials for multiple tumour types, including ovarian. However, a lack of patient selection, biomarker usage, and post hoc analysis correlating response with expression has resulted in the majority of these trials showing little beneficial effect from these agents, indicating that additional research is required to determine their usefulness in patients with ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Moran-Jones
- Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Switchback Rd, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK. .,The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 370 Victoria St, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia.
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13
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Cho YA, Kim EK, Heo SJ, Cho BC, Kim HR, Chung JM, Yoon SO. Alteration status and prognostic value of MET in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. J Cancer 2016; 7:2197-2206. [PMID: 27994655 PMCID: PMC5166528 DOI: 10.7150/jca.16686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2016] [Accepted: 09/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The MET pathway plays a key role in various cancers, and its inhibition represents a potential treatment target. However, appropriate biomarkers are needed to facilitate the selection of patients who would benefit from MET inhibiting therapy. We herein conducted a robust confirmatory evaluation of the MET copy number alteration status and prognostic significance of c-Met expression in a large series of patients (n = 396) who underwent standard surgical resection and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Surgically resected HNSCC samples were subjected to immunohistochemical and H-score analysis of c-Met expression and silver in situ hybridization analysis of MET amplification and copy number gains. c-Met expression varied, with mean and median H-scores (scale: 0-300 scale) of 61.2 and 60.0, respectively. The lowest and highest expression levels were observed in SCC of the larynx and oral cavity, respectively. MET copy number gains were observed in 16.9% of cases (67/339) and were associated with c-Met protein expression. High c-Met expression, determined according to MET gain status, was associated with an inferior overall survival rate, especially among completely resected cases. In conclusion, our robust analysis revealed that c-Met expression in HNSCCs varied according to anatomical site, correlated with MET copy number gains, and was associated with poor prognosis. This c-Met expression analysis method, which is based on the MET gain status, appears to appropriately predict high-risk HNSCC patients in the context of anti-MET therapeutic decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoon Ah Cho
- Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun Kyung Kim
- Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Su Jin Heo
- Yonsei Cancer Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Byoung Chul Cho
- Yonsei Cancer Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye Ryun Kim
- Yonsei Cancer Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | | | - Sun Och Yoon
- Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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14
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Kawakami H, Okamoto I. MET-targeted therapy for gastric cancer: the importance of a biomarker-based strategy. Gastric Cancer 2016; 19:687-95. [PMID: 26690587 DOI: 10.1007/s10120-015-0585-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The MET protooncogene encodes the receptor tyrosine kinase c-MET (MET). Aberrant activation of MET signaling occurs in a subset of advanced malignancies, including gastric cancer, and promotes tumor cell growth, survival, migration, and invasion as well as tumor angiogenesis, suggesting its potential importance as a therapeutic target. MET can be activated by two distinct pathways that are dependent on or independent of its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), with the latter pathway having been attributed mostly to MET amplification in gastric cancer. Preclinical evidence has suggested that interruption of the HGF-MET axis either with antibodies to HGF or with MET tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has antitumor effects in gastric cancer cells. Overexpression of MET occurs frequently in gastric cancer and has been proposed as a potential predictive biomarker for anti-MET therapy. However, several factors can trigger such MET upregulation in a manner independent of HGF, suggesting that gastric tumors with MET overexpression are not necessarily MET driven. On the other hand, gastric cancer cells with MET amplification are dependent on MET signaling for their survival and are thus vulnerable to MET TKI treatment. Given the low prevalence of MET amplification in gastric cancer (approximately 8 %), testing for this genetic change would substantially narrow the target population but it might constitute a better biomarker than MET overexpression for MET TKI therapy. We compare aberrant MET signaling dependent on the HGF-MET axis or on MET amplification as well as address clinical issues and challenges associated with the identification of appropriate biomarkers for MET-driven tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisato Kawakami
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, 589-8511, Japan
| | - Isamu Okamoto
- Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashiku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
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15
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Li Y, Li W, He Q, Xu Y, Ren X, Tang X, Wen X, Yang X, Sun Y, Zeng J, Yun J, Liu N, Ma J. Prognostic value of MET protein overexpression and gene amplification in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Oncotarget 2016; 6:13309-19. [PMID: 25965822 PMCID: PMC4537016 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This study assessed the incidence and prognostic value of MET protein overexpression and gene amplification in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Specimens from 376 consecutive patients with locoregionally advanced NPC were subjected to immunohistochemistry to analyze MET protein expression and fluorescence in situ hybridization to assess MET amplification status. In total, 139/376 (37.0%) patients had MET protein overexpression; of whom, 7/139 (5.0%) had MET amplification. MET overexpression was significantly associated with locoregional failure (P = 0.009), distant metastasis (P = 0.006) and death (P < 0.001); MET amplification was significantly associated with death (P = 0.021). A positive correlation was observed between MET copy number status and MET protein expression (r = 0.629, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated MET overexpression was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS; HR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.38-2.87; P < 0.001) and disease-free survival (DFS; HR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.33-2.57; P < 0.001), and MET amplification was independently associated with poorer OS (HR, 4.24; 95% CI, 1.78-10.08; P < 0.001) and DFS (HR, 5.44; 95% CI, 2.44-12.09; P < 0.001). In conclusion, MET protein overexpression and gene amplification are independent prognostic factors for OS and DFS in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and may provide therapeutic biomarkers to identify patients in whom MET inhibitors may be beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingqin Li
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenfei Li
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingmei He
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yafei Xu
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xianyue Ren
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinran Tang
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Wen
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojing Yang
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Sun
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Zeng
- Department of Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingping Yun
- Department of Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Na Liu
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Ma
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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16
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Personalized therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: Where are we now? Cancer Treat Rev 2016; 45:77-86. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2016.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2015] [Revised: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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17
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Lee JJX, Chan JJ, Choo SP. Clinical Development of c-MET Inhibition in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Diseases 2015; 3:306-324. [PMID: 28943627 PMCID: PMC5548260 DOI: 10.3390/diseases3040306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 10/04/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death. In patients with advanced or unresectable HCC, there are few treatment options. Conventional chemotherapy has limited benefits. Sorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor, improves survival, but options for patients intolerant of or progressing on sorafenib are limited. There has been much interest in recent years in molecular therapeutic targets and drug development for HCC. One of the more promising molecular targets in HCC is the cellular-mesenchymal-epithelial transition (c-MET) factor receptor. Encouraging phase II data on two c-MET inhibitors, tivantinib and cabozantinib, has led to phase III trials. This review describes the c-MET/hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signalling pathway and its relevance to HCC, and discusses the preclinical and clinical trial data for inhibitors of this pathway in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joycelyn J X Lee
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169610, Singapore.
| | - Jack J Chan
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169610, Singapore.
| | - Su Pin Choo
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169610, Singapore.
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18
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Sugie S, Mukai S, Yamasaki K, Kamibeppu T, Tsukino H, Kamoto T. Plasma macrophage-stimulating protein and hepatocyte growth factor levels are associated with prostate cancer progression. Hum Cell 2015; 29:22-9. [PMID: 26250899 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-015-0123-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a well-known multifunctional growth factor, and evidence has accumulated indicating that the HGF/MET (HGF receptor) signaling axis is involved in the progression of cancer. Macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP) is also known as a growth factor which activates not only macrophages but also cancer cells and osteoclasts through the activation of the specific Receptor d'origine nantais (RON). Pro-HGF and pro-MSP lack biological activity and, therefore, require proteolytic activation for conversion to an active two-chain form by HGF activator (HGFA). Although, there are several studies on HGF/MET signaling with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and bone metastasis, reports on plasma protein are rare. In addition, the MSP/RON signaling axis in PC is not well understood. Here, we analyzed associations between PC progression and plasma HGF and MSP levels. We tested plasma samples from 58 patients with PC: 36 with castration-resistant (CR) PC and 22 with pretreatment for PC as control. We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit to determine plasma levels of HGF, MSP and HGFA, and examined correlations with clinicopathological characteristics such as Gleason grade and bone metastasis. PCR was used to evaluate HGF and MSP-related molecules in PC cell lines. Plasma levels of HGF, MSP and HGFA in the CRPC group were higher than in the control group (HGF: P < 0.001; MSP: P = 0.008; HGFA: P < 0.001). HGF and MSP levels were significantly correlated (P = 0.003). In the CRPC group, plasma HGF and MSP levels and Gleason score were not correlated; however, high plasma MSP level correlated with bone metastasis. (P = 0.016). In cell lines, PC3 expressed significantly more HGF, MET and RON than did LNCaP (P < 0.001), and both cell lines expressed MSP. Plasma concentrations of HGF, MSP and HGFA are significantly elevated in patients with CRPC. Also, as plasma MSP levels are significantly associated with bone metastasis in CRPC patients, MSP may be a candidate for serum marker of bone metastasis. Our results show the importance of the HGF/MET and MSP/RON signaling systems in CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Sugie
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
| | - Shoichiro Mukai
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan.
| | - Koji Yamasaki
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
| | - Toyoharu Kamibeppu
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Tsukino
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Kamoto
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
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19
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Zhao L, Wu Y, Xie XD, Chu YF, Li JQ, Zheng L. c-Met identifies a population of matrix metalloproteinase 9-producing monocytes in peritumoural stroma of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Pathol 2015; 237:319-29. [PMID: 26108200 DOI: 10.1002/path.4578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Macrophages (Mϕ) are prominent components of solid tumours and exhibit distinct phenotypes in different microenvironments. Previously, we found that tumours could alter the normal developmental process of Mϕ to trigger transient activation of monocytes in the peritumoural stroma of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we showed that a fraction of monocytes in the peritumoural stroma, but not in HCC cancer nests, expressed surface c-Met molecules. Monocytes exposed to tumours strongly expressed c-Met proteins with kinetics similar to their activation status, and significant correlations were found between c-Met levels and HLA-DR expression on tumour-infiltrating monocytes. NF-κB-mediated autocrine TNF-α stimulated the expression of c-Met on activated monocytes, and by interacting with its ligand hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), c-Met increased the motility and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9-producing capacity of tumour-associated monocytes. The intensity of c-Met expression on tumour-infiltrating monocytes was associated with high mortality and reduced survival of patients with HCC. Therefore, the expression of c-Met on activated monocytes/Mϕ may represent a novel mechanism by which a tumour actively and precisely regulates the distribution and functions of these cells to facilitate disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Xu-Dong Xie
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yi-Fan Chu
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Jin-Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Limin Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
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20
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Sacco JJ, Clague MJ. Dysregulation of the Met pathway in non-small cell lung cancer: implications for drug targeting and resistance. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2015; 4:242-52. [PMID: 26207212 PMCID: PMC4483475 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2218-6751.2015.03.05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase, Met, orchestrates a complex signalling network that physiologically drives a programme of 'invasive growth'. In cancer however, this process may be co-opted to promote proliferation, survival and metastasis of cancer cells. Met is thus a key therapeutic target, not least in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) where it is one of the most commonly dysregulated driver oncogenes. Identifying robust biomarkers that allow the selection of patients most likely to respond to Met targeted therapies will however be essential to realising their potential. This has been underlined recently by the early termination of three pivotal phase III trials investigating Met targeted agents in NSCLC, all of which failed to show clinical benefit. In contrast to these trials, which were relatively unselective, a couple of early phase trials have recently been instigated that select patients on the basis of Met amplification. While still at an early stage, interim results are relatively encouraging and strengthen the rationale for using Met amplifaction as a biomarker. Here we will discuss this and other aberrations in Met signalling in relation to their significance in the therapeutic targeting of Met.
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21
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Bell D, Ferrarotto R, Fox MD, Roberts D, Hanna EY, Weber RS, El-Naggar AK. Analysis and significance of c-MET expression in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland. Cancer Biol Ther 2015; 16:834-8. [PMID: 25923130 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2015.1030554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), a rare salivary gland malignancy, is a histogenetic, morphologic, and clinical heterogeneous disease. Extensive efforts have been made to characterize molecular events associated with these tumors, including the identification of prognostic and predictive biomarkers. Increased copy number gain and amplification of c-Met, the cell surface receptor for hepatocyte growth factor, has been shown to enhance tumor growth and invasiveness and promote metastasis in certain tumor types. In this study, we evaluated the expression of c-Met by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a large cohort of salivary gland ACCs and examined its clinicopathologic implications. Archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks from 200 ACC patients were used in this study. Pathologic patterns and phenotypic expression of c-Met were recorded and compared with clinical factors including gender, age, disease stage at diagnosis, and clinical outcomes. Correlations between c-MET expression and clinical characteristics were assessed by Pearson's chi-square test or by the 2-tailed Fisher exact test. Curves describing overall survival were generated by Kaplan-Meier product limit method. Strong c-MET expression was seen in inner ductal and outer myoepithelial cells in 53.2% of the cases. There was no correlation between c-Met overexpression and clinicopathologic parameters or patient's overall survival ( p = .94074). In conclusion, c-MET expression is high in a significant subgroup of ACC patients. While c-MET expression is not a prognostic factor in ACC, its role as a predictive marker of benefit from MET inhibitors deserves further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Bell
- a Department of Pathology ; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center ; Houston , TX USA
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22
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Chan SL, Chan AWH, Yeo W. Novel therapeutic targets and predictive markers for hepatocellular carcinoma. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2015; 19:973-83. [DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2015.1031109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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23
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Finocchiaro G, Toschi L, Gianoncelli L, Baretti M, Santoro A. Prognostic and predictive value of MET deregulation in non-small cell lung cancer. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2015; 3:83. [PMID: 25992382 PMCID: PMC4416957 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2015.03.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent progress in cancer biology has led to the discovery of increasing number of oncogene alterations that have dramatically changed the paradigm of lung cancer treatment. MET is a tyrosine kinase receptor for the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) that is deregulated in several malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Abnormal MET-HGF signaling pathway activation can occur via different mechanisms, including HGF and/or MET overexpression, MET gene amplification, mutations or rearrangements. MET protein overexpression and increased MET gene number have been identified as poor prognostic factors in several series of surgically resected NSCLC making this receptor an attractive target for cancer treatment. Several clinical trials have recently evaluated the activity of a variety of anti-MET strategies in NSCLC patients with or without molecular selection with a variable degree of success, underscoring the need of establishing the best predictive biomarker for the identification of responding patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Finocchiaro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Clinico Humanitas IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Toschi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Clinico Humanitas IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Letizia Gianoncelli
- Department of Medical Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Clinico Humanitas IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marina Baretti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Clinico Humanitas IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Armando Santoro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Clinico Humanitas IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
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24
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Zhang Y, Jain RK, Zhu M. Recent Progress and Advances in HGF/MET-Targeted Therapeutic Agents for Cancer Treatment. Biomedicines 2015; 3:149-181. [PMID: 28536405 PMCID: PMC5344234 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines3010149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF): MET axis is a ligand-mediated receptor tyrosine kinase pathway that is involved in multiple cellular functions, including proliferation, survival, motility, and morphogenesis. Aberrancy in the HGF/MET pathway has been reported in multiple tumor types and is associated with tumor stage and prognosis. Thus, targeting the HGF/MET pathway has become a potential therapeutic strategy in oncology development in the last two decades. A number of novel therapeutic agents-either as therapeutic proteins or small molecules that target the HGF/MET pathway-have been tested in patients with different tumor types in clinical studies. In this review, recent progress in HGF/MET pathway-targeted therapy for cancer treatment, the therapeutic potential of HGF/MET-targeted agents, and challenges in the development of such agents will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilong Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Modeling and Simulation, Amgen Inc., One Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA.
| | - Rajul K Jain
- Kite Pharma, Inc., 2225 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA.
| | - Min Zhu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Modeling and Simulation, Amgen Inc., One Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA.
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Phase I study of the anti-MET antibody onartuzumab in patients with solid tumors and MET-positive lung cancer. Invest New Drugs 2015; 33:632-40. [PMID: 25777467 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-015-0227-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Onartuzumab is a monovalent, humanized, monoclonal antibody that showed significant survival benefits in combination with erlotinib in MET-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in pre-specified subgroup analyses of a randomized phase II study. We conducted a two-stage, open-label, multicenter, phase I study of onartuzumab in Japanese patients. Stage 1 investigated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and recommended dose of onartuzumab in patients with solid tumors, and Stage 2 determined the safety, tolerability, and PK of onartuzumab plus erlotinib in patients with MET-positive NSCLC. Nine patients received onartuzumab monotherapy (4, 15, or 30 mg/kg on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle) in Stage 1, and six patients received onartuzumab (15 mg/kg) plus erlotinib (150 mg/day) in Stage 2. There were no dose-limiting toxicities in either stage. Serious adverse events (AEs) occurred in one patient in Stage 1 (convulsion), and two patients in Stage 2 (once case each of diarrhea, vomiting, and pulmonary embolism), but there were no grade 4 AEs or AEs leading to death. Onartuzumab PKs were linear in the dose range of 4 to 30 mg/kg, and were not affected by co-administration with erlotinib. PK parameters of onartuzumab were similar to those reported in non-Japanese patients. A partial response was observed in a patient with MET immunohistochemistry 3+ NSCLC without MET gene amplification. Based on these results, the recommended dose of onartuzumab in Japanese patients with solid tumors is 15 mg/kg every 21 days. The combination of onartuzumab with erlotinib is feasible in Japanese patients with MET-positive lung cancer.
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Hack SP, Bruey JM, Koeppen H. HGF/MET-directed therapeutics in gastroesophageal cancer: a review of clinical and biomarker development. Oncotarget 2015; 5:2866-80. [PMID: 24930887 PMCID: PMC4102777 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant activation of the HGF/MET signaling axis has been strongly implicated in the malignant transformation and progression of gastroesophageal cancer (GEC). MET receptor overexpression in tumor samples from GEC patients has been consistently correlated with an aggressive metastatic phenotype and poor prognosis. In preclinical GEC models, abrogation of HGF/MET signaling has been shown to induce tumor regression as well as inhibition of metastatic dissemination. Promising clinical results in patient subsets in which MET is overexpressed have spurned several randomized studies of HGF/MET-directed agents, including two pivotal global Phase III trials. Available data highlight the need for predictive biomarkers in order to select patients most likely to benefit from HGF/MET inhibition. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge of mechanisms of MET activation in GEC, the current status of the clinical evaluation of MET-targeted therapies in GEC, characteristics of ongoing randomized GEC trials and the associated efforts to identify and validate biomarkers. We also discuss the considerations and challenges for HGF/MET inhibitor drug development in the GEC setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P Hack
- Product Development, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
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27
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Miyata Y, Asai A, Mitsunari K, Matsuo T, Ohba K, Mochizuki Y, Sakai H. Met in urological cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2014; 6:2387-403. [PMID: 25521854 PMCID: PMC4276973 DOI: 10.3390/cancers6042387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Revised: 12/03/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Met is a tyrosine kinase receptor that is considered to be a proto-oncogene. The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-Met signaling system plays an important role in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis in many types of malignancies. Furthermore, Met expression has been reported to be a useful predictive biomarker for disease progression and patient survival in these malignancies. Many studies have focused on the clinical significance and prognostic role of Met in urological cancers, including prostate cancer (PCa), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and urothelial cancer. Several preclinical studies and clinical trials are in progress. In this review, the current understanding of the pathological role of Met in cancer cell lines, its clinical significance in cancer tissues, and its predictive value in patients with urological cancers are summarized. In particular, Met-related malignant behavior in castration-resistant PCa and the different pathological roles Met plays in papillary RCC and other histological types of RCC are the subjects of focus. In addition, the pathological significance of phosphorylated Met in these cancers is shown. In recent years, Met has been recognized as a potential therapeutic target in various types of cancer; therapeutic strategies used by Met-targeted agents in urological cancers are summarized in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyoshi Miyata
- Department of Urology, Nagasaki University Hospital, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan.
| | - Akihiro Asai
- Department of Urology, Nagasaki University Hospital, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan.
| | - Kensuke Mitsunari
- Department of Urology, Nagasaki University Hospital, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan.
| | - Tomohiro Matsuo
- Department of Urology, Nagasaki University Hospital, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan.
| | - Kojiro Ohba
- Department of Urology, Nagasaki University Hospital, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan.
| | - Yasushi Mochizuki
- Department of Urology, Nagasaki University Hospital, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan.
| | - Hideki Sakai
- Department of Urology, Nagasaki University Hospital, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan.
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Egile C, Kenigsberg M, Delaisi C, Bégassat F, Do-Vale V, Mestadier J, Bonche F, Bénard T, Nicolas JP, Valence S, Lefranc C, Francesconi E, Castell C, Lefebvre AM, Nemecek C, Calvet L, Goulaouic H. The selective intravenous inhibitor of the MET tyrosine kinase SAR125844 inhibits tumor growth in MET-amplified cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2014; 14:384-94. [PMID: 25504634 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-14-0428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Activation of the MET/HGF pathway is common in human cancer and is thought to promote tumor initiation, metastasis, angiogenesis, and resistance to diverse therapies. We report here the pharmacologic characterization of the triazolopyridazine derivative SAR125844, a potent and highly selective inhibitor of the MET receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), for intravenous administration. SAR125844 displayed nanomolar activity against the wild-type kinase (IC50 value of 4.2 nmol/L) and the M1250T and Y1235D mutants. Broad biochemical profiling revealed that SAR125844 was highly selective for MET kinase. SAR125844 inhibits MET autophosphorylation in cell-based assays in the nanomolar range, and promotes low nanomolar proapoptotic and antiproliferative activities selectively in cell lines with MET gene amplification or pathway addiction. In two MET-amplified human gastric tumor xenograft models, SNU-5 and Hs 746T, intravenous treatment with SAR125844 leads to potent, dose- and time-dependent inhibition of the MET kinase and to significant impact on downstream PI3K/AKT and RAS/MAPK pathways. Long duration of MET kinase inhibition up to 7 days was achieved with a nanosuspension formulation of SAR125844. Daily or every-2-days intravenous treatment of SAR125844 promoted a dose-dependent tumor regression in MET-amplified human gastric cancer models at tolerated doses without treatment-related body weight loss. Our data demonstrated that SAR125844 is a potent and selective MET kinase inhibitor with a favorable preclinical toxicity profile, supporting its clinical development in patients with MET-amplified and MET pathway-addicted tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coumaran Egile
- Sanofi Oncology, Sanofi Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | | | - Christine Delaisi
- Sanofi Oncology, Sanofi Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Françoise Bégassat
- Sanofi Oncology, Sanofi Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Véronique Do-Vale
- Sanofi Oncology, Sanofi Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Jessica Mestadier
- Sanofi Oncology, Sanofi Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Fabrice Bonche
- Disposition, Safety and Animal Research, Sanofi Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Tsiala Bénard
- Lead Generation to Candidate Realization, Sanofi Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Jean-Paul Nicolas
- Sanofi Oncology, Sanofi Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Sandrine Valence
- Sanofi Oncology, Sanofi Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Céline Lefranc
- Sanofi Oncology, Sanofi Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Elisa Francesconi
- Sanofi Oncology, Sanofi Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Christelle Castell
- Sanofi Oncology, Sanofi Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | | | - Conception Nemecek
- Sanofi Oncology, Sanofi Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Loreley Calvet
- Sanofi Oncology, Sanofi Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Hélène Goulaouic
- Sanofi Oncology, Sanofi Research and Development, Vitry-sur-Seine, France.
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Mechanisms of hepatocyte growth factor activation in cancer tissues. Cancers (Basel) 2014; 6:1890-904. [PMID: 25268161 PMCID: PMC4276949 DOI: 10.3390/cancers6041890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Revised: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) plays critical roles in cancer progression through its specific receptor, MET. HGF/SF is usually synthesized and secreted as an inactive proform (pro-HGF/SF) by stromal cells, such as fibroblasts. Several serine proteases are reported to convert pro-HGF/SF to mature HGF/SF and among these, HGF activator (HGFA) and matriptase are the most potent activators. Increased activities of both proteases have been observed in various cancers. HGFA is synthesized mainly by the liver and secreted as an inactive pro-form. In cancer tissues, pro-HGFA is likely activated by thrombin and/or human kallikrein 1-related peptidase (KLK)-4 and KLK-5. Matriptase is a type II transmembrane serine protease that is expressed by most epithelial cells and is also synthesized as an inactive zymogen. Matriptase activation is likely to be mediated by autoactivation or by other trypsin-like proteases. Recent studies revealed that matriptase autoactivation is promoted by an acidic environment. Given the mildly acidic extracellular environment of solid tumors, matriptase activation may, thus, be accelerated in the tumor microenvironment. HGFA and matriptase activities are regulated by HGFA inhibitor (HAI)-1 (HAI-1) and/or HAI-2 in the pericellular microenvironment. HAIs may have an important role in cancer cell biology by regulating HGF/SF-activating proteases.
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30
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Gaule PB, Crown J, O'Donovan N, Duffy MJ. cMET in triple-negative breast cancer: is it a therapeutic target for this subset of breast cancer patients? Expert Opin Ther Targets 2014; 18:999-1009. [PMID: 25084805 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2014.938050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The identification and validation of a targeted therapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is currently one of the most urgent needs in breast cancer therapeutics. The cMET oncogene encodes a membrane-bound tyrosine kinase implicated in the formation and/or progression of several cancer types, including TNBC. Currently, inhibitors targeting cMET are undergoing clinical trials for a variety of cancers, including TNBC. These include anti-cMET and anti-hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. AREAS COVERED This article reviews the structure and mode of action of cMET, the role of cMET in cancer formation/development, with particular emphasis on its role in basal/TNBC and its potential as a therapeutic target for this subtype of breast cancer. EXPERT OPINION Due to cancer heterogeneity, it is unlikely that all TNBC patients will be responsive to anti-cMET drugs. Therefore, if cMET is to be used as a target for treatment, it will be important to identify predictive biomarkers to select, upfront, those patients likely to benefit. Potential predictive biomarkers for anti-cMET treatments in basal/TNBC include cMET, phospho-cMET, downstream signaling proteins or HGF. These putative predictive biomarkers should be evaluated in a large panel of basal/TNBC cell lines before incorporation into clinical trials involving anti-cMET drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia B Gaule
- Dublin City University, National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology , Dublin 9 , Ireland +00353 1 7007497 ; +00353 1 7005484 ;
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Jubb AM, Koeppen H, Reis-Filho JS. Pathology in drug discovery and development. J Pathol 2014; 232:99-102. [PMID: 24122335 DOI: 10.1002/path.4290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2013] [Revised: 09/30/2013] [Accepted: 10/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The rapid pace of drug discovery and drug development in oncology, immunology and ophthalmology brings new challenges; the efficient and effective development of new targeted drugs will require more detailed molecular classifications of histologically homogeneous diseases that show heterogeneous clinical outcomes. To this end, single companion diagnostics for specific drugs will be replaced by multiplex diagnostics for entire therapeutic areas, preserving tissue and enabling rapid molecular taxonomy. The field will move away from the development of new molecular entities as single agents, to which resistance is common. Instead, a detailed understanding of the pathological mechanisms of resistance, in patients and in preclinical models, will be key to the validation of scientifically rational and clinically effective drug combinations. To remain at the heart of disease diagnosis and appropriate management, pathologists must evolve into translational biologists and biomarker scientists. Herein, we provide examples of where this metamorphosis has already taken place, in lung cancer and melanoma, where the transformation has yet to begin, in the use of immunotherapies for ophthalmology and oncology, and where there is fertile soil for a revolution in treatment, in efforts to classify glioblastoma and personalize treatment. The challenges of disease heterogeneity, the regulatory environment and adequate tissue are ever present, but these too are being overcome in dedicated academic centres. In summary, the tools necessary to overcome the 'whens' and 'ifs' of the molecular revolution are in the hands of pathologists today; it is a matter of standardization, training and leadership to bring these into routine practice and translate science into patient benefit. This Annual Review Issue of the Journal of Pathology highlights the central role for pathology in modern drug discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian M Jubb
- Department of Product Development - Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
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