BFGF neutralization stimulates VEGF secretion in melanoma B16 cells

Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Blockade Leads to Distinct Cellular Responses in Melanoma B16 Cells

Although bFGF is highly expressed in the melanoma tissues, its specific role in melanoma progression is still not completely clarified. Here, we investigated the consequent cellular responses in melanoma B16 cells after bFGF blocking by using a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb). Results showed that bFGF mAb concentration dependent inhibited tumor cell growth. Meanwhile, cell viability suppression was accompanied by reduced levels of proangiogenic factors in low-concentration bFGF mAb-treated cancer cells and increased levels of proangiogenic factors in high-concentration bFGF mAb-treated cells. Furthermore, low-concentration bFGF mAb induced autophagy but not apoptosis; conversely, high-concentration bFGF mAb led to activation of autophagy and apoptosis. Finally, we found that different degrees of bFGF blockade-induced autophagy play distinct roles in promoting cell survival and cell death. Our findings revealed different adaptive responses to bFGF blockade in melanoma cells, which should be taken seriously when developing bFGF-targeting agents for melanoma treatment.

Basic fibroblast growth factor blockade enhances lung cancer cell invasion by activating the AKT/MMP-2/VEGF pathway

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) can stimulate cancer cell growth and invasion; however, the influence of bFGF blockade remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the effects of bFGF blockade on the growth and invasion in A549 (high bFGF expression) and H2122 (low bFGF expression) lung cancer cells. We found that the blocking of bFGF by a neutralizing monoclonal antibody suppressed the growth of A549 cells but not of H2122 cells, as well as strongly induced the invasiveness of A549 cancer cells. Furthermore, bFGF blockade activated the AKT pathway and enhanced the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in A549 cells. These responses could be reversed by treatment with AKT inhibitor and siMMP-2, thus indicating the involvement of the AKT/MMP-2/VEGF-positive feedback loop. Finally, we confirmed that the anti-bFGF-induced invasion of cancer cells could be rescued by inhibiting the AKT/MMP-2/VEGF loop. Our results revealed that bFGF blockade suppresses cell growth but promotes cell invasion in lung cancer cells with high bFGF expression levels. Our data further reinforced the importance of the AKT/MMP-2/VEGF loop in regulating anti-bFGF-induced tumour cell invasion and suggested the limitations of the bFGF-targeting strategy in lung cancer treatment.

Antitumor effects of melanin from Lachnum YM226 and its derivative in H22 tumor-bearing mice

In the present study, we investigated the anti-tumor activities of the intracellular homogeneous melanin (LM) of Lachnum YM226 and its derivative (ALM) on liver cancer using murine H22 hepatocarcinoma model. The results showed that LM and ALM (50 and 200 mg kg-1) could effectively inhibit tumor growth of H22 tumour-bearing mice. The body weight, liver, spleen and thymus indices also improved in the LM and ALM treated groups. Moreover, the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine (CRE), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and uric acid (UA) were lowered. Serum cytokines of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were increased on LM and ALM administration, while LM and ALM significantly decreased the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) levels. The H&E staining indicated that LM and ALM exhibited antitumor activity in vivo by promoting apoptosis and inhibiting angiogenesis. The anti-tumor effect of ALM was more significant than that of LM for the same dose. In summary, the findings demonstrated that LM and ALM might be promising candidates for the prevention and treatment of HCC.