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Dudvarski Stanković N, Bicker F, Keller S, Jones DT, Harter PN, Kienzle A, Gillmann C, Arnold P, Golebiewska A, Keunen O, Giese A, von Deimling A, Bäuerle T, Niclou SP, Mittelbronn M, Ye W, Pfister SM, Schmidt MH. EGFL7 enhances surface expression of integrin α 5β 1 to promote angiogenesis in malignant brain tumors. EMBO Mol Med 2019; 10:emmm.201708420. [PMID: 30065025 PMCID: PMC6127886 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201708420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a typically lethal type of brain tumor with a median survival of 15 months postdiagnosis. This negative prognosis prompted the exploration of alternative treatment options. In particular, the reliance of GBM on angiogenesis triggered the development of anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) blocking antibodies such as bevacizumab. Although its application in human GBM only increased progression-free periods but did not improve overall survival, physicians and researchers still utilize this treatment option due to the lack of adequate alternatives. In an attempt to improve the efficacy of anti-VEGF treatment, we explored the role of the egfl7 gene in malignant glioma. We found that the encoded extracellular matrix protein epidermal growth factor-like protein 7 (EGFL7) was secreted by glioma blood vessels but not glioma cells themselves, while no major role could be assigned to the parasitic miRNAs miR-126/126*. EGFL7 expression promoted glioma growth in experimental glioma models in vivo and stimulated tumor vascularization. Mechanistically, this was mediated by an upregulation of integrin α5β1 on the cellular surface of endothelial cells, which enhanced fibronectin-induced angiogenic sprouting. Glioma blood vessels that formed in vivo were more mature as determined by pericyte and smooth muscle cell coverage. Furthermore, these vessels were less leaky as measured by magnetic resonance imaging of extravasating contrast agent. EGFL7-inhibition using a specific blocking antibody reduced the vascularization of experimental gliomas and increased the life span of treated animals, in particular in combination with anti-VEGF and the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide. Data allow for the conclusion that this combinatorial regimen may serve as a novel treatment option for GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nevenka Dudvarski Stanković
- Molecular Signal Transduction Laboratories, Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Bicker
- Molecular Signal Transduction Laboratories, Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Keller
- Molecular Signal Transduction Laboratories, Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David Tw Jones
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Heidelberg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center at the NCT Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology & Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrick N Harter
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Neurological Institute (Edinger Institute), Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Arne Kienzle
- Molecular Signal Transduction Laboratories, Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.,Laboratory of Adaptive and Regenerative Biology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clarissa Gillmann
- Institute of Radiology, University Medical Center Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Anna Golebiewska
- NORLUX Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health (L.I.H.), Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Olivier Keunen
- NORLUX Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health (L.I.H.), Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Alf Giese
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Andreas von Deimling
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Neuropathology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tobias Bäuerle
- Institute of Radiology, University Medical Center Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Simone P Niclou
- NORLUX Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health (L.I.H.), Luxembourg, Luxembourg.,KG Jebsen Brain Tumour Research Center, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Michel Mittelbronn
- NORLUX Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health (L.I.H.), Luxembourg, Luxembourg.,Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.,Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange, Luxembourg.,Luxembourg Centre of Neuropathology (LCNP), Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - Weilan Ye
- Vascular Biology Program, Molecular Oncology Division, Genentech, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Heidelberg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center at the NCT Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology & Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mirko H Schmidt
- Molecular Signal Transduction Laboratories, Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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