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Zhao L, Ren Y, Zhang G, Zheng K, Wang J, Sha H, Zhao M, Huang R, Kang D, Su X, Wu Y, Zhang W, Lai R, Li L, Mei R, Wang Y, Tian Y, Wang F, Liu B, Zou Z. Single-arm study of camrelizumab plus apatinib for patients with advanced mucosal melanoma. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008611. [PMID: 38908858 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have suggested the potential synergistic antitumor activity when combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with anti-angiogenic agents in various solid tumors. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab (a humanized programmed cell death-1 antibody) plus apatinib (a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor) for patients with advanced mucosal melanoma (MM), and explore-related biomarkers. METHODS We conducted a single-center, open-label, single-arm, phase II study. Patients with unresectable or recurrent/metastatic MM received camrelizumab and apatinib. The primary endpoint was the confirmed objective response rate (ORR). RESULTS Between April 2019 and June 2022, 32 patients were enrolled, with 50.0% previously received systemic therapy. Among 28 patients with evaluable response, the confirmed ORR was 42.9%, the disease control rate was 82.1%, and the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.05 months. The confirmed ORR was 42.9% (6/14) in both treatment-naïve and previously treated patients. Notably, treatment-naïve patients had a median PFS of 11.89 months, and those with prior treatment had a median PFS of 6.47 months. Grade 3 treatment-related adverse events were transaminase elevation, rash, hyperbilirubinemia, proteinuria, hypertension, thrombocytopenia, hand-foot syndrome and diarrhea. No treatment-related deaths were observed. Higher tumor mutation burden (TMB), increased T-cell receptor (TCR) diversity, and altered receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)/RAS pathway correlated with better tumor response. CONCLUSION Camrelizumab plus apatinib provided promising antitumor activity with acceptable toxicity in patients with advanced MM. TMB, TCR diversity and RTK/RAS pathway genes were identified as potential predictive biomarkers and warrant further validation. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900023277.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianjun Zhao
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yu Ren
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guiying Zhang
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Kelin Zheng
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiayu Wang
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Huizi Sha
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mengke Zhao
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rong Huang
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Donglin Kang
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinyu Su
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yirong Wu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wangling Zhang
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruihe Lai
- Department of Nuclear Medicine of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Pathology of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rui Mei
- Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Yitao Wang
- Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - You Tian
- Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Fufeng Wang
- Geneseeq Research institute, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, China
| | - Baorui Liu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhengyun Zou
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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2
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Mao L, Lian B, Li C, Bai X, Zhou L, Cui C, Chi Z, Sheng X, Wang X, Tang B, Yan X, Li S, Kong Y, Dai J, Wei X, Li J, Duan R, Xu H, Wu X, Yang Y, Cheng F, Zhang C, Xia F, Pang Z, Guo J, Si L. Camrelizumab Plus Apatinib and Temozolomide as First-Line Treatment in Patients With Advanced Acral Melanoma: The CAP 03 Phase 2 Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol 2023; 9:1099-1107. [PMID: 37261804 PMCID: PMC10236335 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.1363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Importance Acral melanoma, known for low tumor mutation burden, responds poorly to immunotherapy. A standard therapy is still lacking. Objective To investigate the activity and safety of camrelizumab (an anti-programmed cell death-1 antibody) plus apatinib (a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 inhibitor) and temozolomide as first-line treatment in patients with advanced acral melanoma. Design, Setting, and Participants In this single-arm, single-center, phase 2 nonrandomized clinical trial, patients with treatment-naive unresectable stage III or IV acral melanoma were enrolled at Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute between June 4, 2020, and August 24, 2021. The data cutoff date was April 10, 2022. Interventions Patients received 4-week cycles of intravenous camrelizumab, 200 mg, every 2 weeks; oral apatinib 250 mg, once daily; and intravenous temozolomide, 200 mg/m2, once daily on days 1 to 5 until disease progression or unacceptable toxic effects. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was objective response rate as assessed by investigators according to the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (version 1.1). Secondary end points included progression-free survival, time to response, duration of response, disease control rate, overall survival, and safety. Results A total of 50 patients (32 men [64%]; median age, 57 years [IQR, 52-62 years]) were enrolled and received treatment. The median follow-up duration was 13.4 months (IQR, 9.6-16.2 months). The objective response rate was 64.0% (32 of 50; 95% CI, 49.2%-77.1%). The median time to response and duration of response were 2.7 months (IQR, 0.9-2.9 months) and 17.5 months (95% CI, 12.0 to not reached), respectively. The disease control rate was 88.0% (44 of 50; 95% CI, 75.7%-95.5%). The estimated median progression-free survival was 18.4 months (95% CI, 10.6 to not reached). The median overall survival was not reached. The most common grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events were increased gamma-glutamyltransferase levels (15 [30%]), decreased neutrophil count (11 [22%]), increased conjugated bilirubin levels (10 [20%]), and increased aspartate aminotransferase levels (10 [20%]). No treatment-related deaths occurred. Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this nonrandomized clinical trial suggest that camrelizumab plus apatinib and temozolomide may be a potential first-line treatment option for patients with advanced acral melanoma, which warrants further validation in a randomized clinical trial. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04397770.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Mao
- Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Lian
- Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Caili Li
- Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Bai
- Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhou
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Chuanliang Cui
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihong Chi
- Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xinan Sheng
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Bixia Tang
- Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xieqiao Yan
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Siming Li
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Kong
- Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Dai
- Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoting Wei
- Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Duan
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Huayan Xu
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaowen Wu
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Yang
- Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Fengzhuo Cheng
- Department of Medical Affairs, Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co, Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Medical Affairs, Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co, Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangzhou Xia
- Department of Medical Affairs, Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co, Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Pang
- Department of Medical Affairs, Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co, Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Guo
- Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Si
- Department of Melanoma and Sarcoma, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
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3
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Xiang Z, Deng X, He W, Yang Q, Ni L, Dehghan Shasaltaneh M, Maghsoudloo M, Yang G, Wu J, Imani S, Wen Q. Treatment of malignant pleural effusion in non-small cell lung cancer with VEGF-directed therapy. Ann Med 2022; 54:1357-1371. [PMID: 35543207 PMCID: PMC9103356 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2071977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a critical regulator of malignant pleural effusion (MPE) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Bevacizumab (BEV) and apatinib (APA) are novel VEGF blockers that inhibit lung cancer cell proliferation and the development of pleural effusion. METHODS In this study, we established Lewis lung cancer (LLC) xenograft mouse models to compare the therapeutic effect of APA and BEV in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) against MPE. The anti-tumour and anti-angiogenic effects of this combination therapy were evaluated by 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging, TUNEL assay and Immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The triple drug combination significantly prolonged the overall survival of the tumour-bearing mice by reducing MPE and glucose metabolism and was more effective in lowering VEGF/soluble VEGFR-2 levels in the serum and pleural exudates compared to either of the monotherapies. Furthermore, CDDP + APA + BEV promoted in vivo apoptosis and decreased microvessel density. CONCLUSIONS Mechanistically, LLC-induced MPE was inhibited by targeting the VEGF-MEK/ERK pathways. Further studies are needed to establish the synergistic therapeutic effect of these drugs in NSCLC patients with MPE.KEY MESSAGESCombined treatment of MPE with apatinib, bevacizumab and cisplatin can prolong the survival time of mice, reduce the content of MPE, decrease the SUVmax of thoracic tumour tissue, down-regulate the content of VEGF and sVEGFR-2 in serum and pleural fluid, and promote the apoptosis of tumour cells. Angiogenesis and MPE formation can be inhibited by down-regulation of HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGFR-2, MEK1 and MMP-2 molecular signalling pathway proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangqiang Xiang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Phase 1 Clinical Trial Center, Deyang People's Hospital, Deyang, China
| | - Xiangyu Deng
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Wenfeng He
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Qian Yang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Laichao Ni
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | | | - Mazaher Maghsoudloo
- Laboratory of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gang Yang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Department of Oncology, Anyue Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Ziyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ziyang, China
| | - Jingbo Wu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, China. The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Saber Imani
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Qinglian Wen
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
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4
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Zhang RS, Li ZK, Liu J, Deng YT, Jiang Y. WZB117 enhanced the anti-tumor effect of apatinib against melanoma via blocking STAT3/PKM2 axis. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:976117. [PMID: 36188586 PMCID: PMC9524253 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.976117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Melanoma is the most lethal skin malignant tumor with a short survival once stepping into the metastatic status and poses a therapeutic challenge. Apatinib (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor) is a promising antiangiogenic agent for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. However, antiangiogenic monotherapy is prone to acquired drug resistance and has a limited therapeutic effect. The persistence dependence of glycolytic metabolism in antiangiogenic therapy-resistant cells provides evidence that glycolysis inhibitors may enhance the effect of antiangiogenic therapy. So, this study aimed to investigate whether WZB117 (a specific GLUT1 inhibitor) could enhance the anti-tumor effect of apatinib against melanoma and its potential mechanisms.Methods: We investigated the anti-tumor effects of apatinib alone or in combination with WZB117 on human melanoma cell lines (A375 and SK-MEL-28). The MTT assay determined cell viability and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). Multiple drug effect/combination indexes (CI) analysis was conducted to assess interactions between apatinib and WZB117. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway measured by western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. RNA expression analyses were performed using the reverse transcription-quantitative PCR method.Results: Apatinib and WZB117 showed dose and time-dependent growth inhibitory effects in both melanoma cells. The IC50 of apatinib at 48 h in A375 and SK-MEL-28 cells was 62.58 and 59.61 μM, respectively, while the IC50 of WZB117 was 116.85 and 113.91 μM, respectively. The CI values of the two drugs were 0.538 and 0.544, respectively, indicating a synergistic effect of apatinib combined with WZB117. We also found that glucose consumption and lactate production were suppressed by apatinib plus WZB117 in a dose-dependent manner, paralleled by reducing glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2). The potential mechanism of the combination was to suppress the phosphorylation of STAT3. Knockdown of STAT3 by siRNA inhibited the expression of PKM2, while the activation of STAT3 by IL-6 increased the expression of PKM2. The effects of IL-6 were attenuated by apatinib combined with WZB117 treatment.Conclusion: WZB117 enhanced the anti-tumor effect of apatinib against melanoma via modulating glycolysis by blocking the STAT3/PKM2 axis, which suggested the combination of apatinib with WZB117 could be a potential therapeutic candidate for melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ren-Shu Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhi-Ke Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
- School of Medical Imaging, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yao-Tiao Deng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu Jiang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Yu Jiang,
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5
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Imani S, Liu S, Maghsoudloo M, Wen Q. Histochemical Staining of Vasculogenic Mimicry. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2514:107-120. [PMID: 35771423 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2403-6_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) describes a new tumor microvascular paradigm of non-endothelial cells, where aggressive cancer cells independent of angiogenesis acquire the ability to fluid-conducting vessels. VM shows worse 5-year overall survival in cancer that suggesting that VM could be a promising surgical and effective adjuvant therapy strategy in prognostics of metastatic cancer patients. The current chapter is a comprehensive review on "Main Staining Methods and Protocols in Vasculogenic Mimicry." Here, we provide most up-to-date and detailed information upon microscopy and histology protocols for the identification and understanding of VM process in both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saber Imani
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, P.R. China
- China Regional Research Center, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China
| | - Shuya Liu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, P.R. China
| | - Mazaher Maghsoudloo
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - QingLian Wen
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, P.R. China.
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6
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Ranjan M, Bhasin N. Patient-Derived Xenograft Models for Studying Vascular Mimicry in Melanoma In Vivo. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2514:85-92. [PMID: 35771421 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2403-6_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Tumor growth needs supply of nutrients, oxygen, and blood like the rest of the tissue, but it has been observed that tumor tissue may develop its own neovascular vessels lined with tumor cells instead of the endothelial cells. This phenomenon is referred to as vascular mimicry. Understanding vascular mimicry in melanoma is necessary for the progress of targeted therapeutic research. Patient-derived melanoma xenograft models replicate the tumor microenvironment in vivo and are more reliable in predicting patient response to therapy compared to tissue culture-based methods. This book chapter describes the patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models for studying vascular mimicry in melanoma in vivo. The chapter discusses methods for tissue collection, preimplantation processing, implantation, harvest, storage, and postharvest. Detection of vasculogenic mimicry has been described using immunohistochemical expression of markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Ranjan
- Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Nobel Bhasin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Baylor School of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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7
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He W, Yang G, Liu S, Maghsoudloo M, Shasaltaneh MD, Kaboli PJ, Zhang C, Zhang J, Entezari M, Imani S, Wen Q. Comparative mRNA/micro-RNA co-expression network drives melanomagenesis by promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and vasculogenic mimicry signaling. Transl Oncol 2021; 14:101237. [PMID: 34626953 PMCID: PMC8512639 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2021.101237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to identify a novel disease-associated differentially co-expressed mRNA-microRNA (miRNA) that is associated with vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) network at different stages of melanoma. By applying weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we constructed a VM+EMT biological network with the available microarray dataset downloaded from a public database. Quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemical staining, and CD31-periodic acid solution dual staining were performed to confirm the expression of genes associated with EMT and VM formation in subjects with malignant melanoma (n = 18) and primary melanoma (n = 13) and in healthy subjects (n = 10). Our findings suggested that phosphatidylserine-specific phospholipase A1-alpha (PLA1A) and dermokine (DMKN) genes function as oncogenes that trigger VM and EMT processes during melanomagenesis on interaction with miR-370, miR-563, and miR-770-5p. PLA1A and DMKN genes can be considered potential VM+EMT network-based diagnostic biomarkers for distinguishing between melanoma patients. We postulate that a network with altered PLA1A/miR-563 and DMNK/miR-770-5p/miR-370 may contribute to melanomagenesis by triggering the EMT signaling pathway and VM formation. This study provides a potentially valuable approach for the early diagnosis and prognosis of melanoma progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- WenFeng He
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Gang Yang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China; Department of Oncology, Anyue Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Ziyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ziyang, Sichuan, China
| | - Shuya Liu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China; Department of Oncology, Chengdu Jinniu District People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Mazaher Maghsoudloo
- Laboratory of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Parham Jabbarzadeh Kaboli
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Research Center for Cancer Biology, and Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Cuiwei Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - JingHeng Zhang
- Oncology Department, Luzhou People's Hospital, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Maliheh Entezari
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saber Imani
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
| | - QingLian Wen
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
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8
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Matias M, Pinho JO, Penetra MJ, Campos G, Reis CP, Gaspar MM. The Challenging Melanoma Landscape: From Early Drug Discovery to Clinical Approval. Cells 2021; 10:3088. [PMID: 34831311 PMCID: PMC8621991 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is recognized as the most dangerous type of skin cancer, with high mortality and resistance to currently used treatments. To overcome the limitations of the available therapeutic options, the discovery and development of new, more effective, and safer therapies is required. In this review, the different research steps involved in the process of antimelanoma drug evaluation and selection are explored, including information regarding in silico, in vitro, and in vivo experiments, as well as clinical trial phases. Details are given about the most used cell lines and assays to perform both two- and three-dimensional in vitro screening of drug candidates towards melanoma. For in vivo studies, murine models are, undoubtedly, the most widely used for assessing the therapeutic potential of new compounds and to study the underlying mechanisms of action. Here, the main melanoma murine models are described as well as other animal species. A section is dedicated to ongoing clinical studies, demonstrating the wide interest and successful efforts devoted to melanoma therapy, in particular at advanced stages of the disease, and a final section includes some considerations regarding approval for marketing by regulatory agencies. Overall, considerable commitment is being directed to the continuous development of optimized experimental models, important for the understanding of melanoma biology and for the evaluation and validation of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Matias
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jacinta O Pinho
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria João Penetra
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo Campos
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
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Maroufi NF, Rashidi M, Vahedian V, Jahanbazi R, Mostafaei S, Akbarzadeh M, Kazemzadeh H, Nejabati HR, Isazadeh A, Rashidi MR, Nouri M. Effect of Apatinib plus melatonin on vasculogenic mimicry formation by cancer stem cells from breast cancer cell line. Breast Cancer 2021; 29:260-273. [PMID: 34725795 DOI: 10.1007/s12282-021-01310-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is one of the most important causes of breast cancer metastasis and resistance against drugs. The cancer stem cells (CSCs) are known as essential factors for VM formation. In this study, the effects of melatonin, Apatinib, and a combination of Apatinib/melatonin on VM formation were investigated by breast CSCs from breast cancer cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS The percentage of CSCs was determined in two breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) by flow cytometry. The effects of Apatinib, melatonin, and a combination of Apatinib/melatonin were evaluated on proliferation and viability, migration and invasion, apoptosis, and VM formation in MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, expression levels of the involved proteins in cancer cell proliferation and viability, CSCs, migration and invasion, and VM formation were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting methods. RESULTS Results of the present study showed that melatonin and Apatinib reduced survival rate of CSCs in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Apatinib, melatonin, and a combination of Apatinib/melatonin inhibited proliferation of breast CSCs (P ≤ 0.001). Formation of VM was decreased in the MDA-MB-231 cancer cell line treated with Apatinib and combination of Apatinib/melatonin. Apatinib and combination of Apatinib/melatonin reduced invasion of breast CSCs (P ≤ 0.0001). Expression of vascular endothelial VE-cadherin, ephrinA2 receptor (EPHA2), p-PI3K/phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) and phospho-AKT (p-AKT)/AKT ratios was decreased under the influence of Apatinib and a combination of Apatinib/melatonin (P ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSION Apatinib or a combination of Apatinib/melatonin may be used to manage patients with breast cancer. However, further studies are needed to identify anti-cancer mechanisms of melatonin and Apatinib for better management of the patients with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazila Fathi Maroufi
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohsen Rashidi
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,The Health of Plant and Livestock Products Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Vahid Vahedian
- Researchers Club of Tums Preclinical Core Facility (TPCF), Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Raheleh Jahanbazi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University, Falavarjan branch, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - Maryam Akbarzadeh
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hamid Kazemzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hamid-Reza Nejabati
- Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Alireza Isazadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Reza Rashidi
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Nouri
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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10
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Li Q, Kim YS, An JH, Kwon JA, Han SH, Song WJ, Youn HY. Anti-tumor effects of rivoceranib against canine melanoma and mammary gland tumour in vitro and in vivo mouse xenograft models. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:338. [PMID: 34702279 PMCID: PMC8546947 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-03026-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rivoceranib, a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor, exhibits anti-tumour effects by selectively blocking vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) in cancer cells. Recently, the therapeutic effects of rivoceranib on solid tumours have been elucidated in human patients. However, the anti-tumour effects of rivoceranib against canine cancer remain unclear. Here, we investigated the anti-tumour effects of rivoceranib using in vitro and in vivo mouse xenograft models. METHODS We performed cell proliferation, cell cycle, and migration assays to determine the effects of rivoceranib on canine solid tumour cell lines in vitro. Furthermore, apoptosis and angiogenesis in tumour tissues were examined using a TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry methods with an anti-cluster of differentiation-31 antibody, respectively. Additionally, the expression levels of cyclin-D1 and VEGFR2 activity were determined using western blot analysis. RESULTS Rivoceranib treatment showed anti-proliferative effects and mediated cell cycle arrest in the canine melanoma cell line (LMeC) and the mammary gland tumour (MGT) cell line (CHMp). In animal experiments, rivoceranib decreased the average volume of LMeC cells compared to that following control treatment, and similar results were observed in CHMp cells. Histologically, rivoceranib induced apoptosis and exerted an anti-angiogenic effect in tumour tissues. It also downregulated the expression of cyclin-D1 and inhibited VEGFR2 activity. CONCLUSION Our results show that rivoceranib inhibits proliferation and migration of tumour cells. These findings support the potential application of rivoceranib as a novel chemotherapeutic strategy for canine melanoma and MGTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Li
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture, YanBian University, YanJi, JiLin, China
| | - You-Seok Kim
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.,KPC Corporation, Oporo, Opo-eup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Ju-Hyun An
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Ah Kwon
- HLB LifeScience Co., Ltd., Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Hyun Han
- HLB LifeScience Co., Ltd., Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo-Jin Song
- Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hwa-Young Youn
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
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11
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Niu K, Chen XW, Qin Y, Zhang LP, Liao RX, Sun JG. Celecoxib Blocks Vasculogenic Mimicry via an Off-Target Effect to Radiosensitize Lung Cancer Cells: An Experimental Study. Front Oncol 2021; 11:697227. [PMID: 34568026 PMCID: PMC8461170 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.697227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The resistance to radiotherapy in lung cancer can be attributed to vasculogenic mimicry (VM) to some extent. Celecoxib (CXB), a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), is reported as a radiosensitizer in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, whether CXB can regulate VM formation via an off-target effect to radiosensitize NSCLC remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism underlying the radiosensitizing effect of CXB on NSCLC, i.e., whether CXB can inhibit VM formation via binding to newly identified targets other than COX-2. CXB radiosensitivity assay was performed in BALB/c mice bearing H460 xenografts and C57 mice bearing Lewis lung cancer (LLC) xenografts, which were divided into the control, CXB, irradiation (IR) treatment, and IR plus CXB groups. VM formation was observed using 3D Matrigel, periodic acid solution (PAS) staining, and immunofluorescence staining. The potential off-targets of CXB were screened using Protein Data Bank (PDB) database, MGLTools 1.5.6, and AutoDock Vina 1.1.2 and confirmed by Western blotting, enzyme activity assay, and RNA interference in vitro experiments and by immunohistochemistry in vivo experiments. CXB treatment almost eliminated the enhancement of VM formation by IR in vitro and in vivo, partially due to COX-2 inhibition. Four potential off-targets were predicted by molecular docking. Among them, aminopeptidase N (APN) and integrin alpha-V (ITAV) were remarkably inhibited in protein expression and enzyme activity in vitro or in vivo, consistent with the remarkable reduction of VM formation in H460 xenografts in BALB/c mice. In conclusion, CXB dramatically blocked VM through inhibiting newly identified off-targets APN and ITAV, other than COX-2, then radiosensitizing NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Niu
- Cancer Institute of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xie-Wan Chen
- Cancer Institute of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Medical English Department, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu Qin
- Nutrition and Food Hygiene Department, Institute of Military Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lu-Ping Zhang
- Cancer Institute of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Rong-Xia Liao
- Medical English Department, College of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jian-Guo Sun
- Cancer Institute of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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12
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D'Aguanno S, Mallone F, Marenco M, Del Bufalo D, Moramarco A. Hypoxia-dependent drivers of melanoma progression. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:159. [PMID: 33964953 PMCID: PMC8106186 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01926-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia, a condition of low oxygen availability, is a hallmark of tumour microenvironment and promotes cancer progression and resistance to therapy. Many studies reported the essential role of hypoxia in regulating invasiveness, angiogenesis, vasculogenic mimicry and response to therapy in melanoma. Melanoma is an aggressive cancer originating from melanocytes located in the skin (cutaneous melanoma), in the uveal tract of the eye (uveal melanoma) or in mucosal membranes (mucosal melanoma). These three subtypes of melanoma represent distinct neoplasms in terms of biology, epidemiology, aetiology, molecular profile and clinical features.In this review, the latest progress in hypoxia-regulated pathways involved in the development and progression of all melanoma subtypes were discussed. We also summarized current knowledge on preclinical studies with drugs targeting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1, angiogenesis or vasculogenic mimicry. Finally, we described available evidence on clinical studies investigating the use of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 inhibitors or antiangiogenic drugs, alone or in combination with other strategies, in metastatic and adjuvant settings of cutaneous, uveal and mucosal melanoma.Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-independent pathways have been also reported to regulate melanoma progression, but this issue is beyond the scope of this review.As evident from the numerous studies discussed in this review, the increasing knowledge of hypoxia-regulated pathways in melanoma progression and the promising results obtained from novel antiangiogenic therapies, could offer new perspectives in clinical practice in order to improve survival outcomes of melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona D'Aguanno
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabiana Mallone
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Marenco
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
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13
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Yang Q, Ni L, Imani S, Xiang Z, Hai R, Ding R, Fu S, Wu JB, Wen Q. Anlotinib Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Proliferation and Angiogenesis via Inhibition of AKT/ERK Signaling Cascade. Cancer Manag Res 2020; 12:4937-4948. [PMID: 32606981 PMCID: PMC7321688 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s252181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anlotinib is a highly potent multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor, with very good anti-tumor activity against a variety of solid tumors. However, its effect on colorectal cancer (CRC) is not yet clearly understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-tumor effect and underlying mechanism of anlotinib in the pathogenesis of CRC. Materials and Methods Effects of anlotinib on CT26 cells proliferation and microvessel formation in endothelial cells were determined by MTT assay and tube formation assay. Cell migration and invasion were analyzed by using the wound healing assay and transwell assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. A CRC xenograft mouse model was used for conducting in-vivo studies to verify the effect of anlotinib. The expression of Ki-67 and CD31 in the tumor tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry and protein expression was measured by Western blot. Results In-vitro studies revealed that anlotinib inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CT26 cells and the tube formation of HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner. Anlotinib also significantly induced cell apoptosis and G2/M arrest. It effectively inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival time in the CRC xenograft mouse model. Immunohistochemical analysis of the tumor tissue revealed that anlotinib downregulated CD31 and Ki-67 which are the biomarkers of microvessel density and proliferation. Furthermore, anlotinib was able to inhibit the activation of VEGFR-2/AKT and FGFR, PDGFRβ and their downstream signaling ERK. Conclusion The findings of the present study suggested that anlotinib suppressed cell proliferation and angiogenesis via inhibition of AKT/ERK signaling pathway in colorectal cancer and could be a novel therapeutic strategy for treatment of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Yang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Laichao Ni
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Saber Imani
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhangqiang Xiang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Hai
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruilin Ding
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaozhi Fu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Bo Wu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, People's Republic of China.,Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinglian Wen
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, People's Republic of China
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14
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17-Aminogeldanamycin Inhibits Constitutive Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-κB) Activity in Patient-Derived Melanoma Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21113749. [PMID: 32466509 PMCID: PMC7312877 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21113749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma remains incurable skin cancer, and targeting heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is a promising therapeutic approach. In this study, we investigate the effect of 17-aminogeldanamycin, a potent HSP90 inhibitor, on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity in BRAFV600E and NRASQ61R patient-derived melanoma cell lines. We performed time-lapse microscopy and flow cytometry to monitor changes in cell confluence and viability. The NF-κB activity was determined by immunodetection of phospho-p65 and assessment of expression of NF-κB-dependent genes by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Constitutive activity of p65/NF-κB was evident in all melanoma cell lines. Differences in its level might be associated with genetic alterations in CHUK, IL1B, MAP3K14, NFKBIE, RIPK1, and TLR4, while differences in transcript levels of NF-κB-inducible genes revealed by PCR array might result from the contribution of other regulatory mechanisms. 17-Aminogeldanamycin markedly diminished the level of phospho-p65, but the total p65 protein level was unaltered, indicating that 17-aminogeldanamycin inhibited activation of p65/NF-κB. This conclusion was supported by significantly reduced expression of selected NF-κB-dependent genes: cyclin D1 (CCND1), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as shown at transcript and protein levels, as well as secretion of IL-8 and VEGF. Our study indicates that 17-aminogeldanamycin can be used for efficient inhibition of NF-κB activity and the simultaneous diminution of IL-8 and VEGF levels in the extracellular milieu of melanoma.
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15
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Fathi Maroufi N, Taefehshokr S, Rashidi MR, Taefehshokr N, Khoshakhlagh M, Isazadeh A, Mokarizadeh N, Baradaran B, Nouri M. Vascular mimicry: changing the therapeutic paradigms in cancer. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:4749-4765. [PMID: 32424524 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05515-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is a major problem in the health system, and despite many efforts to effectively treat it, none has yet been fully successful. Angiogenesis and metastasis are considered as major challenges in the treatment of various cancers. Researchers have struggled to succeed with anti-angiogenesis drugs for the effective treatment of cancer, although new challenges have emerged in the treatment with the emergence of resistance to anti-angiogenesis and anti-metastatic drugs. Numerous studies have shown that different cancers can resist anti-angiogenesis drugs in a new process called vascular mimicry (VM). The studies have revealed that cells resistant to anti-angiogenesis cancer therapies are more capable of forming VMs in the in vivo and in vitro environment, although there is a link between the presence of VM and poor clinical outcomes. Given the importance of the VM in the challenges facing cancer treatment, researchers are trying to identify factors that prevent the formation of these structures. In this review article, it is attempted to provide a comprehensive overview of the molecules and main signaling pathways involved in VM phenomena, as well as the agents currently being identified as anti-VM and the role of VM in response to treatment and prognosis of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazila Fathi Maroufi
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Sina Taefehshokr
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Reza Rashidi
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nima Taefehshokr
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Human Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Mahdieh Khoshakhlagh
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Alireza Isazadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Narmin Mokarizadeh
- Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Nouri
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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16
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Wang Q, Gao J, Di W, Wu X. Anti-angiogenesis therapy overcomes the innate resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in VEGFA-overexpressed mouse tumor models. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 69:1781-1799. [PMID: 32347357 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02576-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The effectual clinical benefits of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) are hampered by a high rate of innate resistance, and VEGFA may contribute to ICI treatment resistance. In this study, we endeavored to assess the tumor microenvironment (TME) in VEGFA-overexpressed human tumors and mouse tumor models, and to explore whether anti-angiogenesis therapy can overcome the innate resistance to ICI in hyperangiogenesis mouse tumor models and the underlying mechanism. Effect of VEGFA on clinical prognosis and TME was analyzed using TCGA data. The VEGFA-overexpressed mouse breast and colon subcutaneous models were established. PD-1 mAb or apatinib alone and combination therapy were used. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to assess angiogenesis and hypoxia. Flow cytometry, RNA sequencing and MCP-counter were applied to detect tumor immunomicroenvironment. High level of VEGFA mRNA in human tumors is related to poor prognosis and hypoxic, angiogenic and immunosuppressive TME. Upregulation of VEGFA increased the degree of malignancy of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. VEGFA-overexpressed models were characterized by hypoxic, hyperangiogenic and immunosuppressive TME and indicated innate resistance to ICI. In tumor-bearing mice without VEGFA overexpression, the combination therapy had no synergistic anti-tumor effect compared to monotherapy. However, apatinib alleviated hyperangiogenesis and hypoxia in TME and converted the immunosuppressive TME into an immunostimulatory one in VEGFA-overexpressed tumors. Thus, anti-angiogenesis therapy could improve the efficiency of ICI in VEGFA-overexpressed tumors. Revealing whether there is hypervascularization in tumor tissues may help to clarify the adoption of anti-angiogenesis and ICI combination therapy or ICI monotherapy in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaohong Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai, 200127, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingze Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai, 200127, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen Di
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai, 200127, People's Republic of China
| | - Xia Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200127, People's Republic of China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai, 200127, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Ma Y, Yu J, Li Q, Su Q, Cao B. Addition of docosahexaenoic acid synergistically enhances the efficacy of apatinib for triple-negative breast cancer therapy. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2019; 84:743-756. [PMID: 31889475 DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2019.1709789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The current study aimed to investigate the antitumor and antiangiogenesis effects of apatinib in triple-negative breast cancer in vitro and also whether the combination of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and apatinib is more effective than apatinib monotherapy. The cell counting kit-8 assay was used to measure cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was utilized to determine the cell apoptosis rate. A wound healing assay was utilized to assess cell migration. Western blot analysis was carried out to determine the effects of apatinib and DHA on Bcl-2, BAX, cleaved caspase-3, caspase-3, phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt), and Akt expression. DHA in combination with apatinib showed enhanced inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and migration compared with apatinib or DHA monotherapy. Meanwhile, DHA combined with apatinib strongly increased the cell apoptosis percentage. DHA was observed to enhance the antitumor and antiangiogenesis effects of apatinib via further downregulation of p-Akt expression.Abbreviations: FITC: fluorescein isothiocyanate; PI: propidium iodide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Ma
- Cancer Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Junxian Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Qin Li
- Cancer Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Qiang Su
- Cancer Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Bangwei Cao
- Cancer Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China
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18
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Prado MCM, Macedo SDAL, Guiraldelli GG, de Faria Lainetti P, Leis-Filho AF, Kobayashi PE, Laufer-Amorim R, Fonseca-Alves CE. Investigation of the Prognostic Significance of Vasculogenic Mimicry and Its Inhibition by Sorafenib in Canine Mammary Gland Tumors. Front Oncol 2019; 9:1445. [PMID: 31921690 PMCID: PMC6930929 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine mammary gland tumor (CMT) is one of the most important tumors in intact female dogs, and due its similarity to human breast cancer (BC), it is considered a model in comparative oncology. A subset of mammary gland tumors can show aggressive behavior, and a recurrent histological finding is the presence of vasculogenic mimicry (VM). VM is a process in which highly aggressive cancer cells fuse, forming fluid-conducting channels without endothelial cells. Although, VM has been described in canine inflammatory carcinoma, no previous studies have investigated the prognostic and predictive significance of VM in CMT. Thus, this research aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of VM in vivo and the capacity of sorafenib to inhibit VM in vitro. VM was identified in situ in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded CMT samples (n = 248) using CD31/PAS double staining. VM was identified in 33% of tumors (82/248). The presence of VM was more strongly related to tumor grade than to histological subtype. Patients with positive VM experienced shorter survival times than dogs without VM (P < 0.0001). Due to the importance of the VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 autocrine feed-forward loop in epithelial tumors, we investigated the association between VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 expression by neoplastic tumor cells and the associations of VEGF-A or VEGFR-2 expression with VM. Among the VM-positive samples, all (n = 82) showed high scores (3 or 4) for VEGF-A and VEGFR-2, indicating that VM was a common finding in tumors overexpressing VEGF-A and VEGFR-2. Thus, we cultured two CMT primary cell lines with VM abilities (CM9 and CM60) in vitro and evaluated the anti-tumoral effect of sorafenib. The CM9 cell line showed a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2.61 μM, and the CM60 cell line showed an IC50 of 1.34 μM. We performed a VM assay in vitro and treated each cell line with an IC50 dose of sorafenib, which was able to inhibit VM in vitro. Overall, our results indicated that VM was a prognostic factor for dogs bearing CMT and that sorafenib had an inhibitory effect on VM in CMT cancer cells in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Renee Laufer-Amorim
- Department of Veterinary Clinic, São Paulo State University—UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Carlos Eduardo Fonseca-Alves
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Anesthesiology, São Paulo State University—UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil
- Institute of Health Sciences, Universidade Paulista—UNIP, Bauru, Brazil
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19
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Zhuo M, Yuan C, Han T, Hu H, Cui J, Jiao F, Wang L. JQ1 effectively inhibits vasculogenic mimicry of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells via the ERK1/2-MMP-2/9 signaling pathway both in vitro and in vivo. Am J Transl Res 2019; 11:1030-1039. [PMID: 30899402 PMCID: PMC6413294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is an alternative type of blood and nutrition supply that is associated with more aggressive tumor biology and increased cancer-related mortality. However, the clinical implications of VM remain unclear in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of VM in PDAC patients and to seek a novel and more efficient treatment strategy by targeting this unique process. Here, cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34)/periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) double-staining of 76 PDAC clinical specimens revealed that VM expression was related to clinical stage (P=0.049) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.023). Notably, VM expression was correlated with a poor prognosis in patients with PDAC. Additionally, we discovered that there was a positive correlation between the expressions of VM and phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase (p-ERK1/2) in 76 clinical samples (P<0.001). Moreover, our results further indicated that treatment with the ERK1/2 inhibitor SCH772984 effectively blocked VM formation by repressing the production of p-ERK1/2-MMP-2/9, which have been established as classical markers of VM. Further, JQ1, a bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) inhibitor, also exerted significant inhibitory efficiency against VM formation by decreasing the activation of ERK1/2-MMP-2/9. In conclusion, our work suggests that VM is a marker of poor prognosis in patients with PDAC and that JQ1 can inhibit VM formation via the ERK1/2-MMP-2/9 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhuo
- Department of Oncology, State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Cancer InstituteShanghai 200127, China
| | - Cuncun Yuan
- Department of Pathology, Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai 201114, P. R. China
| | - Ting Han
- Department of Oncology, State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Cancer InstituteShanghai 200127, China
| | - Hai Hu
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pancreatic Cancer Center, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai, P. R. China
| | - Jiujie Cui
- Department of Oncology, State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Cancer InstituteShanghai 200127, China
| | - Feng Jiao
- Department of Oncology, State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Cancer InstituteShanghai 200127, China
| | - Liwei Wang
- Department of Oncology, State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Cancer InstituteShanghai 200127, China
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20
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Ding J, Cheng XY, Liu S, Ji HY, Lin M, Ma R, Meng FL. Apatinib exerts anti-tumour effects on ovarian cancer cells. Gynecol Oncol 2019; 153:165-174. [PMID: 30651189 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2019.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Apatinib, a small molecule inhibitor of VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase, shows strong anti-tumour activity against various tumours. The function of apatinib in ovarian cancer, however, remains unclear. This study was conducted to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms by which apatinib modulates the biological function of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. METHODS The effects of apatinib on ovarian cancer cells were determined by assessing cell viability, migration and invasion. The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells were analysed using flow cytometry. Western blotting was performed to determine the levels of signalling pathway markers. A mouse xenograft model was used to evaluate the efficacy of apatinib in preventing tumour growth. RESULTS Apatinib did not appreciably affect ovarian cancer cell proliferation and vitality, but did inhibit ovarian cancer cell migration. Apatinib suppressed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in ovarian cancer cells by inhibiting the JAK/STAT3, PI3K/AKT and Notch signalling pathways. Apatinib effectively inhibited tumour growth in vivo. CONCLUSION Based on our findings, apatinib is a highly potent, orally active anti-angiogenic and anti-ovarian cancer agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Ding
- Department of Gynecology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Cheng
- Beijing Center for Physical and Chemical Analysis, No. 7 Fengxianzhong Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Department of Gynecology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Hong-Ying Ji
- Department of Gynecology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Mu Lin
- Department of Gynecology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Rong Ma
- Department of Gynecology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang Province, China.
| | - Fan-Ling Meng
- Department of Gynecology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, No. 150 Haping Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang Province, China.
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