Adenovirus-mediated endostatin delivery results in inhibition of mammary gland tumor growth in C3(1)/SV40 T-antigen transgenic mice

We demonstrate the efficacy of systemic administration of a replication-defective adenovirus expressing endostatin (Ad-mEndo) administered during the preinvasive stage of mammary tumor development in C3(1)/T antigen transgenic mice. Mean serum levels of endostatin increased about 8-fold above that of controls and resulted in a significant decrease in tumor growth and an increase in survival. The inhibitory effect of endostatin occurred during or after the progression to invasive carcinoma. Reduced levels of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA were found in association with high levels of endostatin. Our results demonstrate that the adenoviral induction of high levels of circulating endostatin significantly inhibits mammary tumor growth during the period when the "angiogenic switch" occurs.     

Enhanced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a critical role in the tumor progression potential induced by simian virus 40 large T antigen

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an important angiogenic factor, regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis through activation of its tyrosine-kinase receptors, such as Flt-1 and Flk-1/Kdr. Human malignant mesothelioma cells (HMC), which have wild-type p53, express VEGF and exhibit cell growth increased by VEGF. Here, we demonstrate that early transforming proteins of simian virus (SV) 40, large tumor antigen (Tag) and small tumor antigen (tag), which have been associated with mesotheliomas, enhanced HMC proliferation by inducing VEGF expression. SV40-Tag expression potently increased VEGF protein and mRNA levels in several HMC lines. This effect was suppressed by the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. Inactivation of the VEGF signal transduction pathway by expression of soluble form of Flt-1 inhibited Flk-1/Kdr activation and HMC proliferation induced by SV40 early genes. Experiments with SV40 mutants revealed that SV40-Tag, but not -tag, is involved in the VEGF promoter activation. However, concomitant expression of SV40-tag enhanced Tag function. In addition, SV40-Tag expression sustained VEGF induction in colon carcinoma cell line (CCL)-233, which have wild-type p53, but not in CCL-238, which lack functional p53. These data indicate that VEGF regulation by SV40 transforming proteins can represent a key event in SV40 signaling relevant for tumor progression.     

Inhibition of VEGF receptors significantly impairs mammary cancer growth in C3(1)/Tag transgenic mice through antiangiogenic and non-antiangiogenic mechanisms

Cancer growth and progression is often critically influenced by the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a key mediator of angiogenesis. VEGF produced by tumor cells stimulates endothelial cell growth through the binding and activation of the KDR/Flk-1 receptor (VEGFR-2) on endothelial cells. Recently, some human breast cancer epithelial cells have been shown to express VEGF receptors, suggesting a potential autocrine-mediated growth stimulation of a subset of cancers by VEGF. We demonstrate that mammary tumors in the C3(1)/Tag transgenic model express VEGF and VEGF receptors and tumor growth is stimulated by this autocrine mechanism. GW654652, an indazolylpyrimidine, is a VEGFRs tyrosine kinase inhibitor that dramatically reduces both angiogenesis and tumor cell growth in this model, as demonstrated using both in vitro and in vivo assays. GW654652 significantly decreased cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and M6 mammary tumor cells derived from C3(1)/Tag (Tag: simian virus 40 T-antigen) transgenic mice. A 75% reduction in VEGF-induced angiogenesis was observed with GW654652 using the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay, whereas GW654652 produced an approximately 85% reduction in angiogenesis as assessed by the Matrigel plug assay. A profound inhibitory effect on tumor growth in the C3(1)/Tag transgenic model of human breast cancer was observed with oral administration of GW654652 as measured by delayed tumor onset, decreased multiplicity, reduced tumor volume, and extended animal survival. The antitumor effects of GW654652 were associated with reduced tumor vascularization and no apparent toxicity. Tumor growth, however, rapidly advanced following cessation of treatment. This is the first demonstration that a VEGF receptor inhibitor, GW654652, has a strong inhibitory effect on angiogenesis and tumor progression in a transgenic model of mammary cancer, suggesting that this is a useful approach for preclinical testing of such agents.     

Endostatin inhibits the vascular endothelial growth factor-induced mobilization of endothelial progenitor cells

Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) are present in peripheral blood and have been shown to contribute to normal and pathological neovascularization. Antiangiogenic molecules can inhibit neovascularization in tumors and other sites, but their effect on CECs has not yet been determined. We hypothesize that angiogenic factors will increase the number of CECs, and conversely, antiangiogenic treatment will reduce these numbers. Mice treated with high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) showed increased numbers of Flk-1-positive cells in peripheral blood and endothelial cell colonies compared with vehicle-treated controls. These changes were accompanied by increased bone marrow neovascularization. In contrast, mice that received VEGF and endostatin had significantly lower numbers of CECs and reduced bone marrow vascularization. Endostatin-induced apoptosis was probably responsible for the decreased number of CECs. Systemic delivery of a VEGF antagonist, soluble Flt-1, also inhibited the VEGF-induced increase in CECs. These results were further confirmed in a Tie2/LacZ mouse model, in which endostatin reduced the number of beta-galactosidase-expressing peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We propose that endothelial progenitor cells are a novel target for endostatin and suggest that the relative numbers of CECs can serve as a surrogate marker for the biological activity of antiangiogenic treatment.     

Costunolide,a sesquiterpene lactone from Saussurea lappa,inhibits the VEGFR KDR/Flk-1 signaling pathway

Costunolide (CT), a sesquiterpene lactone constituent isolated from Saussurea lappa (Compositae), exerted an antiangiogenic effect. CT selectively inhibited the endothelial cell proliferation induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Further, CT was also found to inhibit the VEGF-induced chemotaxis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a dose-dependent manner. From these results, we hypothesized that CT might inhibit angiogenesis by blocking the angiogenic factor signaling pathway. VEGF interacts with its cognate receptors, KDR/Flk-1 and Flt-1, and exerts its angiogenic effect. CT inhibited the autophosphorylation of KDR/Flk-1 without affecting that of Flt-1. Moreover, administration of CT reduced VEGF-induced neovascularization in a mouse corneal micropocket assay. These results suggest that CT may prove useful for the development of a novel angiogenesis inhibitor.     

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors is closely related to the histological grade of hepatocellular carcinoma

Angiogenesis is important for tumor growth, and is regulated by angiogenetic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In the present study, we investigated whether or not expression of VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) is related to the proliferation of tumor cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We simultaneously stained proliferation marker Ki-67 antigen and either VEGFR1 (Flt-1) or VEGFR2 (Flk-1) on paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 50 cases of surgically resected human HCC. Based on the staining pattern of VEGFRs, we classified the cases into 4 categories; receptor double-negative, Flt-1 single-positive, Flk-1 single-positive, receptor double-positive. Interestingly, the Ki-67 index was significantly lower in receptor double-negative cases in comparison to that in either Flt-1 single-positive or Flk-1 single-positive cases (P = 0.0491, P = 0.0196, respectively). Moreover, the index was also significantly lower in receptor double-positive cases in comparison to either Flt-1 single-positive or Flk-1 single-positive cases (P = 0.0026, P < 0.0001, respectively). We further investigated 35 cases showing a Ki67 index > 10% to determine the expression of VEGFRs on Ki-67 antigen-positive proliferating cells. Surprisingly, the histological grade of HCC and the expression pattern of VEGFRs showed a characteristic relation; the well-differentiated HCC cases were all distributed in the Flk-1-positive group (7/7), moderately differentiated HCC cases were distributed in either the Flt-1 or Flk-1 single-positive group (20/21), and poorly differentiated HCC cases were predominantly distributed in either the receptor double-negative or double-positive group (6/7). These findings suggest that the expression pattern of VEGFRs influences the histological differentiation of HCC.     

Placental growth factor-1 attenuates vascular endothelial growth factor-A-dependent tumor angiogenesis during beta cell carcinogenesis

Members of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family are critical players in angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Although VEGF-A has been shown to exert fundamental functions in physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis, the exact role of the VEGF family member placental growth factor (PlGF) in tumor angiogenesis has remained controversial. To gain insight into PlGF function during tumor angiogenesis, we have generated transgenic mouse lines expressing human PlGF-1 in the beta cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans (Rip1PlGF-1). In single-transgenic Rip1PlGF-1 mice, intra-insular blood vessels are found highly dilated, whereas islet physiology is unaffected. Upon crossing of these mice with the Rip1Tag2 transgenic mouse model of pancreatic beta cell carcinogenesis, tumors of double-transgenic Rip1Tag2;Rip1PlGF-1 mice display reduced growth due to attenuated tumor angiogenesis. The coexpression of transgenic PlGF-1 and endogenous VEGF-A in the beta tumor cells of double-transgenic animals causes the formation of low-angiogenic hPlGF-1/mVEGF-A heterodimers at the expense of highly angiogenic mVEGF-A homodimers resulting in diminished tumor angiogenesis and reduced tumor infiltration by neutrophils, known to contribute to the angiogenic switch in Rip1Tag2 mice. The results indicate that the ratio between the expression levels of two members of the VEGF family of angiogenic factors, PlGF-1 and VEGF-A, determines the overall angiogenic activity and, thus, the extent of tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth.     

Two independent mechanisms essential for tumor angiogenesis: inhibition of human melanoma xenograft growth by interfering with either the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor pathway or the Tie-2 pathway.

Protein ligands and receptor tyrosine kinases that specifically regulate endothelial cell function are mainly involved in physiological as well as in disease-related angiogenesis. These ligand/receptor systems include the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the angiopoietin (Ang) families, and their receptors, the VEGF receptor family and the tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like and epidermal growth factor homology domains (Tie) family. In the present study, the contribution of these endothelium-specific ligand/receptor systems to tumor angiogenesis was evaluated. A375v human melanoma cells, which express at least the angiogenic growth factors VEGF, VEGF-C, and Ang-1, were stably transfected to overexpress the extracellular ligand-binding domains of the endothelium-specific receptor tyrosine kinases fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1), Flt-4, Tie-1, and Tie-2, respectively. In vitro proliferation and colony formation assays confirmed that expression of the extracellular receptor domains inhibited neither tumor cell mitogenesis nor the ability to produce anchorage-independent growth. Nude mouse xenografts revealed that interference with either the VEGF receptor pathway or the Tie-2 pathway resulted in a significant inhibition of tumor growth and tumor angiogenesis. In contrast, interference with the Flt-4 pathway or the Tie-1 pathway was without significant effect. Our results show that both the VEGF receptor pathway and the Tie-2 pathway are essential for A375v melanoma xenograft growth. The inhibition of the VEGF receptor pathway cannot be compensated by the Tie-2 pathway, nor vice versa. These findings suggest that the VEGF receptor pathway and the Tie-2 pathway have to be considered as two independent mediators essential for the process of in vivo angiogenesis.     

Modulation of angiogenic phenotype alters tumorigenicity in rat ovarian epithelial cells

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression correlates with microvessel density, stage, malignant ascites, metastasis, and survival in ovarian cancer. By transducing VEGF165 into a nontumorigenic rat ovarian surface epithelial cell line (ROSE199), we investigated the direct effect of an angiogenic phenotype on tumor development. The neu oncogene, which is overexpressed in >30% of ovarian cancers, was used in comparison. Neu-transfected ROSE199 cells showed phenotypic characteristics of transformation in vitro with an abundance of focus-forming units in monolayer cultures and anchorage-independent growth in soft agar. In contrast, VEGF-secreting ROSE199 cells (VR) retained normal morphology and in vitro growth characteristics (e.g., proliferation rate) compared with parental ROSE199 cells. Interestingly, injection of VR cells into athymic mice formed malignant ascites in 100% of the animals when injected into the peritoneum and developed vascularized tumors in 85% of the mice when injected s.c. Furthermore, blocking VEGF-mediated signaling by the Flk-1/KDR receptor kinase inhibitor SU5416 significantly inhibited the growth of VR tumors. To validate that the proangiogenic switch is responsible for tumor development, the angiogenic phenotype was balanced by the inducible coexpression of endostatin under the control of Tet-activated promoter. Coexpression of endostatin along with VEGF reversed the tumorigenic phenotype of VR cells. These studies show that alterations in the angiogenic characteristics of ovarian surface epithelium may play an important role in the etiology of ovarian cancer, and that inhibition of angiogenesis can be effective in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer.     

Intratumoral administration of endostatin plasmid inhibits vascular growth and perfusion in MCa-4 murine mammary carcinomas

Endostatin, a fragment of the COOH-terminal domain of mouse collagen XVIII is a recently demonstrated endogenous inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis and endothelial cell growth. Antiangiogenic therapy with endostatin in animals requires multiple and prolonged administration of the protein. Gene therapy could provide an alternative approach to continuous local delivery of this antiangiogenic factor in vivo. Established MCa-4 murine mammary carcinomas, grown in immunodeficient mice, were treated with intratumoral injection of endostatin plasmid at 7-day intervals. At the time of sacrifice, 14 days after the first injection, endostatin-treated tumor weights were 51% of controls (P < 0.01). Tumor growth inhibition was accompanied by a marked reduction in total vascular density. Specifically, computerized image analysis showed a 18-21% increase in the median distances between tumor cells and both the nearest anatomical (CD31-stained) vessel [48.1 +/- 3.8 versus 38.3 +/- 1.6 microm (P < 0.05)] and the nearest tumor-specific (CD105-stained) vessel [48.5 +/- 1.5 versus 39.8 +/- 1.5 microm (P < 0.01)]. An increased apoptotic index of tumor cells in endostatin-treated tumors [3.2 +/- 0.5% versus 1.9 +/- 0.3% (P < 0.05)] was observed in conjunction with a significant decrease in tumor perfused vessels (DiOC7 staining), and an increase in tumor cell hypoxia (EF5 staining). Hypoxia resulting from endostatin therapy most likely caused a compensatory increase of in situ vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor mRNA expression. Increased immunoreactivity of endostatin staining in endostatin-treated tumors was also associated with an increased thrombospondin-1 staining [1.12 +/- 0.16 versus 2.44 +/- 0.35]. Our data suggest that intratumoral delivery of the endostatin gene efficiently suppresses murine mammary carcinoma growth and support the potential utility of the endostatin gene for cancer therapy.     

Relationship between the Expression of VEGF, FIk-1 and Fit-1 Proteins and Clinicopcrthology in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective To study the relationship between the expression of VEGF, Flk-1 and Flt-1 proteins and clinical pathology in hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods The expression of VEGF, Flk-1 and Flt-1 proteins in hepatocellular carcinomas from 60 patients was determined by immunohistochemistry (ABC method) and VEGF expression in relation to the clinicopathology evaluated. Results The positive rates of VEGF, Flk-1 and Flt-1 protein expression were 81.3%, 88.3%, 80.0% in tumor tissues, respectively, rates which were significantly higher than those in normal liver tissue (P<0.05). The expression of VEGF protein was correlated with the histologic grade and metastases of the tumors. Conclusion The results showed that, in hepatocellular carcinoma, a higher expression of VEGF protein was associated with a higher degree of malignancy and a greater tendency for metastases. VEGF, Flk-1 and Flt-1 play an important role in tumourgenesis. The project was funded by the Tianjin Natural Science Grant (No. 01361561).     

VEGF及其受体Flt-1、KDR在鼻咽癌组织中的表达及意义

背景与目的:VEGF及其受体Flt-1、KDR在肿瘤血管生成及肿瘤进展中发挥关键作用。本研究探讨鼻咽癌组织中VEGF、Flt-1和KDR表达与鼻咽癌患者临床特征及预后的关系。方法:用免疫组织化学的方法检测127例鼻咽癌标本中VEGF、Flt-1和KDR的表达情况,用SPSS10.0软件分析这三种蛋白表达的相关性、与临床特征的关系以及对患者总生存的影响。结果:VEGF、Flt-1和KDR分别表达于66.9%(85/127)、90.6%(115/127)和88.2%(112/127)的鼻咽癌组织。鼻咽癌组织中VEGF表达与Flt-1和KDR表达呈正相关(r=0.292,P<0.01;r=0.287,P<0.01),Flt-1表达与KDR表达呈正相关(r=0.723,P<0.01)。VEGF蛋白的表达与原发肿瘤的侵犯范围、淋巴结转移、临床分期有关(P=0.04,P<0.01,P=0.02),KDR蛋白表达也与原发肿瘤的侵犯范围有关(P=0.03);三种蛋白表达均与肿瘤局部复发和/或远处转移(P<0.01,P<0.01,P<0.01)、总生存不佳有关(P<0.01,P<0.01,P<0.03)。Cox多因素相关分析显示,年龄>50岁和VEGF阳性为不良预后因素(P<0.01,P<0.01)。结论:VEGF及其受体Flt-1、KDR在鼻咽癌中广泛表达,与鼻咽癌患者的临床特征和预后关系密切。     

Selective inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor 2 (KDR/Flk-1) activity by a monoclonal anti-VEGF antibody blocks tumor growth in mice

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multifunctional angiogenic growth factor that is a primary stimulant of the development and maintenance of a vascular network in embryogenesis and the vascularization of solid tumors. At the present time there are two well-characterized receptors for VEGF that are selectively expressed on endothelium. VEGF receptor 2 [VEGFR2 (KDR/Flk-1)] mediates endothelial cell mitogenesis and permeability increases, whereas the role of VEGF receptor 1 [VEGFR1 (Flt-1)] has not been clearly defined. In the present study, a monoclonal antibody, 2C3, is shown to block the interaction of VEGF with VEGFR2 but not with VEGFR1 through ELISA, receptor binding assays, and receptor activation assays. 2C3 blocks the VEGF-induced vascular permeability increase in guinea pig skin. 2C3 has potent antitumor activity, inhibiting the growth of newly injected and established human tumor xenografts in mice. These findings demonstrate the usefulness of 2C3 in dissecting the pathways that are activated by VEGF in cells that express both VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, as well as highlighting the dominant role of VEGFR2 in mediating VEGF-induced vascular permeability increase and tumor angiogenesis.     

The ratio of membrane-bound form Flt-1 mRNA to VEGF mRNA correlates with tumor angiogenesis and prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer

Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (Flt-1), a receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), have two isoforms: membrane-bound form (mFlt-1) and soluble form. In the present study, we quantitatively evaluated expression level of mFlt-1 mRNA and VEGF mRNA in non-small cell lung cancer, and demonstrated the clinical significance of the ratio of mFlt-1 mRNA to VEGF mRNA (mFlt-1/VEGF). High mFlt-1/VEGF tumor showed a significantly lower microvessel density (P=0.004), and patients with high mFlt-1/VEGF tumor had a significantly favorable survival (P=0.037). Thus, the ratio of mFlt-1 mRNA to VEGF mRNA was inversely correlated with tumor angiogenesis, and was a significant prognostic factor.     

Expression and localization of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors in human hepatocellular carcinoma and non-HCC tissues

Flt-1 (VEGF receptor-1) and KDR/Flk-1 (VEGF receptor-2) are the high-affinity receptors for the angiogenesis factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF expression has been confirmed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and VEGF is thought to be involved in the angiogenesis within HCC tissues. However, expressions of VEGF receptors in HCC have not been reported. We immunohistochemically examined expressions and localizations of Flt-1 and KDR in 28 surgically resected HCC tissues. In non-cancerous area, Flt-1 and KDR were mainly found in macrophages including Kupffer cells; both receptors were found in vascular endothelial cells in the portal veins and arteries within portal tracts; and KDR was also found in some sinusoidal endothelial cells. In cancerous area, Flt-1 and KDR were found in some macrophages, and also in the endothelial cells of intratumoral blood vessels. In 25 moderately and/or poorly differentiated HCCs, KDR expression in the blood space endothelial cells was clear and continuous in 20 cases, and focal in 5 cases. These results suggest that there would be an angiogenesis mechanism via VEGF/Flt-1 or VEGF/KDR in HCC, and the VEGF/KDR system would take a more important role.