Antisense inhibition of microRNA-21 and microRNA-221 in tumor-initiating stem-like cells modulates tumorigenesis, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance in pancreatic cancer.

Our preliminary studies identified a small population side population (SP) cells in pancreatic cancer cells with stem cell-like properties, which were able to induce fast and aggressive tumor formation in nude mice. Gene expression analysis showed a significant difference in the expression of more than 1,300 genes in SP cells, among which a highly significant difference in microRNA expression of miR-21 and miR-221 between SP and NSP cells was identified. SP cells were identified and characterized by flow cytometry using Hoechst 33342 dye staining from a highly metastatic human pancreatic cancer cell line (L3.6pl). Antagomir transfection was performed using miRNA-21 and miRNA-221 antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and followed by detection of cell apoptosis, cell cycle progression, chemosensitivity, and invasion. Sorted SP cells from gemcitabine-resistant L3.6pl cells (L3.6pl(Gres)-SP) cells were orthotopically implanted in nude mice with or without miRNA-21 and miRNA-221 ASOs mono- and combination therapy. The administration of antagomir-21 and antagomir-221 significantly reduced the SP cell fraction, decreased SP cell differentiation, and downstream gene regulation, and thereby induced reduction of L3.6pl cell proliferation, invasion, and chemoresistance against gemcitabine and 5-Fluorouracil. Combination of ASOs therapy against miRNA-21 and miRNA-221 significantly inhibited primary tumor growth and metastasis compared to single antagomir treatment, especially, in L3.6plGres-SP-induced pancreatic tumor growth in vivo. These findings further indicate that the inhibition of miR-21 and miR-221 appear particularly suitable to target stem-like subpopulations and address their specific biological function to promote tumor progression in pancreatic cancer.

Side population cells of pancreatic cancer show characteristics of cancer stem cells responsible for resistance and metastasis.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been proposed to underlie the initiation and maintenance of tumor growth and the development of chemoresistance in solid tumors. The identification and role of these important cells in pancreatic cancer remains controversial. Here, we isolate side population (SP) cells from the highly aggressive and metastatic human pancreatic cancer cell line L3.6pl and evaluate their potential role as models for CSCs. SP cells were isolated following Hoechst 33342 staining of L3.6pl cells. SP, non-SP, and unsorted L3.6pl cells were orthotopically xenografted into the pancreas of nude mice and tumor growth observed. RNA was analyzed by whole genome array and pathway mapping was performed. Drug resistant variants of L3.6pl were developed and examined for SP proportions and evaluated for surface expression of known CSC markers. A distinct SP with the ability to self-renew and differentiate into non-SP cells was isolated from L3.6pl (0.9 % ± 0.22). SP cells showed highly tumorigenic and metastatic characteristics after orthotopic injection. Transcriptomic analysis identified modulation of gene networks linked to tumorigenesis, differentiation, and metastasization in SP cells relative to non-SP cells. Wnt, NOTCH, and EGFR signaling pathways associated with tumor stem cells were altered in SP cells. When cultured with increasing concentrations of gemcitabine, the proportion of SP cells, ABCG2(+), and CD24(+) cells were significantly enriched, whereas 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment lowered the percentage of SP cells. SP cells were distinct from cells positive for previously postulated pancreatic CSC markers. The Hoechst-induced side population in L3.6pl cells comprises a subset of tumor cells displaying aggressive growth and metastasization, increased gemcitabine-, but not 5-FU resistance. The cells may act as a partial model for CSC biology.

Cancer stem cells and angiogenesis.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor initiating cells were identified and characterized as a unique subpopulation with stem cell features in many types of cancer. Current CSC studies provide novel insights regarding tumor initiation, progression, angiogenesis, resistance to therapy and interplay with the tumor micro-environment. A cancer stem cell niche has been proposed based on these findings. The niche provides the soil for CSC self-renewal and maintenance, stimulating essential signaling pathways in CSCs and leading to secretion of factors that promote angiogenesis and long term growth of CSCs. We present evidence which has emerged over the past 5 years indicating interaction of CSCs with angiogenesis in the proposed "vascular niche". Based on these findings, targeting the "cancer stem cell niche" by combining an individualized anti-CSC approach with treatment of their microenvironment may represent a novel therapeutic strategy against solid tumor systems.

Risk factors for surgical complications in distal pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic fistula (PF) represents a major complication after distal pancreatectomy. In a consecutive series of 110 patients, risk factors for the incidence of PF and surgical morbidity were identified. METHODS: Patients having undergone distal pancreatectomy between 2003 and 2007 were identified. Clinicopathologic parameters as well as perioperative data were correlated with the incidence of PF and overall surgical morbidity using univariate and multivariate models. RESULTS: In 72 patients (65%), malignant disease was present. Splenectomy and multivisceral resection were performed in 84 (76%) and 47 (42%) patients, respectively. Overall major surgical morbidity was 18%, and 12 patients (11%) developed PFs. A body mass index > 25 kg/m(2) was the only independent significant predictive factor for PF. Malignancy, splenectomy, multivisceral resection, transfusion, comorbidity, and stapler use did not show statistical significance. For overall surgical morbidity, there was no significant indicator. CONCLUSIONS: A body mass index > 25 kg/m(2) contributes to the incidence of PF after distal pancreatectomy. Other parameters did not show a significant influence on PF or on overall surgical morbidity.

The marine compound spongistatin 1 targets pancreatic tumor progression and metastasis.

Treatment of pancreatic cancer remains a major challenge and new anticancer drugs are urgently required. Our study presents the marine natural compound spongistatin 1 as a promising experimental drug. Spongistatin 1 was applied in an orthotopic in vivo model of human pancreatic cancer. Spongistatin 1 significantly reduced tumor growth, which correlates with a strong apoptosis induction (DNA-fragmentation) and long-term effects on clonogenic survival of pancreatic tumor cells (L3.6pl) in vitro. In addition, the formation of metastasis was reduced in spongistatin 1-treated mice, which is in line with a diminished MMP-9 activity in tumor tissue determined by zymography. Based on the pronounced efficacy of spongistatin 1, the underlying mechanisms were studied in more detail. In vitro adhesion, as well as migration, and invasion assays showed spongistatin 1 to influence these critical steps in the metastatic cascade. Furthermore, spongistatin 1 induced anoikis in L3.6pl cells. Exposure to spongistatin 1 leads to phosphorylation, and thus inactivation of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 in pancreatic tumor cells. siRNA experiments silencing Bcl-2 suggest a role of Bcl-2 in anoikis and cell migration. Taken together, spongistatin 1 not only proved to be a potent experimental drug but also served as a chemical tool to examine the role of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 in pancreas carcinoma, thereby supporting the hypothesis of a link between apoptosis signaling and metastasis.

Vascular targeting by EndoTAG-1 enhances therapeutic efficacy of conventional chemotherapy in lung and pancreatic cancer.

Cationic lipid complexed paclitaxel (EndoTAG-1) is a novel vascular targeting agent for the treatment of cancer. Here, the aim was to investigate intratumoral drug distribution after EndoTAG-1 therapy and analyze the impact of EndoTAG-1 scheduling on antitumoral efficacy. The therapeutic effect of EndoTAG-1 in combination with conventional gemcitabine or cisplatin therapy was evaluated in L3.6pl orthotopic pancreatic cancer and a subcutaneous Lewis lung (LLC-1) carcinoma model. Oregon Green paclitaxel encapsulated in cationic liposomes in combination with intravital fluorescence microscopy clearly exhibited delivery of the drug by EndoTAG-1 to the tumor endothelium, whereas Oregon Green paclitaxel dissolved in cremophor displayed an interstitial distribution pattern. The therapeutic efficacy of EndoTAG-1 was critically dependent on the application schedule with best therapeutic results using a metronomic rather than a maximum tolerated dose application sequence. The combination of EndoTAG-1 therapy and cytotoxic chemotherapy significantly enhanced antitumoral efficacy in both tumor models. Interestingly, only EndoTAG-1 in combination with gemcitabine was able to inhibit the incidence of metastasis in pancreatic cancer. In conclusion, vascular targeting tumor therapy by EndoTAG-1 combined with standard small molecular chemotherapy results in markedly enhanced antitumoral efficacy. Therefore, this combination represents a promising novel strategy for clinical cancer therapy.

Pancreatic cancer stem cells: new understanding of tumorigenesis, clinical implications.

PURPOSE: Since the discovery of cancer cells with stem-like characteristics in hematopoietic malignancies and, more recently, in solid tumors, enormous attention has been paid to the stem-cell nature of pancreatic cancer. Among the most important properties of cancer stem cells their high capacity for tumorigenicity as well as their ability to metastasize is under special research interest today. METHODS: Here, we give a brief overview of main components used to confirm the stem-cell-like behavior of putative cancer stem cells and discuss markers and methods for identifying them in pancreatic cancer. Finally, the review provides some new suggestions as to how specifically target these cells and improve current therapy regimens. RESULTS: The cancer stem-cell hypothesis is a fundamentally different model of carcinogenesis composed of two separate but dependent on each other characteristics of stem cells--aberrant activation of their tightly regulated processes of self-renewal and differentiation and their resistance towards chemo- and radiotherapy. The cancer stem cells may further be identified based on their expression of cell surface markers or their functional characteristics. The concept of molecular targeting of such highly tumorigenic cancer cells aimed to sensitize tumors toward conventional therapies and effectively abrogate tumor growth and metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of cancer stem cells in pancreatic tumors has prognostic relevance and influences therapeutic response. Evidence suggests that metastatic potential may be conferred to these highly tumorigenic cells as well. A better understanding of the biological behavior of these cells may further improve therapeutic approaches and outcomes in patients with this devastating disease.

EFEMP1 binds the EGF receptor and activates MAPK and Akt pathways in pancreatic carcinoma cells.

The EGF-related protein EFEMP1 (EGF-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1) has been shown to promote tumor growth in human adenocarcinoma. To understand the mechanism of this action, the signal transduction activated upon treatment with this protein has been investigated. We show that EFEMP1 binds EGF receptor (EGFR) in a competitive manner relative to epidermal growth factor (EGF), implicating that EFEMP1 and EGF share the same or adjacent binding sites on the EGFR. Treatment of pancreatic carcinoma cells with purified EFEMP1 activates autophosphorylation of EGFR at the positions Tyr-992 and Tyr-1068, but not at the position Tyr-1048. This signal is further transduced to phosphorylation of Akt at position Thr-308 and p44/p42 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) at positions Thr-202 and Tyr-204. These downstream phosphorylation events can be inhibited by treatment with the EGFR kinase inhibitor PD 153035. The observed signal transduction upon treatment with EFEMP1 can contribute to the enhancement of tumor growth shown in pancreatic carcinoma cells overexpressing EFEMP1.

Targeting tumor stroma using engineered mesenchymal stem cells reduces the growth of pancreatic carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy of engineered mesenchymal stem cell based therapy directed towards pancreatic tumor stroma. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are actively recruited to tumor stroma where they enhance tumor growth and metastases. Upregulation of chemotactic cytokine (CCL5) by MSCs within the tumor stroma has been shown to play a central role in this process. Murine MSCs were engineered to express reporter genes or therapeutic genes under control of the CCL5 promoter and adoptively transferred into mice with growing pancreatic tumors. The effect on tumor growth and metastases was then evaluated. METHODS: MSCs isolated from bone marrow of C57/Bl6 p53 mice were stably transfected with red fluorescent protein (RFP), enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP), or herpes simplex virus (HSV) thymidine kinase (Tk) gene driven by the RANTES promoter. MSCs were intravenously applied once per week over 3 weeks to mice carrying an orthotopic, syngeneic pancreatic Panc02 tumor. RESULTS: eGFP and RFP signals driven by the CCL5 promoter were detected by fluorescence in treated pancreatic tumor samples. The HSV-Tk therapy group treated intraperitoneal with the prodrug ganciclovir 5 to 7 days after stem cell application lead to a 50% reduction of primary pancreatic tumor growth (P < 0.0003, student t test) and reduced liver metastases (0% vs. 60%). CONCLUSION: The active homing of MSCs into primary pancreatic tumor stroma and activation of the CCL5 promoter was verified using eGFP- and RFP-reporter genes. In the presence of ganciclovir, HSV-Tk transfected MSCs led to a significant reduction of primary pancreatic tumor growth and incidence of metastases.

EFEMP1 expression promotes in vivo tumor growth in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

The progression of pancreatic cancer is dependent on local tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. EFEMP1, a recently discovered member of the fibulin family, was characterized with regard to these key elements of pancreatic cancer progression. Differential gene expression was assessed by mRNA microarray hybridization in FG human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells and L3.6pl cells, a highly metastatic variant of FG. In vivo orthotopic tumor growth of EFEMP1-transfected FG cells was examined in nude mice. To assess the angiogenic properties of EFEMP1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production of tumor cells, endothelial cell proliferation and migration, and tumor microvessel density were analyzed in response to EFEMP1. Further, tumor cell apoptosis, cell cycle progression, and resistance to cytotoxic agents were quantitated by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. In microarray hybridization, EFEMP1 was shown to be significantly up-regulated in L3.6pl cells compared with FG cells. Concordantly, EFEMP1 transfection of FG cells stimulated orthotopic and metastatic tumor growth in vivo. EFEMP1 expression resulted in a stimulation of VEGF production by tumor cells and an increased number of CD31-positive microvessels. Endothelial cell proliferation and migration were not altered by EFEMP1, indicating an indirect angiogenic effect. Further, EFEMP1 expression decreased apoptosis and promoted cell cycle progression in response to serum starvation or exposure to gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, and irinotecan. EFEMP1 has protumorigenic effects on pancreatic cancer in vivo and in vitro mediated by VEGF-driven angiogenesis and antiapoptotic mechanisms. Hence, EFEMP1 is a promising candidate for assessing prognosis and individualizing therapy in a clinical tumor setting.

Investigation of the marine compound spongistatin 1 links the inhibition of PKCalpha translocation to nonmitotic effects of tubulin antagonism in angiogenesis.

The aims of the study were to meet the demand of new tubulin antagonists with fewer side effects by characterizing the antiangiogenic properties of the experimental compound spongistatin 1, and to elucidate nonmitotic mechanisms by which tubulin antagonists inhibit angiogenesis. Although tubulin-inhibiting drugs and their antiangiogenic properties have been investigated for a long time, surprisingly little is known about their underlying mechanisms of action. Antiangiogenic effects of spongistatin 1 were investigated in endothelial cells in vitro, including functional cell-based assays, live-cell imaging, and a kinome array, and in the mouse cornea pocket assay in vivo. Spongistatin 1 inhibited angiogenesis at nanomolar concentrations (IC(50): cytotoxicity>50 nM, proliferation 100 pM, migration 1.0 nM, tube formation 1.0 nM, chemotaxis 1.0 nM, aortic ring sprouting 500 pM, neovascularization in vivo 10 microg/kg). Further, a kinome array and validating data showed that spongistatin 1 inhibits the phosphorylation activity of protein kinase Calpha (PKCalpha), an essential kinase in angiogenesis, and its translocation to the membrane. Thus, we conclude that PKCalpha might be an important target for the antiangiogenic effects of tubulin antagonism. In addition, the data from the kinase array suggest that different tubulin antagonists might have individual intracellular actions.

Cancer stem cells: how can we target them?

One of the most exciting concepts being explored in cancer research today is the idea of cancer stem cells. Evidence for the existence of such cells was first proposed for haematological malignancies and, more recently, for solid tumors, including breast, brain, colon and pancreatic cancer. The cancer stem cell hypothesis states that a minority of transformed stem cells, or progenitors with acquired self-renewal properties, are the source of tumor cell renewal and thereby determine the behaviour of tumors, including proliferation, spreading and response to chemo- and radiotherapy. Indeed, just as somatic stem cells may be resistant to the induction of apoptosis by cytotoxic agents and radiation therapy, cancer stem cells may display increased resistance to these agents as compared with the more differentiated cells that comprise the mass of tumors. More specifically, the reactivation of varied developmental signalling cascades (epidermal growth factor (EGF)/EGFR, stem cell factor (SCF)/KIT, sonic hedgehog, Notch, and/or Wnt/beta-catenin) combined with the increased DNA repair mechanisms and ABC transporter-mediated drug efflux in cancer stem cells may be responsible for their resistance to conventional therapies. Furthermore, changes in the local microenvironment of cancer stem cells may also influence their behaviour. Thus, the molecular targeting of such highly tumorigenic cancer cells must be considered for improving the efficacy of the current anti-cancer strategies with the aim to sensitize tumors toward conventional therapies and effectively abrogate tumorigenesis. This review provides a summary of some developments in the field of cancer stem cell targeting and highlights aspects where it could be of help in the drug discovery process.

Matuzumab short-term therapy in experimental pancreatic cancer: prolonged antitumor activity in combination with gemcitabine.

PURPOSE: The epidermal growth factor receptor ErbB-1 is commonly expressed in pancreatic cancer and ErbB-1 targeting has shown promising results. We wanted to evaluate matuzumab (EMD72000), a fully humanized ErbB-1-specific monoclonal antibody in combination with gemcitabine in experimental pancreatic cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Using the human pancreatic cancer cell line L3.6pl, we investigated matuzumab in vitro and in vivo. ErbB-1 phosphorylation and downstream pathway activation were evaluated by Western blot. Proliferation and migration assays and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis were done. For in vivo studies, we used an orthotopic nude mice model in which 40 mg/kg of matuzumab+/-100 mg/kg of gemcitabine were administered twice weekly. Different treatment durations (7, 14, 21, and 25 days) and varying time points of treatment initiation (days 8, 15, 22, and 29) were evaluated. Ki67, CD31, and phosphorylated p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) immunohistochemistry were done. RESULTS: ErbB-1 phosphorylation and downstream MAPK and AKT signaling were significantly reduced by matuzumab. Matuzumab significantly inhibited proliferation and migration in vitro, and induced tumor cell apoptosis in a dose-dependant manner. Matuzumab therapy significantly lowered tumor volume in vivo, reduced lymph node and liver metastases, and decreased microvessel density and tumor cell proliferation. These effects were significantly enhanced when gemcitabine was added. A significant and prolonged antitumor activity was even evident with short-term therapy (7 days) and with a late onset of therapy (day 22 after tumor cell injection). CONCLUSIONS: Matuzumab is an effective agent with long-lasting antiproliferative, proapoptotic, antiangiogenic, and antimetastatic activity in human pancreatic cancer models. These effects might be potentiated by gemcitabine.

Effect of Src kinase inhibition on metastasis and tumor angiogenesis in human pancreatic cancer.

Tumor angiogenesis is a process that requires migration, proliferation, and differentiation of endothelial cells. We hypothesized that decrease in pancreatic tumor growth due to inhibition of Src activity is associated with the inability of Src kinase to trigger a network of such signaling processes, which finally leads to endothelial cell death and angiogenesis-restricted tumor dormancy. The therapeutic efficacy of Src kinase inhibitor AZM475271 was tested in nude mice orthotopically xenografted with L3.6pl pancreatic carcinoma cells. No liver metastases and peritoneal carcinosis were detected and a significant effect on the average pancreatic tumor burden was observed following treatment with AZM475271, which in turn correlated with a decrease in cell proliferation and an increase in apoptotic endothelial cells. AZM475271 was shown to significantly inhibit migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in an in vitro Boyden Chamber cell migration assay. In a rat aortic ring assay we could demonstrate as well inhibition of endothelial cell migration and sprouting following therapy with Src kinase inhibitor at similar doses. The most conclusive anti-angiogenic activity of AZM475271 was demonstrated in vivo (mouse corneal micropocket assay) by showing a marked inhibition of basic fibroblast growth factor-induced neovascularization in response to systemic administration of AZM475271. Furthermore, we could show reduced proliferation of HUVECs determined with the TACS MTT Cell Viability Assay Kit. The blockade of Src kinase significantly reduced the level of VEGF in L3.6pl medium, the effect which was found also in the cell culture supernate from HUVECs. Inhibition of Src kinase by AZM475271 also showed prevention of survival signaling from VEGF and EGF receptors. Treatment with AZM475271 resulted in VEGF - dependent inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK. HUVECs were also examined using propidium iodide staining for cell cycle analysis by FACS. Inhibition of Src kinase promoted HUVEC apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, our results suggest that the Src kinase inhibitor AZM475271, in addition to its effects on tumor cells, suppresses tumor growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo potentially also by anti-angiogenic mechanisms.

Antiangiogenic and antitumor activity of a novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor ZD6474 in a metastatic human pancreatic tumor model.

ZD6474 is a novel, orally available inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor kinase insert domain receptor/flk-1 tyrosine kinase activity with additional activity against the epidermal growth factor receptor-1 tyrosine kinase. The aim of this study was to evaluate ZD6474, alone and in combination with gemcitabine, in an orthotopic model of metastatic pancreatic cancer. Nude mice (nine to 10/group) were injected orthotopically with 1x10(6) L3.6pl human pancreatic cancer cells. Eight days later, treatment was initiated with vehicle only, gemcitabine (100 mg/kg intraperitoneal twice weekly), ZD6474 (50 mg/kg oral once daily) or a combination of the two treatments. Animals were killed on day 24 posttreatment initiation. The phosphorylation status level of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor as well as the phosphorylation level of AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 in different human pancreatic carcinoma cells and in human umbilical vein endothelial cells was analyzed by Western blotting. Compared with controls (1231 mg), the mean weight of treated tumors was reduced to 836, 541 and 308 mg in the gemcitabine, ZD6474 and combination groups, respectively. Lymph node metastasis was significantly reduced in both the ZD6474 alone and combined treatment groups, with 3/10 and 1/5 animals developing metastases, compared with 10/10 and 9/9 in the control and gemcitabine groups (P<0.003 and <0.0003, respectively). Microvessel density and cell proliferation were significantly reduced in the ZD6474 and combined treatment groups (P<0.02). Immunohistochemistry of tumor samples following treatment with ZD6474 resulted in a reduction of the activated and phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor, whereas total epidermal growth factor receptor levels were comparable with control tumors. On the basis of Western blot analysis, ZD6474 provides inhibition of tumor angiogenesis through an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 mechanism and inhibition of cancer cell growth through an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor mechanism. ZD6474 decreased primary pancreatic tumor growth and reduced lymph node and liver metastases compared with controls or gemcitabine alone. Tumor growth was inhibited further in animals receiving ZD6474 and gemcitabine in combination.

The immunosuppressant FTY720 inhibits tumor angiogenesis via the sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1.

FTY720, a sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) analog, acts as an immunosuppressant through trapping of T cells in secondary lymphoid tissues. FTY720 was also shown to prevent tumor growth and to inhibit vascular permeability. The MTT proliferation assay illustrated that endothelial cells are more susceptible to the anti-proliferative effect of FTY720 than Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC1) cells. In a spheroid angiogenesis model, FTY720 potently inhibited the sprouting activity of VEGF-A-stimulated endothelial cells even at concentrations that apparently had no anti-proliferative effect. Mechanistically, the anti-angiogenic effect of the general S1P receptor agonist FTY720 was mimicked by the specific S1P1 receptor agonist SEW2871. Moreover, the anti-angiogenic effect of FTY720 was abrogated in the presence of CXCR4-neutralizing antibodies. This indicates that the effect was at least in part mediated by the S1P1 receptor and involved transactivation of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor. Additionally, we could illustrate in a coculture spheroid model, employing endothelial and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), that the latter confer a strong protective effect regarding the action of FTY720 upon the endothelial cells. In a subcutaneous LLC1 tumor model, the anti-angiogenic capacity translated into a reduced tumor size in syngeneic C57BL/6 mice. Consistently, in the Matrigel plug in vivo assay, 10 mg/kg/d FTY720 resulted in a strong inhibition of angiogenesis as demonstrated by a reduced capillary density. Thus, in organ transplant patients, FTY720 may prove efficacious in preventing graft rejection as well as tumor development.

Rapamycin induces tumor-specific thrombosis via tissue factor in the presence of VEGF.

Therapeutic strategies that target and disrupt the already-formed vessel networks of growing tumors are actively pursued. The goal of these approaches is to induce a rapid shutdown of the vascular function of the tumor so that blood flow is arrested and tumor cell death occurs. Here we show that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor rapamycin, when administered to tumor-bearing mice, selectively induced extensive local microthrombosis of the tumor microvasculature. Importantly, rapamycin administration had no detectable effect on the peritumoral or normal tissue. Intravital microscopy analysis of tumors implanted into skinfold chambers revealed that rapamycin led to a specific shutdown of initially patent tumor vessels. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced tissue factor expression was strongly enhanced by rapamycin. We further show by Western blot analysis that rapamycin interferes with a negative feedback mechanism controlling this pathologic VEGF-mediated tissue factor expression. This thrombogenic alteration of the endothelial cells was confirmed in a one-step coagulation assay. The circumstance that VEGF is up-regulated in most tumors may explain the remarkable selectivity of tumor vessel thrombosis under rapamycin therapy. Taken together, these data suggest that rapamycin, besides its known antiangiogenic properties, has a strong tumor-specific, antivascular effect in tumors.

Recombinant anti-EGFR immunotoxin 425(scFv)-ETA' demonstrates anti-tumor activity against disseminated human pancreatic cancer in nude mice.

Pancreatic carcinoma is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in North America and Europe. Major reasons for the high mortality rate include the inability to detect pancreatic cancer at an early stage, extensive local invasion, and early formation of lymphatic and hematogenous metastases. Consequently, novel and effective therapies need to be developed urgently in order to improve the outcome of patients. Since overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in pancreatic tumors correlates with advanced clinical staging, increased tumor size and reduced patient survival, this receptor represents an appropriate target for immunotherapy. We recently generated the recombinant immunotoxin 425(scFv)-ETA' by genetically fusing the anti-EGFR single chain variable fragment 425(scFv) to a truncated version of Pseudomonas aeroginosa exotoxin A (ETA'). The 425(scFv)-ETA' fusion protein was functionally expressed in the periplasmic space of Escherichia coli and was purified using a combination of metal-ion affinity and anion exchange chromatography. The protein showed specific binding to and toxicity against the EGFR-positive, metastatic pancreatic carcinoma cell line L3.6pl, but not to control cell systems. We report the anti-tumor activity of this recombinant immunotoxin in a disseminated human pancreatic cancer nude mouse model. After intravenous (i.v.) injection of L3.6pl cells into immunodeficient nude mice, both single (20 microg on day 1 after challenge) and repeated (10 microg on days 1, 2, 3 and 4 after tumor cell injection) i.v. administration of 425(scFv)-ETA' resulted in a significant reduction in the average number of lung metastases from 56.25 per animal in the control groups to 0.875 per animal (single injection) and 0.286 per animal (repeated injection), respectively, in the experimental groups. In summary, this is the first report showing an in vivo anti-tumor effect caused by the recombinant immunotoxin 425(scFv)-ETA' against disseminated growing metastatic human pancreatic carcinoma cells. Our data suggest that EGFR-specific antibody toxins could be suitable for further clinical investigation in the development of therapies for pancreatic carcinoma.