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Cilengitide affects tumor compartment, vascularization and microenvironment in experimental bone metastases as shown
Maren Bretschi1, Caixia Cheng, Hendrik Witt
1Department of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Purpose:
Aim of this study was to investigate the specific treatment effects of inhibiting αvβ3/αvβ5 integrins by cilengitide in an animal model of breast cancer bone metastases using dynamic (18)F-FDG PET and gene expression analysis.
Methods:
For this purpose, nude rats bearing bone metastases were treated with cilengitide, a small molecule inhibitor of αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrins, from day 30 to 55 after tumor cell inoculation of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells (25 mg/kg, 5 days per week; n = 8 rats) and compared to control rats (n = 8). Dynamic (18)F-FDG PET data were assessed at days 30, 35 and 55 after tumor cell inoculation determining the vascular fraction VB and the metabolic variables k1-k4. At day 55, genome-wide mRNA expression analysis was performed to assess the treatment-specific expression changes from cilengitide-treated and control rats.
Results:
In a longitudinal (18)F-FDG PET study, the vascular fraction VB was significantly decreased in bone metastases between days 30/35, 30/55 and 35/55, whereas the kinetic parameters k1 and k4 were significantly decreased between days 30/55 in skeletal lesions of treated animals. Gene expression analysis from bone metastases at day 55 revealed that tumor-produced integrins (αvβ5) as well as factors relevant for angiogenesis (αvβ3, VEGF, PDGF), bone resorption (PTHrP and RANKL), extracellular matrix remodeling (collagen, CD44) and bone marrow microenvironment (CXCR4) were significantly reduced upon therapy with cilengitide.
Conclusions:
Here, we provide evidence that cilengitide inhibits pivotal factors of all compartments of bone metastases including tumor cells, vasculature and bone microenvironment in vivo and by whole-genome transcriptome analysis.
Insights
Cilengitide effectively targets breast cancer bone metastases by inhibiting tumor cells, vasculature, and the bone microenvironment. This integrin inhibitor reduces angiogenesis, bone resorption, and matrix remodeling, showing therapeutic potential in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Breast cancer bone metastases represent a significant clinical challenge.
- Integrins, such as αvβ3 and αvβ5, play crucial roles in tumor progression and metastasis.
- Targeting these integrins offers a potential therapeutic strategy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of cilengitide, an αvβ3/αvβ5 integrin inhibitor, in a preclinical model of breast cancer bone metastases.
- To investigate the effects of cilengitide on tumor cell, vasculature, and bone microenvironment using dynamic (18)F-FDG PET and gene expression analysis.
Main Methods:
- Nude rats with induced bone metastases were treated with cilengitide (25 mg/kg, 5 days/week) or a control.
- Dynamic (18)F-FDG PET scans were performed longitudinally to assess metabolic and vascular parameters (VB, k1-k4).
- Genome-wide mRNA expression analysis was conducted on bone metastases at study termination.
Main Results:
- Cilengitide treatment significantly reduced the vascular fraction (VB) in bone metastases.
- Key kinetic parameters (k1, k4) related to glucose metabolism were decreased.
- Gene expression analysis revealed significant downregulation of integrins, angiogenesis factors (VEGF, PDGF), bone resorption markers (PTHrP, RANKL), and microenvironment-related genes (CXCR4).
Conclusions:
- Cilengitide demonstrates inhibitory effects on multiple critical components of breast cancer bone metastases.
- The drug targets tumor cells, vasculature, and the bone marrow microenvironment.
- These findings support cilengitide as a potential therapeutic agent for breast cancer bone metastases.
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