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Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Induction of Invasive Transitional Cell Bladder Carcinoma in Immune Intact Human MUC1 Transgenic Mice: A Model for Immunotherapy Development
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Induction of Invasive Transitional Cell Bladder Carcinoma in Immune Intact Human MUC1 Transgenic Mice: A Model for Immunotherapy Development

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Targeting of alpha-v integrins reduces malignancy of bladder carcinoma

Geertje van der Horst1, Lieke Bos1, Maaike van der Mark1

  • 1Department of Urology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Plos One
|September 24, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Targeting alpha-v (αv) integrins shows promise for treating metastatic bladder cancer. Inhibiting these integrins reduced cancer cell malignancy, migration, and metastasis in preclinical models.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Integrin Signaling

Background:

  • Metastatic cancers have low survival rates, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Alpha-v (αv) integrins play crucial roles in tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis.
  • Investigating αv integrins as a drug target is vital for advancing cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of αv integrin in bladder cancer.
  • To evaluate αv integrin as a potential drug target for preventing and treating metastatic bladder cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Bladder carcinoma cell lines were treated with an αv integrin antagonist or underwent αv integrin knockdown.
  • In vitro assays assessed proliferative, migratory, and clonogenic capacity.
  • In vivo bioluminescence imaging evaluated metastatic growth in preclinical models.

Main Results:

  • αv integrin inhibition reduced bladder cancer cell malignancy, proliferation, migration, and clonogenicity in vitro.
  • A shift towards an epithelial phenotype was observed, with decreased expression of EMT-inducing factors and self-renewal genes (NANOG, BMI1).
  • In vivo studies demonstrated significantly reduced metastatic growth following αv integrin targeting.

Conclusions:

  • αv integrins are implicated in bladder cancer cell migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and self-renewal.
  • Targeting αv integrins represents a promising therapeutic strategy for preventing and treating metastatic bladder cancer.

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