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Updated: Oct 1, 2025

Transfer of Manipulated Tumor-associated Neutrophils into Tumor-Bearing Mice to Study their Angiogenic Potential In Vivo
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Nectin cell adhesion molecule 4 regulates angiogenesis through Src signaling and serves as a novel therapeutic target

Yuka Tanaka1, Maho Murata1, Keiko Tanegashima1

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.

Scientific Reports
|March 8, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Nectin cell adhesion molecule 4 (NECTIN4) is highly expressed in angiosarcoma, a rare cancer. Targeting NECTIN4 shows potential for new angiosarcoma treatments, inhibiting cancer cell growth and blood vessel formation.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Angiosarcoma is a rare, aggressive soft tissue sarcoma with poor prognosis.
  • Current treatments for unresectable or metastatic angiosarcoma have limited efficacy.
  • Nectin cell adhesion molecule 4 (NECTIN4) is implicated in various cancers, but its role in angiosarcoma is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and function of NECTIN4 in angiosarcoma.
  • To evaluate NECTIN4 as a potential therapeutic target for angiosarcoma.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze NECTIN4 expression in 74 angiosarcoma tissue samples.
  • NECTIN4 expression and function were studied in human angiosarcoma cell lines.
  • Nectin cell adhesion molecule 4 (NECTIN4) knockdown and sensitivity to antibody-drug conjugates were assessed.

Main Results:

  • NECTIN4 was found to be highly expressed in angiosarcoma cells compared to normal endothelial cells.
  • Angiosarcoma cells showed sensitivity to NECTIN4-targeted antibody-drug conjugates.
  • NECTIN4 knockdown suppressed angiosarcoma cell proliferation and angiogenesis, involving Src kinase signaling.

Conclusions:

  • Nectin cell adhesion molecule 4 (NECTIN4) is a promising therapeutic target for angiosarcoma.
  • Targeted therapies against NECTIN4 may offer a novel treatment strategy for this rare cancer.
  • Further research into NECTIN4-targeted therapies is warranted for angiosarcoma treatment.

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