Resolvin E1 Reduces Tumor Growth in a Xenograft Model of Lung Cancer

Inflammation plays a significant role in carcinogenesis and tumor growth. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that resolvin E1 (RvE1) and overexpression of the receptor for RvE1 (ERV1) will prevent and/or reverse tumor generation in a gain-of-function mouse model of tumor seeding with lung cancer cells. To measure the impact of enhanced resolution of inflammation on cancer pathogenesis, ERV1-overexpressing transgenic (TG) and wild-type FVB mice were given an injection of 1 × 10⁶ LA-P0297 cells subcutaneously and were treated with RvE1 (100 ng; intraperitoneally) or placebo. To assess the impact of RvE1 as an adjunct to chemotherapy, ERV1-TG and wild-type FVB mice were treated with cisplatin or cisplatin + RvE1. RvE1 significantly prevented tumor growth and reduced tumor size, cyclooxygenase-2, NF-κB, and proinflammatory cytokines in TG animals as compared to wild-type animals. A significant decrease in Ki-67, vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin (Ang)-1, and Ang-2 was also observed in TG animals as compared to wild-type animals. Tumor-associated neutrophils and macrophages were significantly reduced by RvE1 in transgenics (P < 0.001). RvE1 administration with cisplatin led to a significant reduction of tumor volume and reduced cyclooxygenase-2, NF-κB, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, Ang-1, and Ang-2. These data suggest that RvE1 prevents inflammation and vascularization, reduces tumor seeding and tumor size, and, when used as an adjunct to chemotherapy, enhances tumor reduction at significantly lower doses of cisplatin.