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Infliximab Inhibits Colitis Associated Cancer in Model Mice by Downregulating Genes Associated with Mast Cells and
Dan-Yang Wang1, Shinobu Ohnuma1, Hideyuki Suzuki1
1Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan.
Anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antibodies, used for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), were investigated for their role in colon cancer. Infliximab attenuated colitis-associated cancer development in mice, implicating mast cells in the process.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antibodies.
- These treatments increase cancer risk in IBD patients.
- The role of anti-TNF-α antibodies in colon cancer development and associated genes is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if anti-TNF-α antibodies induce colon cancer in vitro and in vivo.
- To identify genes involved in colitis-associated cancer.
- To investigate the effect of infliximab on colitis-associated cancer in a mouse model.
Main Methods:
- In vitro studies using colon cancer cell lines (HCT8, COLO205) treated with TNF-α and anti-TNF-α antibodies.
- In vivo studies using azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS) induced colitis-associated cancer mouse models treated with infliximab.
- Microarray analysis and RT-qPCR to identify gene expression changes.
Main Results:
- TNF-α inhibited colon cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro.
- Anti-TNF-α antibodies neutralized TNF-α's inhibitory effects in vitro.
- Infliximab significantly reduced colon cancer development in AOM/DSS mice.
- Mast cell-related genes (mast cell protease 1, mast cell protease 2, chymase 1) were upregulated in AOM/DSS mice but downregulated with infliximab treatment.
Conclusions:
- Anti-TNF-α antibodies do not directly induce colon cancer; they neutralize TNF-α's anti-cancer effects in vitro.
- Infliximab attenuates colitis-associated cancer development in vivo.
- Mast cells play a significant role in colitis-associated cancer development in the AOM/DSS mouse model.
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