Malignant progression and blockade of angiogenesis in a murine transgenic model of neuroblastoma

Louis Chesler, David D. Goldenberg, Isha T. Seales, Ronit Satchi-Fainaro, Matt Grimmer, Rodney Collins, Chris Struett, Kim N. Nguyen, Grace Kim, Tarik Tihan, Yun Bao, Rolf A. Brekken, Gabriele Bergers, Judah Folkman, William A. Weiss*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

Targeted expression of MYCN to the neural crest [under control of the rat tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) promoter] causes neuroblastoma in transgenic mice (TH-MYCN) and is a well-established model for this disease. Because high levels of MYCN are associated with enhanced tumor angiogenesis and poor clinical outcome in neuroblastoma, we serially characterized malignant progression, angiogenesis, and sensitivity to angiogenic blockade in tumors from these animals. Tumor cells were proliferative, secreted high levels of the angiogenic ligand vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and recruited a complex vasculature expressing the angiogenic markers VEGF-R2, A-SMA, and matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9, all of which are also expressed in human disease. Treatment of established murine tumors with the angiogenesis inhibitor TNP-470 caused near-complete ablation, with reduced proliferation, enhanced apoptosis, and vasculature disruption. Because TNP-470 has been associated with neurotoxicity, we tested the recently described water-soluble HPMA copolymer-TNP-470 conjugate (caplostatin), which showed comparable efficacy and was well tolerated without weight loss or neurotoxicity as measured by rotarod testing. This study highlights the importance of angiogenesis inhibition in a spontaneous murine tumor with native tumor-microenvironment interactions, validates the use of mice transgenic for TH-MYCN as a model for therapy in this common pediatric tumor, and supports further clinical development of caplostatin as an antiangiogenic therapy in childhood neuroblastoma.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)9435-9442
Number of pages8
JournalCancer Research
Volume67
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2007

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeK02NS002226
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

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