Selective inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor 2 (KDR/Flk-1) activity by a monoclonal anti-VEGF antibody blocks tumor growth in mice.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multifunctional angiogenic growth factor that is a primary stimulant of the development and maintenance of a vascular network in embryogenesis and the vascularization of solid tumors. At the present time there are two well-characterized receptors for VEGF that are selectively expressed on endothelium. VEGF receptor 2 [VEGFR2 (KDR/Flk-1)] mediates endothelial cell mitogenesis and permeability increases, whereas the role of VEGF receptor 1 [VEGFR1 (Flt-1)] has not been clearly defined. In the present study, a monoclonal antibody, 2C3, is shown to block the interaction of VEGF with VEGFR2 but not with VEGFR1 through ELISA, receptor binding assays, and receptor activation assays. 2C3 blocks the VEGF-induced vascular permeability increase in guinea pig skin. 2C3 has potent antitumor activity, inhibiting the growth of newly injected and established human tumor xenografts in mice. These findings demonstrate the usefulness of 2C3 in dissecting the pathways that are activated by VEGF in cells that express both VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, as well as highlighting the dominant role of VEGFR2 in mediating VEGF-induced vascular permeability increase and tumor angiogenesis.
Brekken
R A
RA
Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, and Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-8593, USA.
Overholser
J P
JP
Stastny
V A
VA
Waltenberger
J
J
Minna
J D
JD
Thorpe
P E
PE
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D008222:Lymphokines; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1