title: Inhibition of lymphogenous metastasis using adeno-associated virus-mediated gene transfer of a soluble VEGFR-3 decoy receptor.
abstract: The presence of metastases in regional lymph nodes is a strong indicator of poor patient survival in many types of cancer. It has recently been shown that the lymphangiogenic growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), and its receptor, VEGF receptor-3 (VEGFR3), may play a pivotal role in the promotion of metastasis to regional lymph nodes. In this study, human prostate and melanoma tumor models that preferentially metastasize to the lymph nodes following s.c. tumor cell implantation were established from lymph node metastases via in vivo selection. Melanoma tumor cell sublines established from lymph node metastasis express higher amounts of VEGF-C than the parental tumor cells. The inhibition of tumor-derived VEGF-C with a soluble VEGFR3 decoy receptor, sVEGFR3-Fc, expressed via a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector, potently blocks tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis and tumor metastasis to the lymph nodes, when the treatment was initiated before the tumor implantation. In addition, sVEGFR3-Fc serum levels required for efficient blockade of lymph node metastases are strictly dependent on the VEGF-C levels generated by the primary tumor. Recombinant adeno-associated virus-mediated gene transfer of sVEGFR3-Fc may represent a feasible therapeutic strategy for blockade of lymphogenous metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preclinical Oncology and Immunology, Cell Genesys, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080, USA. jianmin.lin@cellgenesys.com
authors.forename: JianMin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Alshad S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lalani
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Wei-Wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Luan
authors.forename: Guang Huan
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koprivnikar
authors.forename: Melinda J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: VanRoey
authors.forename: Yulong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alitalo
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jooss
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3