Nitric oxide in breast cancer: induction of vascular endothelial growth factor-C and correlation with metastasis and poor prognosis.
OBJECTIVE
Metastasis to regional lymph nodes through the lymphatic vessels is a common step in the progression of cancer. Recent evidence suggests that tumor production of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) promotes lymphagiogenesis, which in turn promotes lymphatic metastasis. Nitric oxide (NO) may also increase metastatic ability in human cancers.


METHODS
Nitrite/nitrate levels and VEGF-C production were assessed in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells after induction and/or inhibition of NO synthesis. Formation of nitrotyrosine, a biomarker for peroxynitrate formation from NO in vivo, was analyzed in primary human breast carcinoma with long-term follow-up. The relationship between nitrotyrosine levels and lymph node status, VEGF-C immunoreactivity, and other established clinicopathologic variables, as well as prognosis, was analyzed.


RESULTS
Production of nitrite/nitrate and VEGF-C in MDA-MB-231 cells was increased by treatment with the NO donor DETA NONOate. The NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester eliminated this increase. High-grade nitrotyrosine staining was observed in 57.5% (65 of 113) of the invasive breast carcinomas. Nitrotyrosine levels were significantly correlated with VEGF-C immunoreactivity and lymph node metastasis. Survival curves determined by the Kaplan-Meier method showed that high nitrotyrosine levels were associated with reduced disease-free and overall survival. In multivariate analysis, high nitrotyrosine levels emerged as a significant independent predictor for overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data showed a role for NO in stimulating VEGF-C expression in vitro. Formation of its biomarker nitrotyrosine was also correlated with VEGF-C expression and lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, high nitrotyrosine levels may serve as a significant prognostic factor for long-term survival in breast cancer.
Department of Pathology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama City, Wakayama, Japan. nakamur@wakayama-med.ac.jp
Yasushi
Y
Nakamura
Hironao
H
Yasuoka
Masahiko
M
Tsujimoto
Katsuhide
K
Yoshidome
Masaaki
M
Nakahara
Kazuyasu
K
Nakao
Misa
M
Nakamura
Kennichi
K
Kakudo
D000475:Alkenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D000475:Alkenes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009566:Nitrates; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009573:Nitrites; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D014443:Tyrosine; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; C453079:dipropylenetriamine-NONOate; C002744:3-nitrotyrosine