Differential CD146 expression on circulating versus tissue endothelial cells in rectal cancer patients: implications for circulating endothelial and progenitor cells as biomarkers for antiangiogenic therapy.
OBJECTIVE
Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and progenitor cells are currently evaluated as potential biomarkers of antiangiogenic therapy. CD146 is considered a panendothelial-specific marker, but its utility as a CEC marker in cancer patients remains unclear.


METHODS
We analyzed the expression of CD146 on mononuclear blood cells, primary tissue endothelial cells, and malignant and normal tissues by flow cytometric and immunohistochemical analyses. Furthermore, we measured the circulation kinetics of CD146+ cells before, and then 3 and 12 days after vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody blockade by bevacizumab infusion in rectal cancer patients enrolled in a phase I trial.


RESULTS
In the peripheral blood of these cancer patients, over 90% of the CD146+ cells were CD45+ hematopoietic cells. CD146 expression was primarily detected on a subset of CD3+CD4+ lymphocytes, and was undetectable on CD34+CD133+CD45(dim) progenitor cells or CD31(bright)CD45- viable CECs. In contradistinction, CD146 was detectable in tissues on both cellular components of tumor vessel wall: CD31(bright)CD45- endothelial cells and alpha-SMA+ pericytes. Unlike viable CECs and progenitor cells, CD146+ cell concentration in the peripheral blood of cancer patients did not decrease during VEGF blockade.


CONCLUSIONS
CD146 is fairly homogeneously expressed on vascular endothelium but not on viable CECs or progenitor cells. The vast majority of CD146+ blood cells are lymphocytes, and VEGF blockade by bevacizumab did not significantly change their number in rectal cancer patients. These results underscore the need for further characterization and identification of new markers for CEC subpopulations for their development as biomarkers of antiangiogenic therapy.
Steele Laboratory for Tumor Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology and Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. duda@steele.mgh.harvard.edu
Dan G
DG
Duda
Kenneth S
KS
Cohen
Emmanuelle
E
di Tomaso
Patrick
P
Au
Rachael J
RJ
Klein
David T
DT
Scadden
Christopher G
CG
Willett
Rakesh K
RK
Jain
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D051929:CD146 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D042783:Endothelial Cells; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009000:Monocytes; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D013234:Stem Cells
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051929:CD146 Antigen