title: A novel anticancer effect of thalidomide: inhibition of intercellular adhesion molecule-1-mediated cell invasion and metastasis through suppression of nuclear factor-kappaB.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thalidomide has been reported to have antiangiogenic and antimetastatic effects. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was shown to be involved in monocyte adherence to epithelial cells and cancer cell invasion. In this study, we further investigated the role of ICAM-1 in tumorigenesis, including tumor formation and metastasis. ICAM-1 as a molecular target for cancer and the anticancer effect of thalidomide were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of ICAM-1 protein in human lung cancer specimens was assessed by immunohistochemistry. ICAM-1 overexpressing A549 cells (A549/ICAM-1) were established to investigate the direct effect of ICAM-1 on in vitro cell invasion and in vivo tumor metastasis. Transient transfection and luciferase assay, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation were done to assess the activity and binding of nuclear factor-kappaB to the ICAM-1 promoter. A xenograft model in nude mice was conducted to evaluate the anticancer effect of thalidomide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High expression of ICAM-1 in human lung cancer specimens was correlated with a greater risk of advanced cancers (stages III and IV). A549/ICAM-1 cells were shown to induce in vitro cell invasion and in vivo tumor metastasis. Anti-ICAM-1 antibody and thalidomide had inhibitory effect on these events. Thalidomide also suppressed tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced ICAM-1 expression through inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB binding to the ICAM-1 promoter. The in vivo xenograft model showed the effectiveness of thalidomide on tumor formation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These studies provide a framework for targeting ICAM-1 as a biologically based therapy for cancer, and thalidomide might be effective in human lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Chu
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chia-Tung
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Shun
authors.forename: Ming-Shiang
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ching-Chow
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008875:Middle Aged; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D013792:Thalidomide