Alendronate suppresses tumor angiogenesis by inhibiting Rho activation of endothelial cells.
We previously reported that alendronate inhibits intraperitoneal dissemination in an in vivo ovarian cancer model. Recently, nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates have been reported to have antiangiogenic activities. In this study, alendronate inhibited human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) migration and capillary-like structure formation in vitro. These inhibitory effects were associated with reduced Rho activation and suppression of the formation of actin stress fibers and focal adhesions in HUVECs. Furthermore, the inhibition by alendronate was reversed by geranylgeraniol, which abrogated the inhibition of Rho geranylgeranylation. Next, we examined the effect of alendronate on angiogenesis in disseminated ovarian tumors of athymic immunodeficient mice. Alendronate treatment reduced the intra-tumor neoangiogenesis compared with that in the non-treated mice, although tumor-derived VEGF expression was not altered. In conclusion, the in vivo anti-tumor effect of alendronate might be derived, at least in part, from its direct antiangiogenic effects on intra-tumor endothelial cells by inhibiting Rho geranylgeranylation.
Hashimoto
Kae
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
Morishige
Ken-ichirou
K
Sawada
Kenjiro
K
Tahara
Masahiro
M
Shimizu
Shoko
S
Ogata
Seiji
S
Sakata
Masahiro
M
Tasaka
Keiichi
K
Kimura
Tadashi
T
D019386:Alendronate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D019386:Alendronate