Targeting FGF19 inhibits tumor growth in colon cancer xenograft and FGF19 transgenic hepatocellular carcinoma models.
Although fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) can promote liver carcinogenesis in mice its involvement in human cancer is not well characterized. Here we report that FGF19 and its cognate receptor FGF receptor 4 (FGFR4) are coexpressed in primary human liver, lung and colon tumors and in a subset of human colon cancer cell lines. To test the importance of FGF19 for tumor growth, we developed an anti-FGF19 monoclonal antibody that selectively blocks the interaction of FGF19 with FGFR4. This antibody abolished FGF19-mediated activity in vitro and inhibited growth of colon tumor xenografts in vivo and effectively prevented hepatocellular carcinomas in FGF19 transgenic mice. The efficacy of the antibody in these models was linked to inhibition of FGF19-dependent activation of FGFR4, FRS2, ERK and beta-catenin. These findings suggest that the inactivation of FGF19 could be beneficial for the treatment of colon cancer, liver cancer and other malignancies involving interaction of FGF19 and FGFR4.
Desnoyers
L R
LR
1Department of Molecular Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA.
Pai
R
R
Ferrando
R E
RE
Hötzel
K
K
Le
T
T
Ross
J
J
Carano
R
R
D'Souza
A
A
Qing
J
J
Mohtashemi
I
I
Ashkenazi
A
A
French
D M
DM
D000818:Animals; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods*; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D051499:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays / Q000379:methods*
D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C117476:FGF19 protein, human; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; C496371:FGFR4 protein, human; D051499:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4