title: Nerve growth factor is a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer.
abstract: We show here that nerve growth factor (NGF), the prototypic neurotrophin, can be targeted in breast cancer to inhibit tumor cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis. Analysis of a series of biopsies revealed widespread expression of NGF in the majority of human breast tumors, with anti-NGF immunoreactivity concentrated in the epithelial cancer cells. Moreover, immunodeficient mice xenografted with human breast cancer cells and treated with either anti-NGF antibodies or small interfering RNA against NGF displayed inhibited tumor growth and metastasis. Such treatments directed against NGF induced a decrease in cell proliferation with a concomitant increase in apoptosis of breast cancer cells and an inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. Together, these data indicate that targeting NGF in breast cancer may have therapeutic ramifications.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U908, Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale, University Lille 1, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adriaenssens
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vanhecke
authors.forename: Pasquine
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saule
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mougel
authors.forename: Adeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: Rodrigue
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romon
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nurcombe
authors.forename: Xuefen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Le Bourhis
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hondermarck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor