title: Inhibition of adrenocortical carcinoma by diphtheria toxin mutant CRM197.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study, we investigated the effect of CRM197 treatment in human adrenocortical carcinoma (AC) implanted in nude mice. CRM197 is a non-toxic mutant of diphtheria toxin that binds heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) which is implicated in the proliferative activity of several tumor cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  HB-EGF expression in AC cells was evaluated by reverse transcription PCR and Western blot. AC tumors were implanted in nude mice and then treated with CRM197. Effects of treatment on angiogenesis and apoptosis were investigated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The effects on cell invasion and migration were investigated with a matrigel invasion assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrated that human AC cells express HB-EGF. A treatment with CRM197 blocked growth, reduced angiogenesis and induced apoptosis in AC tumors implanted in nude mice. CRM197 also inhibited invasion and migration of these tumor cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data support the evidence for anticancer properties of CRM197 in AC tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy. daniele.martarelli @ unicam.it
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martarelli
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pompei
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzoni
mesh_terms: D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018268:Adrenocortical Carcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C587883:HBEGF protein, human; C587884:Hbegf protein, mouse; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C028581:CRM197 (non-toxic variant of diphtheria toxin)