Radiation therapy-induced tumor invasiveness is associated with SDF-1-regulated macrophage mobilization and vasculogenesis.
Radiation therapy (RT) remains the front-line treatment for high-grade gliomas; however, tumor recurrence remains the main obstacle for the clinical success of RT. Using a murine astrocytoma tumor cell line, ALTS1C1, the present study demonstrates that whole brain irradiation prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice, although the mice eventually died associated with increased tumor infiltration. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis indicated that RT decreased the microvascular density (MVD) of the primary tumor core, but increased the MVD of the tumor invasion front. RT also increased the number of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and the expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) at the tumor invasion front. SDF-1 expression suppressed by siRNA (SDFkd tumors) showed a decrease in RT-enhanced tumor invasiveness, leading to prolonged survival of mice bearing these tumors. The invasion front in SDFkd tumors showed a lower MVD and TAM density than that in the islands of the control or irradiated ALTS1C1 tumors. Our results indicate that tumor-secreted SDF-1 is one key factor in RT-induced tumor invasiveness, and that it exerts its effect likely through macrophage mobilization and tumor revascularization.
Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Shu-Chi
SC
Wang
Ching-Fang
CF
Yu
Ji-Hong
JH
Hong
Chien-Sheng
CS
Tsai
Chi-Shiun
CS
Chiang
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005910:Glioma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice
D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1