Browse
Submit Data
Databases
API
Help

Dataset Information

8 Views

0 Connections

0 Citations

0 Reanalyses

0 Downloads

Omics score: 0

HGF/c-Met Inhibition as Adjuvant Therapy Improves Outcomes in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Inhibition of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-MET pathway, a major mediator of pancreatic stellate cell (PSC)-PC cell interactions, retards local and distant cancer progression. This study examines the use of this treatment in preventing PC progression after resection. We further investigate the postulated existence of circulating PSCs (cPSCs) as a mediator of metastatic PC.

Methods

Two orthotopic PC mouse models, produced by implantation of a mixture of luciferase-tagged human pancreatic cancer cells (AsPC-1), and human PSCs were used. Model 1 mice underwent distal pancreatectomy 3-weeks post-implantation (n = 62). One-week post-resection, mice were randomised to four treatments of 8 weeks: (i) IgG, (ii) gemcitabine (G), (iii) HGF/c-MET inhibition (HiCi) and (iv) HiCi + G. Tumour burden was assessed longitudinally by bioluminescence. Circulating tumour cells and cPSCs were enriched by filtration. Tumours of Model 2 mice progressed for 8 weeks prior to the collection of primary tumour, metastases and blood for single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq).

Results

HiCi treatments: (1) reduced both the risk and rate of disease progression after resection; (2) demonstrated an anti-angiogenic effect on immunohistochemistry; (3) reduced cPSC counts. cPSCs were identified using immunocytochemistry (α-smooth muscle actin+, pan-cytokeratin-, CD45-), and by specific PSC markers. scRNA-seq confirmed the existence of cPSCs and identified potential genes associated with development into cPSCs.

Conclusions

This study is the first to demonstrate the efficacy of adjuvant HGF/c-Met inhibition for PC and provides the first confirmation of the existence of circulating PSCs.

SUBMITTER: Pang TCY

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8199621 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Json Xml

Similar Datasets

HGF/Met and FOXM1 form a positive feedback loop and render pancreatic cancer cells resistance to Met inhibition and aggressive phenotypes.

Project description:Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/Met signaling has critical roles in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) development and progression and is considered a potential therapeutic target for this disease. However, the mechanism of aberrant activation of HGF/Met signaling and resistance to Met inhibition in PDA remains unclear. The mechanistic role of cross talk between Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) and HGF/Met signaling in promotion of PDA growth and resistance to Met inhibition was examined using cell culture, molecular biology and mouse models; and the relevance of our experimental and mechanistic findings were validated using human PDA tissues. Met was markedly overexpressed in both PDA cell lines and pancreatic tumor specimens, and the expression of Met correlated directly with that of FOXM1 in human tumor specimens. Mechanistically, FOXM1 bound to the promoter region of the Met gene and transcriptionally increased the expression of Met. Increased expression of FOXM1 enhanced the activation of HGF/Met signaling and its downstream pathways, including retrovirus-associated DNA sequences/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. Furthermore, activation of HGF/Met signaling increased the expression and transcriptional activity of FOXM1, and the cross talk between FOXM1 and HGF/Met signaling promoted PDA growth and resistance to Met inhibition. Collectively, our findings identified a positive feedback loop formed by FOXM1 and HGF/Met and revealed that this loop is a potentially effective therapeutic target for PDA.

| S-EPMC4985506 | biostudies-literature

Targeting the HGF/Met signaling pathway in cancer therapy.

Project description:INTRODUCTION:Under normal conditions, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced activation of its cell surface receptor, the Met tyrosine kinase (TK), is tightly regulated by paracrine ligand delivery, ligand activation at the target cell surface, and ligand-activated receptor internalization and degradation. Despite these controls, HGF/Met signaling contributes to oncogenesis and tumor progression in several cancers and promotes aggressive cellular invasiveness that is strongly linked to tumor metastasis. AREA COVERED:The prevalence of HGF/Met pathway activation in human malignancies has driven rapid growth in cancer drug development programs. The authors review Met structure and function, the basic properties of HGF/Met pathway antagonists now in preclinical and clinical development, as well as the latest clinical trial results. EXPERT OPINION:Clinical trials with HGF/Met pathway antagonists show that as a class these agents are well tolerated. Although widespread efficacy was not seen in several completed Phase II studies, promising results have been reported in lung, gastric, prostate and papillary renal cancer patients treated with these agents. The main challenges facing the effective use of HGF/Met-targeted antagonists for cancer treatment are optimal patient selection, diagnostic and pharmacodynamic biomarker development, and the identification and testing of optimal therapy combinations. The wealth of basic information, analytical reagents, and model systems available concerning HGF/Met oncogenic signaling will continue to be invaluable in meeting these challenges and moving expeditiously toward more effective disease control.

| S-EPMC3711667 | biostudies-literature

Pancreatic Stellate Cells Facilitate Perineural Invasion of Pancreatic Cancer via HGF/c-Met Pathway.

Project description:Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly lethal cancer that has a strong ability for invasion and metastasis, poor prognosis, and a stubbornly high death rate due to late diagnosis and early metastasis. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms of metastasis should provide novel opportunities for therapeutic purposes. As a route of metastasis in PC, perineural invasion (PNI) occurs frequently; however, the molecular mechanism of PNI is still poorly understood. In this study, we show that the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-Met pathway plays a vital role in the PNI of PC. We found that HGF promotes PC cell migration and invasion by activating the HGF/c-Met pathway, and enhances the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) in vitro. Furthermore, HGF significantly increased PC cell invasion of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and promoted the outgrowth of DRG in cocultured models of PC cells and DRG. In contrast, the capacity for invasion and the phenomenon of PNI in PC cells were reduced when the HGF/c-Met pathway was blocked by siRNA. In conclusion, PSCs facilitate PC cell PNI via the HGF/c-Met pathway. Targeting the HGF/c-Met signaling pathway could be a promising therapeutic strategy for PC.

| S-EPMC6767883 | biostudies-literature

Photothermal Therapy as Adjuvant to Surgery in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Human Fibrosarcoma.

Project description:Surgery is still the first-line treatment for multiple solid cancers. However, recurrence is a common issue, especially when dealing with aggressive tumors or tumors that are difficult to completely remove due to their location. Getting clear surgical margins can be challenging, but treatment strategies combining surgery with other anti-cancer therapies can potentially improve the outcome. Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a technique that relies on photoabsorbing agents, such as gold nanoparticles, to transform light into local hyperthermia. This technique can be used to ablate tumor tissue where the photoabsorbing agent accumulates, sparing healthy surrounding tissue. In this study, we examined the potential of gold nanoparticle-based PTT as an adjuvant treatment to surgery in a mouse model of human fibrosarcoma. For this we performed subtotal tumor resection to mimic a clinical situation where total tumor removal is not achieved, and subsequent PTT was applied on the surgical field. Our results showed that animals undergoing adjuvant PTT after surgery presented sustained delayed tumor growth and improved survival when compared to animals that only underwent surgery. We believe that these findings show the potential of PTT as an adjuvant method to traditional tumor surgery and could pave way to more personalized treatment options.

| S-EPMC8616180 | biostudies-literature

Inhibition of pro-HGF activation by SRI31215, a novel approach to block oncogenic HGF/MET signaling.

Project description:The binding of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to its receptor MET activates a signaling cascade that promotes cell survival, proliferation, cell scattering, migration and invasion of malignant cells. HGF is secreted by cancer cells or by tumor-associated fibroblasts as pro-HGF, an inactive precursor. A key step in the regulation of HGF/MET signaling is proteolytic processing of pro-HGF to its active form by one of the three serine proteases, matriptase, hepsin or HGF activator (HGFA).We developed SRI 31215, a small molecule that acts as a triplex inhibitor of matriptase, hepsin and HGFA and mimics the activity of HAI-1/2, endogenous inhibitors of HGF activation. We demonstrated that SRI 31215 inhibits fibroblast-induced MET activation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and migration of cancer cells. SRI 31215 overcomes primary resistance to cetuximab and gefitinib in HGF-producing colon cancer cells and prevents fibroblast-mediated resistance to EGFR inhibitors. Thus, SRI 31215 blocks signaling between cancer cells and fibroblasts and inhibits the tumor-promoting activity of cancer-associated fibroblasts.Aberrant HGF/MET signaling supports cell survival, proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and metastatic spread of cancer cells, establishing HGF and MET as valid therapeutic targets. Our data demonstrate that inhibitors of HGF activation, such as SRI 31215, merit investigation as potential therapeutics in tumors that are addicted to HGF/MET signaling. The findings reported here also indicate that inhibitors of HGF activation overcome primary and acquired resistance to anti-EGFR therapy, providing a rationale for concurrent inhibition of EGFR and HGF to prevent therapeutic resistance and to improve the outcome of cancer patients.

| S-EPMC5045412 | biostudies-literature

Silencing of MUC20 suppresses the malignant character of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells through inhibition of the HGF/MET pathway.

Project description:Mucins are heavily glycosylated proteins that play critical roles in the pathogenesis of tumour malignancies. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterised by the aberrant expression of mucins. However, the role of mucin (MUC) 20 in PDAC remains unclear. PDAC is usually surrounded by a dense fibrotic stroma consisting of an extracellular matrix and pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). The stroma creates a nutrient-deprived, hypoxic, and acidic microenvironment, and promotes the malignant behaviours of PDAC cells. In this study, immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that high MUC20 expression correlated with poor progression-free survival and high local recurrence rate of PDAC patients (n?=?61). The expression of MUC20 was induced by serum deprivation, hypoxia, and acidic pH in PDAC cells. MUC20 knockdown with siRNA decreased cell viability, as well as migration and invasion induced by PSCs in HPAC and HPAF-II cells. In intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, and orthotopic injection models, MUC20 knockdown decreased tumour growth in immunodeficient mice. Phospho-RTK array and western blot analysis indicated that MUC20 knockdown decreased HGF-mediated phosphorylation of MET in PDAC cells. Moreover, HGF-induced malignant phenotypes could be suppressed by MUC20 knockdown. Co-immunoprecipitation revealed the physical association of MUC20 and MET. These findings suggest that MUC20 knockdown suppresses the malignant phenotypes of PDAC cells at least partially through the inhibition of the HGF/MET pathway and that MUC20 could act as a potential therapeutic target.

| S-EPMC6237765 | biostudies-literature

HGF rescues colorectal cancer cells from EGFR inhibition via MET activation.

Project description:Cetuximab, an antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is active in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, response rates range from only 10% to 20%. Here, we investigate hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-dependent mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) activation as a mediator of cetuximab resistance through signal diversification in CRC cell lines.DiFi, GEO, and LIM1215 cells were treated with varying concentrations and combinations of EGF, HGF, cetuximab, and PHA-665752 (a highly specific MET kinase inhibitor). Biological end points included proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. Proliferation was measured using WST-1 assays and synergy investigated via isobolograms. Expression and signaling were examined using immunoblotting.EGFR and MET are coexpressed in these CRC cell lines, and dual receptor activation synergistically increased proliferation. Cetuximab inhibited cell growth by 60%-80% with an associated dephosphorylation of EGFR, MAPK, and/or AKT. Addition of HGF to cetuximab-treated cells phosphorylated MET, but not EGFR or ErbB3, restimulated the MAPK and AKT pathways, restored cell proliferation, and rescued cells from G1 arrest and apoptosis. Importantly, this effect could be abrogated by inhibiting MET activation with PHA-665752 or by downregulating MET expression with RNAi.HGF-induced MET activation is a novel mechanism of cetuximab resistance in CRC. Inhibition of the HGF-MET pathway may improve response to EGFR inhibitors in CRC, and combination therapy should be further investigated.

| S-EPMC3033451 | biostudies-other

HGF/c-Met axis drives cancer aggressiveness in the neo-adjuvant setting of ovarian cancer.

Project description:Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Recently, NACT (Neo Adjuvant Chemotherapy) has been tested as alternative approach for the management of ovarian cancer patients. A biological predictor helpful in selecting patients for NACT would be desirable. This study was aimed at identifying actionable mechanisms of resistance to NACT. Expression of a panel of microRNAs was screened in a discovery set of 85 patients. Analysis of the potential targets was conducted in the same RNAs by calculating significant correlations between microRNAs and genes. Quantitative fluorescent immunohistochemistry was employed in a validation set of 109 patients. MiR-193a-5p was significantly overexpressed in the NACT setting. Analysis of its potential targets demonstrated that this microRNA is also significantly correlated with HGF and MET genes. Analysis of protein expression in samples taken before and after NACT demonstrated that both HGF and c-Met are increased after NACT. Patients who relapse shortly after NACT exhibited the highest relative basal expression of both HGF and c-Met, while the opposite phenomenon was observed in the best responders. Mir-193a-5p, HGF and c-Met expression may help select eligible patients for this modality of treatment. Moreover, inhibitors of this pathway may improve the efficacy of NACT.

| S-EPMC4148105 | biostudies-literature

Prognostic Value of c-MET Expression in Patients With Pancreatic Cancer Receiving Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy.

Project description:PurposeTo determine the prognostic significance of c-MET expression and develop a predictor of distant failure in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer treated with chemoradiation.Methods and materialsWe used a tissue microarray to study protein expression by immunohistochemistry in 102 patients treated surgically for pancreatic cancer. Two cores per patient were blindly scored from 0 (no staining) to 3 (strong staining) by a single pathologist. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine time to local and distant failure, overall survival, and progression-free survival. P values were calculated with the log-rank test.ResultsHigh tumor expression of c-MET was associated with a shorter time to distant failure in patients receiving neoadjuvant (n=23) or neoadjuvant therapy (n=73) (median 8.9 months vs 22.0 months, P=.0010). We then examined the ability of incorporating 2 known biomarkers, thymidylate synthase and DPC4 (SMAD4), with c-MET to risk-stratify patients. This multi-protein predictor divided our cohort into groups of similar numbers and was predictive of distant failure (median 13.4 months vs 24.2 months, P=.0094) but not of local control.Conclusionc-MET is potentially predictive of distant failure. Using c-MET, DPC4, and thymidylate synthase, we developed a multi-protein predictor that could be used to risk-stratify patients and guide decisions regarding the sequencing of locoregional and systemic therapies in pancreatic cancer.

| S-EPMC6444352 | biostudies-literature

Hgf/Met activation mediates resistance to BRAF inhibition in murine anaplastic thyroid cancers.

Project description:Anaplastic thyroid carcinomas (ATCs) have a high prevalence of BRAF and TP53 mutations. A trial of vemurafenib in nonmelanoma BRAFV600E-mutant cancers showed significant, although short-lived, responses in ATCs, indicating that these virulent tumors remain addicted to BRAF despite their high mutation burden. To explore the mechanisms mediating acquired resistance to BRAF blockade, we generated mice with thyroid-specific deletion of p53 and dox-dependent expression of BRAFV600E, 50% of which developed ATCs after dox treatment. Upon dox withdrawal there was complete regression in all mice, although recurrences were later detected in 85% of animals. The relapsed tumors had elevated MAPK transcriptional output, and retained responses to the MEK/RAF inhibitor CH5126766 in vivo and in vitro. Whole-exome sequencing identified recurrent focal amplifications of chromosome 6, with a minimal region of overlap that included Met. Met-amplified recurrences overexpressed the receptor as well as its ligand Hgf. Growth, signaling, and viability of Met-amplified tumor cells were suppressed in vitro and in vivo by the Met kinase inhibitors PF-04217903 and crizotinib, whereas primary ATCs and Met-diploid relapses were resistant. Hence, recurrences are the rule after BRAF suppression in murine ATCs, most commonly due to activation of HGF/MET signaling, which generates exquisite dependency to MET kinase inhibitors.

| S-EPMC6118575 | biostudies-literature

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

OmicsDI is an Elixir interoperability service. Learn more ›

OmicsDI Databases

PRIDE
PeptideAtlas
MassIVE
JPOST Repository
Physiome Model Repository

EGA
EVA
ENA
LINCS
PAXDB
Cell Collective

MetaboLights
Metabolomics Workbench
MetabolomeExpress
GNPS
BioModels
FAIRDOMHub

ArrayExpress
dbGaP
ExpressionAtlas
GEO
NODE

Information

Databases
Help
API
Contact us
Code on GitHub
Terms of use
Submit Data