Project description:We evaluated soluble AXL (sAXL or batiraxcept), a decoy receptor that can potently inhibit AXL signaling, as a single agent or in combination with docetaxel or carboplatin to treat prostate cancer (PCa) bone metastases. We used intratibial injection of multiple patient-derived xenografts with different characteristics, reflecting a traditional phase II clinical trial without pre-selection for a particular tumor characteristic. Inhibition of tyrosine kinase receptor AXL was highly effective as a single agent and showed additive effects when combined with docetaxel or carboplatin in suppressing PCa tumor growth in the bone and in suppressing metastasis to the lung. AXL inhibition suppressed critical cancer stem cell gene expression and significantly decreased proliferation and metastasis through suppression of E2F1 and NuSAP1. Our findings provide compelling preclinical data for testing batiraxcept in patients with prostate cancer with bone metastases.
Project description:The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL promotes tumor progression, metastasis and therapy resistance through the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we report that activation of AXL results in TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) phosphorylation, subsequent TBK1-dependent phosphorylation of AKT3 (pAKT3) and nuclear accumulation of pAKT3 and the EMT transcription factor (EMT-TF) Snail. Mechanistically, we show that (i) TBK1 directly binds and phosphorylates AKT3, in an mTORC1 dependent manner. Once activated, AKT3 interacts with Snail and promotes the accumulation of nuclear Snail to drive EMT. Congruently, in human pancreatic ductaladenocarcinoma tissue, nuclear AKT3 co-localizes with Snail and correlates with worse clinical outcome. AKT3 knockout in tumor cells significantly reduced metastatic spread in mice suggesting that selective AKT3 inhibition represents a novel therapeutic avenue for targeting EMT in aggressive cancers.
Project description:AXL is activated by its ligand GAS6 and is expressed in triple-negative breast cancer cells. We report that AXL is also detected in HER2+ breast cancer specimens where its expression correlates with poor patients’ survival. Using murine models of HER2+ breast cancer, AXL, but not Gas6, was found essential for metastasis. We determined that AXL is required for intravasation, extravasation and growth at the metastatic site. AXL is expressed in HER2+ cancers displaying EMT signatures and contributes to sustain EMT in murine tumors. Interfering with AXL in patient-derived xenograft impaired TGF-β-induced cell invasion. Lastly, pharmacological inhibition of AXL decreased the metastatic burden of mice developing HER2+ breast cancer. Our data identify AXL as a potential co-therapeutic target during the treatment of HER2+ breast cancers to limit metastasis.
Project description:We investigated if Axl receptor tyrosine kinase was up-regulated in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and if blocking of Axl by a small molecule called BGB324 (also called Bemcentinib) reduces fibrosis development in the ligated kidney as compared to treatment with its vehicle alone.
Project description:AXL is activated by its ligand GAS6 and is expressed in triple-negative breast cancer cells. We report that AXL is also detected in HER2+ breast cancer specimens where its expression correlates with poor patients’ survival. Using murine models of HER2+ breast cancer, AXL, but not Gas6, was found essential for metastasis. We determined that AXL is required for intravasation, extravasation and growth at the metastatic site. AXL is expressed in HER2+ cancers displaying EMT signatures and contributes to sustain EMT in murine tumors. Interfering with AXL in patient-derived xenograft impaired TGF-β-induced cell invasion. Lastly, pharmacological inhibition of AXL decreased the metastatic burden of mice developing HER2+ breast cancer. Our data identify AXL as a potential co-therapeutic target during the treatment of HER2+ breast cancers to limit metastasis.
Project description:To investigate the effect of AXL inhibition on gene expression in carcinoma cell clones derived from NSCLC IGR-Heu cells, we profiled gene expression in cells treated with the AXL inhibitor bemcentinib (1 µmol/L) or with vehicle (dmso) for 72 hours