Potent inhibition of angiogenesis by the IGF-1 receptor-targeting antibody SCH717454 is reversed by IGF-2

Mol Cancer Ther. 2012 Mar;11(3):649-59. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-11-0575. Epub 2011 Dec 21.

Abstract

Previously, we reported that a predominant action of a type-1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R)-targeted antibody was through inhibiting tumor-derived VEGF, and indirectly, angiogenesis. Here, we examined the direct antiangiogenic activity of the IGF-1R-targeted antibody SCH717454 that inhibits ligand-receptor binding and the mechanism by which tumors circumvent its antiangiogenic activity. Inhibition of ligand-stimulated activation of IGF-1R, insulin receptor (IN-R), or downstream signaling [phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473)] was determined by receptor-specific immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. Inhibition of angiogenesis was determined by proliferation and tube formation using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro and in Matrigel plugs implanted in mice. SCH717454 blocked IGF-1-stimulated but not IGF-2-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt in sarcoma cells. Immunoprecipitation using anti-IGF-1R and anti-IN-R antibodies revealed that SCH717454 equally blocked IGF-1-stimulated and IGF-2-stimulated IGF-1R phosphorylation, but not IGF-2-stimulated phosphorylation of IN-R. SCH717454 completely blocked VEGF-stimulated proliferation and tube formation of HUVECs, but exogenous IGF-2 and insulin circumvented these inhibitory effects. Coculture of HUVECs with IGF-2-secreting tumor cells completely abrogated SCH717454 inhibition of VEGF-stimulated HUVEC tube formation. In mice, SCH717454 inhibited angiogenesis in VEGF-infused Matrigel plugs, but had no inhibitory activity when plugs contained both VEGF + IGF-2. These results reveal for the first time, a role for IGF-1R signaling in VEGF-mediated angiogenesis in vitro and indicate direct antiangiogenic activity of SCH717454. Both in vitro and in vivo IGF-2 circumvented these effects through IN-R signaling. Many childhood cancers secrete IGF-2, suggesting that tumor-derived IGF-2 in the microenvironment maintains angiogenesis in the presence of IGF-1R-targeted antibodies allowing tumor progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / immunology
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Base Sequence
  • Blood Vessels / drug effects*
  • Blood Vessels / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / physiology
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, SCID
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / prevention & control
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / immunology
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / metabolism
  • Receptor, Insulin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor, Insulin / immunology
  • Receptor, Insulin / metabolism
  • Sarcoma / blood supply
  • Sarcoma / pathology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / pharmacology

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1
  • Receptor, Insulin
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • robatumumab