Involvement of chemokine receptor 4/stromal cell-derived factor 1 system during osteosarcoma tumor progression

Clin Cancer Res. 2005 Jan 15;11(2 Pt 1):490-7.

Abstract

Despite intensive chemotherapy and surgery treatment, lung and bone metastasis develop in about 30% of patients with osteosarcoma. Mechanisms for this preferential metastatic behavior are largely unknown. We investigated the role of the chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4)/stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) system to drive the homing of osteosarcoma cells. We analyzed the expression of the CXCR4 and SDF-1 proteins on several osteosarcoma cell lines and the effects of SDF-1 on migration, adhesion, and proliferation of these cancer cells. In vitro assays showed that the migration of osteosarcoma cells expressing CXCR4 receptor follows an SDF-1 gradient and that their adhesion to endothelial and bone marrow stromal cells is promoted by SDF-1 treatment. Moreover, the production of matrix metalloproteinase-9 is increased after SDF-1 exposure. We finally proved in a mouse model our hypothesis of the CXCR4/SDF-1 axis involvement in the metastatic process of osteosarcoma cells. Development of lung metastasis after injection of osteosarcoma cells was prevented by the administration of a CXCR4 inhibitor, the T134 peptide. These data show a possible explanation for the preferential osteosarcoma metastatic development into the lung, where SDF-1 concentration is high, and suggest that molecular strategies aimed at inhibiting the CXCR4/SDF-1 pathway, such as small-molecule inhibitors or anti-CXCR4 antibodies, might prevent the dissemination of osteosarcoma cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow Cells / pathology
  • Bone Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Chemokine CXCL12
  • Chemokines, CXC / metabolism*
  • Disease Progression
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Osteosarcoma / metabolism*
  • Osteosarcoma / pathology
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stromal Cells / metabolism
  • Stromal Cells / pathology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • CXCL12 protein, human
  • Chemokine CXCL12
  • Chemokines, CXC
  • Cxcl12 protein, mouse
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Receptors, CXCR4
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9