Search

Current data from in vitro and in vivo animal models indicate that fibronectin-binding integrin receptors expressed by colon cancer cells may regulate tumour growth. While individual members of the beta 1 subfamily of integrins have now been clearly identified in colorectal cancer, little information exists with respect to the alpha V subfamily. In the present study we show that alpha V can associate with multiple and different beta subunits capable of binding fibronectin in this tumour type. This is likely to have functional implications for growth and spread of colorectal cancer.

Current data from in vitro and in vivo animal models indicate that fibronectin-binding integrin receptors expressed by colon cancer cells may regulate tumour growth. While individual members of the beta 1 subfamily of integrins have now been clearly identified in colorectal cancer, little information exists with respect to the alpha V subfamily. In the present study we show that alpha V can associate with multiple and different beta subunits capable of binding fibronectin in this tumour type. This is likely to have functional implications for growth and spread of colorectal cancer.

This study examines whether the knowledge of breast self-examination (BSE) could be a significant contributor to elderly women's self-rated health. Additional variables were considered as potential influences on their self-rated health. This research used a quasi-experimental design and random selection to assign assisted living facilities to treatment and control groups. Participants in this study were women, age 75 years and older. All participants were gauged for breast cancer risk as a pretest measurement. Only the experimental group of older women received BSE instruction and then provided their self-rated health eight weeks later. BSE knowledge contributed statistically to the experimental elderly women's self-rated mental health scores. Instrumental activities of daily living were statistically significant for both groups at explaining variance in their physical health scores. This research study, although limited, points to the value of providing BSE to elderly women and its influence on their mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to provide descriptive information on elderly women's breast cancer risk and their level of participation in breast cancer screening behaviors. Ninety-two women participated in the study; the mean breast cancer risk for five years was 2.4, and the lifetime mean risk was 4.4. An elevated five-year risk is a value greater than 1.7. The participants' also provided information on their breast cancer screening behaviors. The modal response for participation in obtaining a medical checkup with a physician was six months or less. The modal response for obtaining a clinical breast examination was six months or less. These elderly women indicated a high rate of adopting breast cancer screening activities. Breast sonographers and mammographers have a unique opportunity to raise awareness with their elderly patients about breast cancer. Advocating screening measures and patient education are needed to assist elderly women in managing risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are complex engineered therapeutics consisting of monoclonal antibodies, directed toward tumor-associated antigens, to which highly potent cytotoxic agents are attached using chemical linkers. This targeted drug delivery strategy couples the precision of the antibody targeting moiety with the cytocidal activity of the payload, which is generally too toxic on its own to be systemically administered. In this manner, ADCs confer a means to reduce off-target toxicities in patients by limiting the exposure of normal tissues to the payload, thus broadening the potential therapeutic window compared with traditional chemotherapy. The pace of ADC development is accelerating, with the number of investigational agents in human trials having more than tripled over the past 5 years, underscoring the enthusiasm for this transformative approach to cancer treatment. Here, we review the key structural elements of ADC design (antibody, linker, and payload), highlighting critical aspects and technological advances that have affected the clinical effectiveness of this class of biopharmaceuticals. The ADC field continues to evolve, including ongoing efforts aimed at improving target selection, developing payloads with varied mechanisms of action and increased potency, designing innovative bioconjugation strategies, as well as maximizing efficacy and tolerability in patients. An overview of the current clinical trial landscape is provided, with emphasis on the clinical experience of the four ADCs to have received regulatory approval to date, as well as additional promising candidates currently in late-stage clinical development in both solid tumor and hematological malignancies., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Chromatofocusing is investigated as an alternative to protein A chromatography for the initial capture step in a purification process for several monoclonal antibodies and antibody fusion products. For comparison, this work also investigates the use of ion-exchange chromatography with either pH or salt gradient elution as additional alternatives to protein A chromatography. The specific conditions employed for the capture step for the case of chromatofocusing were selected on a rational basis using a computer-aided design method implemented in the form of a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Alternative operating conditions were compared experimentally with regard to the product yield achieved as well as the removal of total host cell proteins (HCPs) and of a specific HCP major component. Results from this study indicate that both chromatofocusing and ion-exchange chromatography are useful alternatives to a protein A chromatography capture step in many practical cases. This is especially true for the case of chromatofocusing when it is possible to exploit the ability of the method to create complex gradient shapes that are self-forming inside the column and to simultaneous focus and separate proteins inside the column., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The clinical benefits of chemotherapy are commonly offset by insufficient drug exposures, narrow safety margins, and/or systemic toxicities. Over recent decades, a number of conjugate-based targeting approaches designed to overcome these limitations have been explored. Here, we report on an innovative strategy that utilizes HSP90 inhibitor-drug conjugates (HDC) for directed tumor targeting of chemotherapeutic agents. STA-12-8666 is an HDC that comprises an HSP90 inhibitor fused to SN-38, the active metabolite of irinotecan. Mechanistic analyses in vitro established that high-affinity HSP90 binding conferred by the inhibitor backbone could be exploited for conjugate accumulation within tumor cells. In vivo modeling showed that the HSP90 inhibitor moiety was required for selective retention of STA-12-8666, and this enrichment promoted extended release of active SN-38 within the tumor compartment. Indeed, controlled intratumoral payload release by STA-12-8666 contributed to a broad therapeutic window, sustained biomarker activity, and remarkable degree of efficacy and durability of response in multiple cell line and patient-derived xenograft models. Overall, STA-12-8666 has been developed as a unique HDC agent that employs a distinct mechanism of targeted drug delivery to achieve potent and sustained antitumor effects. These findings identify STA-12-8666 as a promising new candidate for evaluation as novel anticancer therapeutic., (©2015 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Neural tissue exposure to valproic acid (VPA) increases several pro-survival phospho-proteins that can be used as biomarkers for indicating a beneficial drug response (pAkt(Ser473), pGSK3β(Ser9), pErk1/2(Thr202/Tyr204)). Unfortunately, targeting VPA to neural tissue is a problem due to severe asymmetrical distribution, wherein the drug tends to remain in peripheral blood rather than localizing within the brain. Intracerebral delivery of an amide-linked VPA-PEG conjugate could address these issues by enhancing retention and promoting cerebro-global increases in pro-survival phospho-proteins. It is necessary to assay for the retained bioactivity of a PEGylated valproic acid molecule, along with locating an intracranial cannula placement that optimizes the increase of a known downstream biomarker for chronic VPA exposure. Here we show an acute injection of VPA-PEG conjugate within brain tissue increased virtually all of the assayed phospho-proteins, including well-known pro-survival factors. In contrast, an acute injection of VPA expectedly decreased signaling throughout the hour. Needle penetration into whole brain tissue is the intentional cause of trauma in this procedure. The trauma to brain tissue was observed to overcome known phospho-protein increases for unmodified VPA in the injected solution, while VPA-PEG conjugate appeared to induce significant increases in pro-survival phospho-proteins, despite the procedural trauma., (Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Small molecule inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase activity, such as erlotinib and gefitinib, revolutionized therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients whose tumors harbor activating EGFR mutations. However, mechanisms to overcome the invariable development of acquired resistance to such agents, as well as realizing their full clinical potential within the context of wild-type EGFR (WT-EGFR) disease, remain to be established. Here, the antitumor efficacy of targeted EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and the HSP90 inhibitor ganetespib, alone and in combination, were evaluated in NSCLC. Ganetespib potentiated the efficacy of erlotinib in TKI-sensitive, mutant EGFR-driven NCI-HCC827 xenograft tumors, with combination treatment causing significant tumor regressions. In erlotinib-resistant NCI-H1975 xenografts, concurrent administration of ganetespib overcame erlotinib resistance to significantly improve tumor growth inhibition. Ganetespib co-treatment also significantly enhanced antitumor responses to afatinib in the same model. In WT-EGFR cell lines, ganetespib potently reduced cell viability. In NCI-H1666 cells, ganetespib-induced loss of client protein expression, perturbation of oncogenic signaling pathways, and induction of apoptosis translated to robust single-agent activity in vivo. Dual ganetespib/erlotinib therapy induced regressions in NCI-H322 xenograft tumors, indicating that the sensitizing properties of ganetespib for erlotinib were conserved within the WT-EGFR setting. Mechanistically, combined ganetespib/erlotinib exposure stabilized EGFR protein levels in an inactive state and completely abrogated extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and AKT signaling activity. Thus, selective HSP90 blockade by ganetespib represents a potentially important complementary strategy to targeted TKI inhibition alone for inducing substantial antitumor responses and overcoming resistance, in both the mutant and WT-EGFR settings.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex, systemic autoimmune disease with a diverse range of immunological and clinical manifestations. The introduction of broad spectrum immunosuppressive therapies and better management of acute disease exacerbations have improved outcomes for lupus patients over recent years. However, these regimens are burdened by substantial toxicities and confer significantly higher risks of infection, thus there remains a significant and unmet medical need for alternative treatment options, particularly those with improved safety profiles. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is a ubiquitously expressed molecular chaperone that acts as an important modulator of multiple innate and adaptive inflammatory processes. Of note, accumulating clinical and experimental evidence has implicated a role for HSP90 in the pathogenesis of SLE. Here we evaluated the potential of HSP90 as a therapeutic target for this disease using the selective small molecule inhibitor ganetespib in the well-characterized MRL/lpr autoimmune mouse model. In both the prophylactic and therapeutic dosing settings, ganetespib treatment promoted dramatic symptomatic improvements in multiple disease parameters, including suppression of autoantibody production and the preservation of renal tissue integrity and function. In addition, ganetespib exerted profound inhibitory effects on disease-related lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, and reduced pathogenic T and B cell lineage populations in the spleen. Ganetespib monotherapy was found to be equally efficacious and tolerable when compared to an effective weekly dosing regimen of the standard-of-care immunosuppressive agent cyclophosphamide. Importantly, co-treatment of ganetespib with a sub-optimal, intermittent dosing schedule of cyclophosphamide resulted in superior therapeutic indices and maximal disease control. These findings highlight the potential of HSP90 inhibition as an alternative, and potentially complementary, strategy for therapeutic intervention in SLE. Such approaches may have important implications for disease management, particularly for limiting or preventing treatment-related toxicities, a major confounding factor in current SLE therapy.

The integration of targeted agents to standard cytotoxic regimens has improved outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) over recent years; however this malignancy remains the second leading cause of cancer mortality in industrialized countries. Small molecule inhibitors of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) are one of the most actively pursued classes of compounds for the development of new cancer therapies. Here we evaluated the activity of ganetespib, a second-generation HSP90 inhibitor, in models of CRC. Ganetespib reduced cell viability in a panel of CRC cell lines in vitro with low nanomolar potency. Mechanistically, drug treatment exerted concomitant effects on multiple oncogenic signaling pathways, cell cycle regulation, and DNA damage repair capacity to promote apoptosis. Combinations of ganetespib and low-dose ionizing radiation enhanced the radiosensitivity of HCT 116 cells and resulted in superior cytotoxic activity over either treatment alone. In vivo, the single-agent activity of ganetespib was relatively modest, suppressing HCT 116 xenograft tumor growth by approximately half. However, ganetespib significantly potentiated the antitumor efficacy of the 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) prodrug capecitabine in HCT 116 xenografts, causing tumor regressions in a model that is intrinsically resistant to fluoropyrimidine therapy. This demonstration of combinatorial benefit afforded by an HSP90 inhibitor to a standard CRC adjuvant regimen provides an attractive new framework for the potential application of ganetespib as an investigational agent in this disease.

Decreased expression of CHRNA7, the gene encoding the α7(∗) subtype of nicotinic receptor, may contribute to the cognitive dysfunction observed in schizophrenia by disrupting the inhibitory/excitatory balance in the hippocampus. C3H mice with reduced Chrna7 expression have significant reductions in hippocampal α7(∗) receptor density, deficits in hippocampal auditory gating, increased hippocampal activity as well as significant decreases in hippocampal glutamate decarboxylase-65 (GAD65) and γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptor levels. The current study investigated whether altered Chrna7 expression is associated with changes in the levels of parvalbumin, GAD67 and/or GABAA receptor subunits in the hippocampus from male and female C3H Chrna7 wildtype, C3H Chrna7 heterozygous and C3H Chrna7 knockout (KO) mice using quantitative Western immunoblotting. Reduced Chrna7 expression was associated with significant increases in hippocampal parvalbumin and GAD67 and with complex alterations in GABAA receptor subunits. A decrease in α3 subunit protein was seen in both female C3H Chrna7 Het and KO mice while a decrease in α4 subunit protein was also detected in C3H Chrna7 KO mice with no sex difference. In contrast, an increase in δ subunit protein was observed in C3H Chrna7 Het mice while a decrease in this subunit was observed in C3H Chrna7 KO mice, with δ subunit protein levels being greater in males than in females. Finally, an increase in γ2 subunit protein was found in C3H Chrna7 KO mice with the levels of this subunit again being greater in males than in females. The increases in hippocampal parvalbumin and GAD67 observed in C3H Chrna7 mice are contrary to reports of reductions in these proteins in the postmortem hippocampus from schizophrenic individuals. We hypothesize that the disparate results may occur because of the influence of factors other than CHRNA7 that have been found to be abnormal in schizophrenia., (Copyright © 2014 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: Activating mutations and/or overexpression of FGFR3 are common in bladder cancer, making FGFR3 an attractive therapeutic target in this disease. In addition, FGFR3 gene rearrangements have recently been described that define a unique subset of bladder tumors. Here, a selective HSP90 inhibitor, ganetespib, induced loss of FGFR3-TACC3 fusion protein expression and depletion of multiple oncogenic signaling proteins in RT112 bladder cells, resulting in potent cytotoxicity comparable with the pan-FGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor BGJ398. However, in contrast to BGJ398, ganetespib exerted pleiotropic effects on additional mitogenic and survival pathways and could overcome the FGFR inhibitor-resistant phenotype of FGFR3 mutant-expressing 97-7 and MHG-U3 cells. Combinatorial benefit was observed when ganetespib was used with BGJ398 both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, two additional FGFR3 fusion-positive lines (RT4 and SW480) retained sensitivity to HSP90 inhibitor treatment by the ansamycins 17-AAG and 17-DMAG yet displayed intrinsic resistance to ganetespib or AUY922, both second-generation resorcinol-based compounds. Both cell lines, compared with RT112, expressed considerably higher levels of endogenous UGT1A enzyme; this phenotype resulted in a rapid glucuronidation-dependent metabolism and subsequent efflux of ganetespib from SW780 cells, thus providing a mechanism to account for the lack of bioactivity., Implications: Pharmacologic blockade of the molecular chaperone HSP90 represents a promising approach for treating bladder tumors driven by oncogenic gene rearrangements of FGFR3. Furthermore, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzyme expression may serve as a predictive factor for clinical response to resorcinol-based HSP90 inhibitors., (©2014 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Unlabelled: Because of their pleiotropic effects on critical oncoproteins, inhibitors of HSP90 represent a promising new class of therapeutic agents for the treatment of human cancer. However, pharmacologic inactivation of HSP90 subsequently triggers a heat shock response that may mitigate the full therapeutic benefit of these compounds. To overcome this limitation, a clinically feasible method was sought to block HSP synthesis induced by the potent HSP90 inhibitor ganetespib. An immunoassay screen of 322 late-stage or clinically approved drugs was performed to uncover compounds that could block upregulation of the stress-inducible HSP70 that results as a consequence of HSP90 blockade. Interestingly, inhibitors of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/mTOR class counteracted ganetespib-induced HSP70 upregulation at both the gene and protein level by suppressing nuclear translocation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), the dominant transcription factor controlling cellular stress responses. This effect was conserved across multiple tumor types and was found to be regulated, in part, by mTOR-dependent translational activity. Pretreatment with cycloheximide, PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, or an inhibitor of eIF4E (a translation initiation factor and downstream effector of mTOR) all reduced ganetespib-mediated nuclear HSF1 accumulation, indicating that mTOR blockade confers a negative regulatory effect on HSF1 activity. Moreover, combined therapy regimens with mTOR or dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors potentiated the antitumor efficacy of ganetespib in multiple in vivo models., Implications: Collectively these data identify a novel strategy to optimize the therapeutic potential of HSP90 inhibitors., (©2014 AACR.)

As with many physiologic processes that become subverted during tumorigenesis, the chaperoning activity of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is often exploited by cancer cells to confer aberrant proliferative, survival, and/or metastatic potential. Functional inhibition of HSP90 results in the degradation of its client proteins, in turn providing a means to concomitantly disrupt multiple oncogenic signaling cascades through one molecular target. Pharmacologic blockade of HSP90 has, therefore, emerged as an innovative and multifaceted approach for the development of new antineoplastic agents. However, no HSP90 inhibitors are currently approved for cancer therapy and the full promise of this class of agents is yet to be realized. This review focuses on the preclinical activity profile of ganetespib, a potent small-molecule inhibitor of HSP90, the characterization of which has provided important frameworks for the optimal design and application of HSP90 inhibitor-based strategies in a variety of cancer types. Beyond client protein-driven tumors, ganetespib can also potentiate the effects of other molecularly targeted and standard-of-care therapeutics while simultaneously overcoming drug resistance in multiple tumor types, thereby positioning this compound as the leading HSP90 inhibitor currently under clinical development., (©2014 AACR)

We report a new step in the fertilization in Xenopus laevis which has been found to involve activation of Src tyrosine kinase to stimulate phospholipase C-γ (PLC-γ) which increases inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) to release intracellular calcium ([Ca](i)). Molecular species analysis and mass measurements suggested that sperm activate phospholipase D (PLD) to elevate phosphatidic acid (PA). We now report that PA mass increased 2.7 fold by 1 min after insemination and inhibition of PA production by two methods inhibited activation of Src and PLCγ, increased [Ca](i) and other fertilization events. As compared to 14 other lipids, PA specifically bound Xenopus Src but not PLCγ. Addition of synthetic PA activated egg Src (an action requiring intact lipid rafts) and PLCγ as well as doubling the amount of PLCγ in rafts. In the absence of elevated [Ca](i), PA addition elevated IP3 mass to levels equivalent to that induced by sperm (but twice that achieved by calcium ionophore). Finally, PA induced [Ca](i) release that was blocked by an IP3 receptor inhibitor. As only PLD1b message was detected, and Western blotting did not detect PLD2, we suggest that sperm activate PLD1b to elevate PA which then binds to and activates Src leading to PLCγ stimulation, IP3 elevation and [Ca](i) release. Due to these and other studies, PA may also play a role in membrane fusion events such as sperm-egg fusion, cortical granule exocytosis, the elevation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and the large, late increase in sn 1,2-diacylglycerol in fertilization., (© 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Activating BRAF kinase mutations serve as oncogenic drivers in over half of all melanomas, a feature that has been exploited in the development of new molecularly targeted approaches to treat this disease. Selective BRAF(V600E) inhibitors, such as vemurafenib, typically induce initial, profound tumor regressions within this group of patients; however, durable responses have been hampered by the emergence of drug resistance. Here, we examined the activity of ganetespib, a small-molecule inhibitor of Hsp90, in melanoma lines harboring the BRAF(V600E) mutation. Ganetespib exposure resulted in the loss of mutant BRAF expression and depletion of mitogen-activated protein kinase and AKT signaling, resulting in greater in vitro potency and antitumor efficacy compared with targeted BRAF and MAP-ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitors. Dual targeting of Hsp90 and BRAF(V600E) provided combinatorial benefit in vemurafenib-sensitive melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, ganetespib overcame mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired resistance to vemurafenib, the latter of which was characterized by reactivation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. Continued suppression of BRAF(V600E) by vemurafenib potentiated sensitivity to MEK inhibitors after acquired resistance had been established. Ganetespib treatment reduced, but not abolished, elevations in steady-state ERK activity. Profiling studies revealed that the addition of a MEK inhibitor could completely abrogate ERK reactivation in the resistant phenotype, with ganetespib displaying superior combinatorial activity over vemurafenib. Moreover, ganetespib plus the MEK inhibitor TAK-733 induced tumor regressions in vemurafenib-resistant xenografts. Overall these data highlight the potential of ganetespib as a single-agent or combination treatment in BRAF(V600E)-driven melanoma, particularly as a strategy to overcome acquired resistance to selective BRAF inhibitors.

Purpose: Treatment options for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are largely limited to systemic chemotherapies, which have shown disappointing efficacy in the metastatic setting. Here, we undertook a comprehensive evaluation of the activity of ganetespib, a potent inhibitor of HSP90, in this malignancy., Experimental Design: The antitumor and antimetastatic activity of ganetespib was investigated using TNBC cell lines and xenograft models. Combinatorial drug analyses were performed with chemotherapeutic agents and concomitant effects on DNA damage and cell-cycle disruption were assessed in vitro; antitumor efficacy was assessed in vivo. Metabolic and objective tumor responses were evaluated in patients with metastatic TNBC undergoing ganetespib treatment., Results: Ganetespib simultaneously deactivated multiple oncogenic pathways to potently reduce cell viability in TNBC cell lines, and suppressed lung metastases in experimental models. Ganetespib potentiated the cytotoxic activity of doxorubicin via enhanced DNA damage and mitotic arrest, conferring superior efficacy to the doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide regimen in TNBC xenografts. Ganetespib also promoted mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis in combination with taxanes in vitro, and these effects translated to significantly improved combinatorial activity in vivo. Marked tumor shrinkage of metastatic lung and lymphatic lesions were seen in patients on ganetespib monotherapy., Conclusion: The preclinical activity profile and clinical evidence of tumor regression suggest that ganetespib offers considerable promise as a new therapeutic candidate to target TNBC., (©2013 AACR.)

In human trials certain heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitors, including 17-DMAG and NVP-AUY922, have caused visual disorders indicative of retinal dysfunction; others such as 17-AAG and ganetespib have not. To understand these safety profile differences we evaluated histopathological changes and exposure profiles of four Hsp90 inhibitors, with or without clinical reports of adverse ocular effects, using a rat retinal model. Retinal morphology, Hsp70 expression (a surrogate marker of Hsp90 inhibition), apoptotic induction and pharmacokinetic drug exposure analysis were examined in rats treated with the ansamycins 17-DMAG and 17-AAG, or with the second-generation compounds NVP-AUY922 and ganetespib. Both 17-DMAG and NVP-AUY922 induced strong yet restricted retinal Hsp70 up-regulation and promoted marked photoreceptor cell death 24h after the final dose. In contrast, neither 17-AAG nor ganetespib elicited photoreceptor injury. When the relationship between drug distribution and photoreceptor degeneration was examined, 17-DMAG and NVP-AUY922 showed substantial retinal accumulation, with high retina/plasma (R/P) ratios and slow elimination rates, such that 51% of 17-DMAG and 65% of NVP-AUY922 present at 30 min post-injection were retained in the retina 6h post-dose. For 17-AAG and ganetespib, retinal elimination was rapid (90% and 70% of drugs eliminated from the retina at 6h, respectively) which correlated with lower R/P ratios. These findings indicate that prolonged inhibition of Hsp90 activity in the eye results in photoreceptor cell death. Moreover, the results suggest that the retina/plasma exposure ratio and retinal elimination rate profiles of Hsp90 inhibitors, irrespective of their chemical class, may predict for ocular toxicity potential., (© 2013. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: EML4-ALK gene rearrangements define a unique subset of patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), and the clinical success of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor crizotinib in this population has become a paradigm for molecularly targeted therapy. Here, we show that the Hsp90 inhibitor ganetespib induced loss of EML4-ALK expression and depletion of multiple oncogenic signaling proteins in ALK-driven NSCLC cells, leading to greater in vitro potency, superior antitumor efficacy, and prolonged animal survival compared with results obtained with crizotinib. In addition, combinatorial benefit was seen when ganetespib was used with other targeted ALK agents both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, ganetespib overcame multiple forms of crizotinib resistance, including secondary ALK mutations, consistent with activity seen in a patient with crizotinib-resistant NSCLC. Cancer cells driven by ALK amplification and oncogenic rearrangements of ROS1 and RET kinase genes were also sensitive to ganetespib exposure. Taken together, these results highlight the therapeutic potential of ganetespib for ALK-driven NSCLC., Significance: In addition to direct kinase inhibition, pharmacologic blockade of the molecular chaperone Hsp90 is emerging as a promising approach for treating tumors driven by oncogenic rearrangements of ALK. The bioactivity profi le of ganetespib presented here underscores a new therapeutic opportunity to target ALK and overcome multiple mechanisms of resistance in patients with ALK-positive NSCLC., (©2013 AACR.)

Valproic acid (VPA) is the most widely prescribed antiepileptic drug due to its ability to treat a broad spectrum of seizure types. However, potential complications of this drug include anticonvulsant polytherapy metabolism, organ toxicity and teratogenicity which limit its use in a variety of epilepsy patients. Direct delivery of VPA intracerebroventricularly (ICV) could circumvent the toxic effects normally seen with the oral route of administration. An additional potential benefit would be significantly reduced dosing while achieving high brain concentrations. Epileptogenic tissue from patients with intractable seizures has shown significant cell death which may be mitigated by maximizing cerebral VPA exposure. Here we show ICV administration of VPA localized to the periventricular zone increased pro-survival phospho-proteins (pAkt(Ser473), pAkt(Thr308), pGSK3β(Ser9), pErk1/2(Thr202/Tyr204)) and growth cone associated proteins (2G13p, GAP43) in a whole animal system. No significant changes in DCX, NeuN, synaptotagmin, and synaptophysin were detected. Assessment of possible behavioral alterations in rats receiving chronic central infusions of VPA was performed with the open field and elevated plus mazes. Neither paradigm revealed any detrimental effects of the drug infusion process., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

There is accumulating evidence that dysregulated JAK signaling occurs in a wide variety of cancer types. In particular, mutations in JAK2 can result in the constitutive activation of STAT transcription factors and lead to oncogenic growth. JAK kinases are established Hsp90 client proteins and here we show that the novel small molecule Hsp90 inhibitor ganetespib (formerly STA-9090) exhibits potent in vitro and in vivo activity in a range of solid and hematological tumor cells that are dependent on JAK2 activity for growth and survival. Of note, ganetespib treatment results in sustained depletion of JAK2, including the constitutively active JAK2(V617F) mutant, with subsequent loss of STAT activity and reduced STAT-target gene expression. In contrast, treatment with the pan-JAK inhibitor P6 results in only transient effects on these processes. Further differentiating these modes of intervention, RNA and protein expression studies show that ganetespib additionally modulates cell cycle regulatory proteins, while P6 does not. The concomitant impact of ganetespib on both cell growth and cell division signaling translates to potent antitumor efficacy in mouse models of xenografts and disseminated JAK/STAT-driven leukemia. Overall, our findings support Hsp90 inhibition as a novel therapeutic approach for combating diseases dependent on JAK/STAT signaling, with the multimodal action of ganetespib demonstrating advantages over JAK-specific inhibitors.

In addition to allowing epithelial cells to escape the structural constraints imposed by tissue architecture and adopt a phenotype more amenable to cell movement, it is now recognized that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) may also represent a critical component permitting the progression of carcinomas towards invasive and metastatic disease. However, data supporting the actual occurrence of EMT in specific solid tumors and its relevance to the process of progression of these cancers has been scant. Despite an extensive knowledge of the genetic basis for colorectal cancer, the translation of this information into effective treatments has been limited. Clearly, there is a desperate need for new and improved therapies and since the switch to a metastatic phenotype is critical for outcome, it is of paramount importance to elucidate the biology that underlies the progression of this disease. Thus, the unique LIM 1863 model for studying the EMT of colorectal carcinoma has been used to both substantiate the importance of the transition for this cancer type and to identify molecular events that contribute to disease progression. Importantly, it has emerged that not only does EMT enhance migratory capacity, but also elicits additional selective advantages to colonic tumor cells. Specifically, the acquisition of autocrine growth factor signaling loops, mechanisms to evade apoptosis, and expression of specific integrins allowing invasive cells to interact with interstitial matrices and sustain activation of TGF-beta combine to provide a compelling new biochemical framework for understanding how EMT contributes to tumor evolution., (2007 S. Karger AG, Basel)

CD36 is a transmembrane glycoprotein receptor that engages in signal transduction implicated in important physiological and pathophysiological events. CD36 in platelets has been shown physically and functionally to associate with members of the Src family of protein tyrosine kinases, Fyn, Lyn, and Yes, but the nature of this important association has never been rigorously examined. Here, we show that CD36 does not associate with Lyn through a protein-mediated interaction. In COS cells transfected with both CD36 and Lyn these molecules did not co-precipitate, suggesting a requirement for an intermediary molecule absent from the COS cells. Yeast two-hybrid analysis confirmed that the carboxylterminal cytoplasmic tail of CD36 did not bind Lyn directly, and no Lyn binding protein bound to CD36 in a cDNA library screen. Conversely, when the CD36-Lyn association seen in platelets was analysed by biophysical parameters, dissociation occurred at 37 degrees C and also by solubilisation in octylglucoside, indicative of a lipid-mediated association. Since both CD36 and Lyn are enriched in Triton X-100-insoluble rafts at the plasma membrane, these findings point to the importance of raft-associated lipids in CD36-mediated signal transduction.

Recent advances in the treatment of colorectal cancer have resulted from a shift towards the use of molecular targeting strategies, with the identification of specific antigens critical for the development and progression of these tumors allowing the rational design of new therapeutic agents. The integrin receptor family provides very attractive targets for this 'magic bullet' approach, as they play key roles at all points during the malignant evolution of tumors, influencing growth, progression, angiogenesis and metastasis. One integrin in particular, alphaVbeta6, was recently shown to be upregulated in a model of colorectal tumor progression. Importantly, the consequences of this elevated receptor expression not only impact tumor cell function, but also indicate that alphaVbeta6 is a prognostic variable for colorectal cancer and one that is predictive of patient outcome in early-stage disease. Taken together with its normal expression pattern and known biologic functions, alphaVbeta6 thus emerges as a novel therapeutic candidate.

We examined the expression and localization of p120 catenin (p120ctn) as a consequence of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of highly differentiated colon carcinoma cells (LIM1863 cells). This unique line grows in suspension as spheroids and undergoes an EMT within 24 hours following stimulation with transforming growth factor-beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Although p120ctn expression remains stable during the EMT, its localization shifts from cell-cell junctions to the cytoplasm. Interestingly, a marked decrease in RhoA activation coincident with E-cadherin loss occurs during the EMT and correlates with the formation of a p120ctn/RhoA complex. Use of RNA interference showed that p120ctn reduction results in increased RhoA activity and a significant decrease in the motility of post-EMT cells. To determine the relevance of these findings to colorectal cancer progression, we assessed p120ctn expression by immunohistochemistry in 557 primary tumors. Of note, we observed that 53% of tumors presented cytoplasmic staining for p120ctn, and statistical analysis revealed that this localization is predictive of poor patient outcome. Cytoplasmic p120ctn correlated with later-stage tumors, significantly reduced 5- and 10-year survival times and a greater propensity for metastasis to lymph nodes compared with junctional p120ctn. We also confirmed that altered localization of p120ctn corresponded with loss or cytoplasmic localization of E-cadherin. These alterations in E-cadherin are also associated with a significant reduction in patient survival time and an increase in tumor stage and lymph node metastasis. These data provide a compelling argument for the importance of both p120ctn and the EMT itself in the progression of colorectal carcinoma.

Carcinomas, those tumors that arise from epithelial tissues, represent the most prevalent form of human malignancies. Moreover, it is the metastatic spread of these cancers, rather than the development of primary neoplasms that predominantly accounts for patient mortality. Thus, understanding the mechanisms that contribute to the process of cancer progression is of fundamental importance lo designing better therapeutic strategies for treating this disease. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which facilitates the process by which epithelial tumors become invasive and progress towards malignant disease, provides a superb paradigm for studying such mechanisms. Using a colon carcinoma model of EMT, it was discovered that increased expression of the integrin alphavbeta6 is elicited as a consequence of the transition. Importantly, the consequences of the elevated alphavbeta6 expression are directly linked to both tumor cell function and to the mechanism of the EMT itself. Most significantly increased alphavbeta6 expression in human tumors is a prognostic variable and one that is predictive of outcome for early-stage disease. These findings reinforce the importance of the EMT event in late stage tumorigenesis, and define alphavbeta6 as a novel therapeutic candidate for aggressive colorectal cancer.

During embryonic development, epithelial cells must escape the structural constraints imposed by tissue architecture and adopt a phenotype more amenable to cell movement, a process known as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The progression of carcinomas to invasive and metastatic disease may also involve localized occurrences of EMT. However, data that support the actual occurrence of EMT in specific carcinomas and the relevance of this process to the progression of these tumors had been scant. This review highlights recent studies that substantiate the importance of the EMT to colorectal carcinoma. Specifically, a novel model for studying the EMT of colorectal carcinoma has been used to gain insight into the nature of the EMT itself and to identify molecular events that contribute to disease progression. Although loss of E-cadherin function is a primal event for the EMT, the expression of specific integrins such as alpha(v)beta6 as a consequence of the EMT enables invasive cells to interact with interstitial matrices and to sustain activation of TGF-beta. Of note, alpha(v)beta6 expression in tumors is a marker of cells that have undergone an EMT and it is prognostic for tumors that will progress more rapidly to terminal disease. The EMT also induces autocrine signaling involving VEGF and Flt-1 that enable invasive cells to become 'self-sufficient' for survival. Thus, the EMT appears to be an integral component of colorectal cancer progression and its analysis can yield novel targets for prognosis and therapy.

We used a spheroid model of colon carcinoma to analyze integrin dynamics as a function of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that provides a paradigm for understanding how carcinoma cells acquire a more aggressive phenotype. This EMT involves transcriptional activation of the beta6 integrin subunit and a consequent induction of alphavbeta6 expression. This integrin enhances the tumorigenic properties of colon carcinoma, including activation of autocrine TGF-beta and migration on interstitial fibronectin. Importantly, this study validates the clinical relevance of the EMT. Kaplan-Meier analysis of beta6 expression in 488 colorectal carcinomas revealed a striking reduction in median survival time of patients with high beta6 expression. Elevated receptor expression did not simply reflect increasing tumor stage, since log-rank analysis showed a more significant impact on the survival of patients with early-stage, as opposed to late-stage, disease. Cox regression analysis confirmed that this integrin is an independent variable for these tumors. These findings define the alphavbeta6 integrin as an important risk factor for early-stage disease and a novel therapeutic candidate for colorectal cancer.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an essential component of embryonic development, tissue remodeling, and wound repair. In addition, many epithelial tumors, including colorectal carcinomas, appear to undergo this transition that may facilitate their invasion. Using a novel model of EMT in colon carcinoma in which the inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha accelerates this TGF-beta directed process, we report that TNF-alpha stimulation upregulates expression of the chemokine IL-8, and that this upregulation is dependent on the transcription factor NF-kappaB. Significantly, this effect is not merely an inflammatory response by these colon carcinoma cells because IL-8 expression is induced in cells undergoing a TGF-beta-driven EMT in the absence of exogenous TNF-alpha. During the EMT, a concomitant increase in the chemokine receptor CXCR-1, but not CXCR-2, also occurs. Moreover, both IL-8 and CXCR-1 function in the chemokinetic and chemotactic migration of colon carcinoma cells as assessed by antibody inhibition studies. These studies establish that the regulated expression of a specific chemokine and its receptor are linked to the EMT and they provide a biochemical framework for understanding the mechanisms by which the EMT promotes migration., (Copyright 2004 Elsevier Inc.)

This review highlights an emerging function for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in carcinoma and discusses mechanisms involved in the elaboration of VEGF autocrine loops. Evidence is provided that autocrine VEGF contributes to the two major components of invasive carcinoma: survival and migration. Moreover, the findings discussed support the hypothesis that carcinoma progression selects for cells that depend on VEGF as a survival factor. Furthermore, a related hypothesis, which is developed, is that the function of the alpha6beta4 integrin, which has been implicated in carcinoma progression, is linked to its ability to regulate VEGF translation and, consequently, autocrine VEGF signaling. The findings reviewed challenge the notion that the function of VEGF in cancer is limited to angiogenesis and suggest that VEGF and VEGF receptor-based therapeutics, in addition to targeting angiogenesis, may also impair tumor cell survival and invasion directly.

Aberrant cell survival and resistance to apoptosis are hallmarks of tumor invasion and progression to metastatic disease, but the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that facilitates progression to invasive cancer, provides a superb model for studying such survival mechanisms. Here, we used a unique spheroid culture system that recapitulates the structure of the colonic epithelium and undergoes an EMT in response to cytokine stimulation to study this problem. Our data reveal that the EMT results in the increased expression of both VEGF and Flt-1, a tyrosine kinase VEGF receptor, and that the survival of these cells depends on a VEGF/Flt-1 autocrine pathway. Perturbation of Flt-1 function by either a blocking antibody or adenoviral expression of soluble Flt-1, which acts in a dominant-negative fashion, caused massive apoptosis only in cells that underwent EMT. This pathway was critical for the survival of other invasive colon carcinoma cell lines, and we observed a correlative upregulation of Flt-1 expression linked to in vivo human cancer progression. A role for Flt-1 in cell survival is unprecedented and has significant implications for Flt-1 function in tumor progression, as well as in other biological processes, including angiogenesis and development.

An epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) characterizes the progression of many carcinomas and it is linked to the acquisition of an invasive phenotype. Given that the tumor microenvironment is an active participant in tumor progression, an important issue is whether a reactive stroma can modulate this process. Using a novel EMT model of colon carcinoma spheroids, we demonstrate that their transforming-growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta)-induced EMT is accelerated dramatically by the presence of activated macrophages, and we identify tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) as the critical factor produced by macrophages that accelerates the EMT. A synergy of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta signaling promotes a rapid morphological conversion of the highly organized colonic epithelium to dispersed cells with a mesenchymal phenotype, and this process is dependent on enhanced p38 MAPK activity. Moreover, exposure to TNF-alpha stimulates a rapid burst of ERK activation that results in the autocrine production of this cytokine by the tumor cells themselves. These results establish a novel role for the stroma in influencing EMT in colon carcinoma, and they identify a selective advantage to the stromal presence of infiltrating leukocytes in regulating malignant tumor progression.

A major obstacle to successful treatment of colorectal cancer is chemotherapy resistance. Enhanced expression of variant CD44 isoforms has been associated with aggressive tumor behavior, prompting the question of whether signaling from this receptor might modulate drug sensitivity. Activation of variant CD44 in colon carcinoma cell lines triggered resistance to the drug 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosurea. Resistance was induced by monoclonal antibodies directed against epitopes independent of the hyaluronate-binding region but was not triggered by identical treatment of a carcinoma line expressing the standard CD44 isoform. We observed that variant CD44 produced activation of the src-family tyrosine kinase lyn. Moreover, overexpression of dominant-active lyn recapitulated chemoresistance via a pathway shown to involve activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and Akt. These results establish a novel role for CD44 in determining survival of colon carcinoma cells through lyn kinase and Akt. The ability to suppress apoptosis might play a critical role in the onset and development of colorectal malignancies.

In contrast to most traditional cell culture systems, spheroids represent a unique opportunity to recapitulate aspects of cell homeostasis and as such better reflect in vivo tumor biology. This review highlights recent spheroid-based studies which have defined a role for intercellular adhesion in dictating cellular fate. Critical roles for adhesion molecules, such as the integrin and cadherin families, have been established. In addition, it appears that components of the signaling pathways that control cellular proliferation may also influence the cellular decision to live or die. Further complexity arises from the action of soluble factors, like epidermal growth factor, and three-dimensional culture systems are providing insights into how integration of these multiple signals is achieved. Given that cellular adhesion may serve as a regulator of apoptosis, and in particular that correct receptor engagement can activate signaling pathways promoting cell survival, additional implications for our understanding of tumor biology are discussed.

Numerical calculations together with simplified analytical relations based on local equilibrium theory are used to determine the factors which govern the shape of the gradient formed during chromatofocusing when simple mixtures of buffering species are employed to produce linear or concave pH gradients. The numerical and analytical development is also used to determine the relation between the gradient shape and the buffering capacities of the adsorbed and liquid phases. Experiments which verify the theoretical methods are described where internally generated, retained pH gradients of various shapes are formed using high-performance chromatography columns. The resulting experimental and theoretical basis can be employed as means for the selection of the buffer composition for use in chromatofocusing.

The separation of proteins using high-performance chromatofocusing with linear or concave pH gradients formed using simple mixtures of buffering species in the elution buffer is investigated experimentally. The separation achieved is comparable to that using polyampholyte elution buffers with these types of systems. More specifically, protein band widths at one half of the band height in the range between 0.1 and 0.025 pH units were observed, and good resolution was achieved of protein variants differing by a single amino acid residue in separation times of 30 min or less. An especially useful elution buffer is investigated that contains only four buffering species and that produces a linear pH gradient in the range between pH 9.5 and 6.0 when used together with a particular high-performance column packing made specifically for chromatofocusing. This elution buffer and column packing combination is evaluated by using it for the chromatofocusing of equine myoglobin and human hemoglobin variants. Additional applications are described in which a polyethyleneimine derivatized silica column packing and a pH gradient that is concave in shape are used for the separation of proteins in an E. coli cell lysate.

Chromatofocusing utilizes internally generate, retained pH gradients to focus proteins into narrow chromatographic bands. One of the characteristics of current chromatofocusing methods is that they use expensive polyampholyte buffers containing large numbers of ill-defined components in order to generate linear or quasi-linear pH gradients. In addition to being costly to use, polyampholyte buffers also tend to associate with proteins and often yield irreproducible gradient shapes. In order to avoid the various difficulties associated with the use of polyampholyte buffers, this study investigates the use of mixtures of simple buffering species to generate quasi-linear pH gradients on a weak-base ion-exchange column packing. The ability of these gradients to separate protein mixtures was also investigated. To optimize the conditions used, a computer simulation method using a local equilibrium model developed that predicts the shape of the pH gradient. Several experiments were performed that demonstrate the usefulness of the method and the accuracy of the model.

The LIM 1863 colon carcinoma cell line grows as structured organoids around a central lumen, and we have previously demonstrated that the three-dimensional arrangement protects the individual cells from apoptosis induced by an anti-alpha v integrin antibody, 23C6 (Bates et al., 1994). Here we show that the intercellular forces which drive spheroid formation can be overcome by exposure of the cells to a collagen substrate, or more specifically through ligation of the CD44 receptor by a monoclonal antibody. Binding to immobilized anti-CD44 antibody induced a monolayer morphology which is accompanied by fibronectin production and secretion, and expression of the integrin alpha v beta 6. Significantly, the cells of the monolayer acquired resistance to 23C6 antibody-mediated apoptosis over time and this property was sustained even after removal from the monolayer. We provide data to show that this resistance is not dependent on monolayer morphology, constant engagement of the CD44 receptor, loss of the 23C6 antigen, or elevation of Bcl-2 or Bcl-XL protein. The CD44 expressed by LIM 1863 is shown to be the metastatic variant of the molecule therefore these results provide a possible explanation for the selective advantages conferred by expression of this variant for metastasizing colon cancer cells. Overall, the findings of this study support a model for the development of malignancy through the production of specific survival and growth signals as a direct consequence of a signaling event induced by stimulation of an epithelial variant of CD44.

Cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion are recognized physiological determinants of cell growth and survival. In epithelial and endothelial cell systems, oncogenic transformation has in several cases been shown to confer resistance to apoptosis upon depriving cells of substrate adhesion. We examined the effects of oncogenic transformation in adherent versus adhesion- deprived primary embryonic fibroblasts. Whereas untransformed early passage fibroblasts undergo cell cycle arrest, their Myc/Ras- or E1A/Ras-transformed counterparts rapidly enter apoptosis when placed into suspension. This phenomenon also occurs upon incubation with a soluble, RGD-containing integrin ligand and is blocked by a peptide antagonist to ICE family proteases or by aggregation of cells plated at high density. Loss of wild-type p53 modulates the kinetics but does not abrogate this death pathway. Transformation with activated Src rather than Ras rendered fibroblasts selectively resistant to adhesion-dependent apoptosis, an effect likely related to Src's role in integrin signaling, while simultaneously sensitizing the cells to radiation-induced apoptosis. Thus cell adhesion events regulate transformation-selective apoptosis in fibroblasts and provide potentially important targets for understanding and interfering with tumor cell viability.

Thrombospondin is a trimeric glycoprotein that has several known functions, including roles in platelet aggregation, phagocytosis and an inhibitor of angiogenesis. Typically the molecule is isolated from platelet secretate by heparin affinity followed by sizing chromatography. In this study, purity is analysed by 7.5% SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions when thrombospondin monomers run as a band at around 180 kDa. Under nonreducing conditions of 7.5% SDS-PAGE, thrombospondin does not penetrate beyond the stacking gel; however, under these conditions a major contaminating band can be seen which, upon reduction, merges into the thrombospondin band. Further purification of this contaminating protein was achieved by DEAE chromatography and it was identified as Factor H by peptide sequencing and immunoblotting. Factor H function was demonstrated by the ability of the protein to function as a cofactor in the Factor-I-mediated cleavage of C3b. Since Factor H has several known functions, such contamination could confound functional studies of thrombospondin thus purified and a pre-elution step of the heparin affinity column is recommended.

Apoptosis is a regulated process of cell death by which cells actively participate in their own destruction. In multicellular organisms, the balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis provides homeostatic control, and a regulatory failure of either event can contribute to oncogenesis. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is known to play a regulatory role in cellular growth and differentiation, but only more recently has it been recognized as a regulator of apoptosis. In these processes the major transmitters of ECM-derived signals to the cell are members of the integrin family, although the mechanical process of cell spreading also plays a role. Both in vivo and in vitro the loss of adhesion to specific components of the ECM can lead to cell death, and such apoptosis can be induced experimentally by blocking integrin binding. Heterotypic and homotypic cell-cell adhesion can also protect from adhesion-dependent apoptosis and there is evidence to suggest that this too in integrin mediated. In addition, some integrin mediated signaling appears to promote apoptosis. The downstream mechanisms of integrin signaling causing cell death have not been greatly explored, but there is evidence from two different systems that the induction of ICE transcription and nuclear translocation of p53 are candidate processes. Alterations in integrin expression or signaling therefore are likely to contribute to tumor development by enabling escape from apoptosis. Also, the recognition of the importance of cell-cell adhesion in tumor cell survival offers the potential of developing improved drug regimes for the treatment of malignancy.

Receptor binding and subsequent cell-mediated internalization or disassembly are the initial steps in virus replication. Cell surface molecules that participate in this process are the primary determinants of virus tissue tropism. Monoclonal antibody blockade, immunoprecipitation, and DNA transfection were used to identify decay accelerating factor as a major cell attachment receptor for coxsackieviruses B1, B3, and B5. However, expression of human decay acceleration factor on the surface of nonpermissive murine fibroblasts led only to virus attachment without subsequent replication, and it was concluded that an additional cellular cofactor(s) is required to facilitate cell entry and subsequent replication.

The LIM 1863 colon carcinoma cell line grows as structural organoids of goblet and columnar cells around a central lumen and provides a model for the development of stem cells in the normal colon. The organoid structure can be disrupted by removal of calcium from the medium, resulting in a suspension of single cells. Upon readdition of calcium, the cells reform the organoid structure over a period of 24 h, and ultrastructural examination of the reforming cells reveals that this involves a complex process that we have termed clutching. To determine the adhesion molecules involved in organoid formation we attempted to block this process by single cell suspensions of LIM 1863 reseeded in the presence of monoclonal antibodies. An anti-integrin antibody directed against a conformational epitope on the alpha v subunit totally inhibited organoid reformation. As a consequence of this inhibition of cell contact the colon carcinoma cells rapidly underwent apoptosis. Investigations of the apoptotic pathway involved suggested an induction mechanism since the onset of apoptosis in the contact-inhibited cells showed specific increased synthesis of 68- and 72-kD proteins. In addition, immunoblotting of cytosolic and nuclear extracts of the cells revealed the rapid translocation of the tumor suppressor gene product, p53 to the cell nucleus upon induction of apoptosis. These results suggest that cell-cell adhesion may be a vital regulator of colon development overcome in tumor cells by loss of adhesion molecules or of functional p53 protein.

Tumour progression is thought to be determined, at least in part, by the balance between available cell surface receptors and the nature of the surrounding extracellular matrix. The integrin family of transmembrane adhesion receptors involved in tumour cell-matrix interactions mediates cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation. Certain patterns of integrin receptor expression on normal and malignant colon epithelial cells are emerging, and it is now clear that integrins can also regulate such divergent processes as cell proliferation and programmed cell death in this tumour type. This implies that integrins are involved in signal transduction events within colon carcinoma cells consequent upon their adhesive interaction with matrix molecules. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved in these events may lead to useful therapeutic strategies in the management of this disease.