Gene therapy through signal transduction pathways and angiogenic growth factors as therapeutic targets in breast cancer

Angionenesis is a major new prognostic factor in breast cancer. Small vessels quantitatively assessed by staining with anti-CD31 antibodies correlate with lymph node involvement and are a better independent predictor of survival. There are many vascular growth factors, but predominant in primary tumors assessed by nuclease protection assays are vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor. Acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor are also detectable. A common feature of these angiogenic factors is heparin binding, so novel analogues of suramin that can compete for heparin binding have been developed. These are more potent in vitro against endothelial cells and are less toxic in vivo, thereby giving a much better therapeutic ratio. Protein kinase C is also important in endothelial growth, as it is in carcinoma growth. Thus, a novel agent inhibiting this pathway, and inducing transforming growth factor-[beta] production has been assessed in a Phase I trial; this agent is bryostatin. It does not cause marrow suppression and has stimulatory effects of tumor necrosis factor-[alpha] and interleukin (IL)-6 production. High expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and erbB-2 has been related to poor prognosis. EGF receptors are mainly regulated by transcription, as are some cases of high erbB-2 expression. Thus, a novel approach to gene therapy is being developed using direct tumor injection of cDNA, with a tumor specific promoter ligated to the IL-2 gene. This avoids many problems associated with targeting. Because IL-2 stimulation of cytotoxic T-cells will depend on appropriate antigen presentation, human lymphocyte antigen Class I expression was studied, as was the peptide transporter system RING4 (TAP1). Losses were found in 50% of cases, and in some cases only in lymph nodes but not primary cancers, thereby providing evidence for a role in suppressing metastasis. Thus, many new approaches to therapy are possible as a result of understanding growth factors and intracellular signaling pathways. Cancer 1994; 74:1021-5. Key words: gene therapy, angiogenesis, growth factors, breast cancer.