| First Author | Alitalo AK | Year | 2013 |
| Journal | Cancer Res | Volume | 73 |
| Issue | 14 | Pages | 4212-21 |
| PubMed ID | 23695550 | Mgi Jnum | J:199116 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5500862 | Doi | 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-12-4539 |
| Citation | Alitalo AK, et al. (2013) VEGF-C and VEGF-D Blockade Inhibits Inflammatory Skin Carcinogenesis. Cancer Res 73(14):4212-21 |
| abstractText | VEGF-C and VEGF-D were identified as lymphangiogenic growth factors and later shown to promote tumor metastasis, but their effects on carcinogenesis are poorly understood. Here, we have studied the effects of VEGF-C and VEGF-D on tumor development in the murine multistep chemical carcinogenesis model of squamous cell carcinoma by using a soluble VEGF-C/VEGF-D inhibitor. After topical treatment with a tumor initiator and repeated tumor promoter applications, transgenic mice expressing a soluble VEGF-C/VEGF-D receptor (sVEGFR-3) in the skin developed significantly fewer squamous cell tumors with a delayed onset when compared with wild-type mice or mice expressing sVEGFR-3 lacking the ligand-binding site. Epidermal proliferation was reduced in the carcinogen-treated transgenic skin, whereas epidermal keratinocyte proliferation in vitro was not affected by VEGF-C or VEGF-D, indicating indirect effects of sVEGFR-3 expression. Importantly, transgenic mouse skin was less sensitive to tumor promoter-induced inflammation, with reduced angiogenesis and blood vessel leakage. Cutaneous leukocytes, especially macrophages, were reduced in transgenic skin without major changes in macrophage polarization or blood monocyte numbers. Several macrophage-associated cytokines were also reduced in transgenic papillomas, although the dermal macrophages themselves did not express VEGFR-3. These findings indicate that VEGF-C/VEGF-D are involved in shaping the inflammatory tumor microenvironment that regulates early tumor progression. Our results support the use of VEGF-C/VEGF-D-blocking agents not only to inhibit metastatic progression, but also during the early stages of tumor growth. Cancer Res; 73(14); 4212-21. (c)2013 AACR. |
