Inhibition of lymphatic metastases by a survivin dominant-negative mutant.

Abstract

Metastasis is the most lethal attribute of human malignancy. High-level expression of survivin is involved in both carcinogenesis and angiogenesis in cancer. Previous studies indicate that a mutation of the threonine residue at position 34 (Thr34Ala) of survivin generates a dominant-negative mutant that induces apoptosis, inhibits angiogenesis, and suppresses highly metastatic breast carcinoma in mouse models. We investigated the efficacy of gene therapy with a survivin dominant-negative mutant and possible factors related to lymph node metastasis. The metastasis rate was compared between each group in order to find a survivin-targeted therapy against lymphangiogenesis in its earliest stages. We established lymph node metastasis models and treated animals with H22 tumors with Lip-mSurvivinT34A (Lip-mS), Lip-plasmid (Lip-P), or normal saline (NS). Eight days after the last dose, five randomly chosen mice from each group were sacrificed. We detected the apoptotic index, microvessel density (MVD), lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD), and the expression of VEGF-D with immunohistochemistry. After the remaining animals were sacrificed, we compared the tumor-infiltrated lymph nodes in each group. Administration of mSurvivinT34A plasmid complexed with cationic liposome (DOTAP/chol) resulted in the efficacious inhibition of tumor growth and lymph node metastasis within the mouse H22 tumor model. These responses were associated with tumor cell apoptosis, and angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis inhibition. Our results suggested that Lip-mSurvivinT34A induced apoptosis and inhibited tumor angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, thus suppressing tumor growth and lymphatic metastasis. The mSurvivinT34A survivin mutant is a promising strategy of gene therapy to inhibit lymphatic metastasis.

• Authors: Guang-Chao Xu, Peng Zhang, Fei Leng, Li Pan, Zhi-Yong Li, Dan-Dan Yu, Yan Shan, Qing-Zhong Yuan, Yuan Wen, Bo Mu, Hua-Shan Shi, Xiang Chen, Chun-Ting Wang
• Journal: Oncology research (Oncol Res) Vol. 20 Issue 12 Pg. 579-87 ( 2012) ISSN: 1555-3906 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24139416 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Birc5 protein, mouse
• Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
• Liposomes
• Repressor Proteins
• Survivin

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (genetics)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Female
• Genetic Therapy (methods)
• Humans
• Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Liposomes (administration & dosage)
• Liver Neoplasms, Experimental (genetics, metabolism, pathology, therapy)
• Lymphangiogenesis (genetics)
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mutation
• Neovascularization, Pathologic (genetics, metabolism, pathology, therapy)
• Plasmids (administration & dosage, genetics)
• Repressor Proteins (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Survivin