Anoikis is a form of programmed cell death induced by loss of contact from neighboring cells or from their extracellular matrix (ECM). Many tumorigenic cells are anoikis resistant, facilitating
cancer progression and
metastasis.
Trastuzumab is a
monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of breast and gastric cell
cancer, but its mechanism of action is not well elucidated and its target molecules not well defined.
Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and
glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) play important roles in
tumor development and in response of
cancer cells to drugs. This study investigates the effect of
trastuzumab on the expression of HSPGs and sulfated
glycosaminoglycans (SGAGs) in anoikis-resistant endothelial cells. After
trastuzumab treatment, endothelial cells resistant to anoikis show an increase in adhesion to
fibronectin followed by a decrease in invasion, proliferation, and angiogenic capacity. In addition, a significant increase in the number of cells in the S phase of the cell cycle was also observed. In relation to HSPGs and SGAGs expression, we observed a decrease in
syndecan-4 and
perlecan expression, as well as in the
heparan sulfate biosynthesis in anoikis-resistant endothelial cells after exposure to
trastuzumab. Our results suggest that
trastuzumab interacts with GAGs and
proteoglycans of the cell surface and ECM and through this interaction controls cellular events in anoikis-resistant endothelial cells.