This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Matsui, J. Articles by Asada, M. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Matsui, J. Articles by Asada, M.

Multi-Kinase Inhibitor E7080 Suppresses Lymph Node and Lung Metastases of Human Mammary Breast Tumor MDA-MB-231 via Inhibition of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Receptor (VEGF-R) 2 and VEGF-R3 Kinase

Authors' Affiliation: Discovery Research Laboratories II, Eisai Co. Ltd., Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki Japan

Requests for reprints: Junji Matsui, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co. Ltd., 5-1-3, Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan. Phone: 81-29-847-5809; Fax: 81-29-847-2037; E-mail: j2-matsui{at}hhc.eisai.co.jp.

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C/VEGF-receptor 3 (VEGF-R3) signal plays a significant role in lymphangiogenesis and tumor metastasis based on its effects on lymphatic vessels. However, little is known about the effect of inhibiting VEGF-R3 on lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastases using a small-molecule kinase inhibitor.

Experimental Design: We evaluated the effect of E7080, a potent inhibitor of both VEGF-R2 and VEGF-R3 kinase, and bevacizumab on lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in a mammary fat pad xenograft model of human breast cancer using MDA-MB-231 cells that express excessive amounts of VEGF-C. Lymphangiogenesis was determined by lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and angiogenesis by microvessel density (MVD).

Results: In contrast to MDA-MB-435 cells, which expressed a similar amount of VEGF to MDA-MB-231 cells with an undetectable amount of VEGF-C, only MDA-MB-231 exhibited lymphangiogenesis in the primary tumor. E7080 but not bevacizumab significantly decreased LVD within the MDA-MB-231 tumor. E7080 and bevacizumab decreased MVD in both the MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435 models. E7080 significantly suppressed regional lymph nodes and distant lung metastases of MDA-MB-231, whereas bevacizumab significantly inhibited only lung metastases. E7080 also decreased both MVD and LVD within the metastatic nodules at lymph nodes after resection of the primary tumor.

Conclusions: Inhibition of VEGF-R3 kinase with E7080 effectively decreased LVD within MDA-MB-231 tumors, which express VEGF-C. Simultaneous inhibition of both VEGF-R2 and VEGF-R3 kinases by E7080 may be a promising new strategy to control regional lymph node and distant lung metastases.