G-CSF stimulates angiogenesis and promotes tumor growth: potential contribution of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2002 Oct 4;297(4):1058-61. doi: 10.1016/s0006-291x(02)02335-5.

Abstract

Solid tumors require neovascularization for their growth. Recent evidence indicates that bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contribute to tumor angiogenesis. We show here that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) markedly promotes growth of the colon cancer inoculated into the subcutaneous space of mice, whereas G-CSF had no effect on cancer cell proliferation in vitro. The accelerated tumor growth was associated with enhancement of neovascularization in the tumor. We found that bone marrow-derived cells participated in new blood vessel formation in tumor. Our findings suggest that G-CSF may have potential to promote tumor growth, at least in part, by stimulating angiogenesis in which bone marrow-derived EPCs play a role.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow Cells / physiology*
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Colonic Neoplasms / blood supply*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / pharmacology*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neoplasms / blood supply*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology*
  • Recombinant Proteins

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor