VEGF-C sustains VEGFR2 activation under bevacizumab therapy and promotes glioblastoma maintenance

Neuro Oncol. 2018 Oct 9;20(11):1462-1474. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noy103.

Abstract

Background: Glioblastoma ranks among the most lethal cancers, with current therapies offering only palliation. Paracrine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling has been targeted using anti-angiogenic agents, whereas autocrine VEGF/VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) signaling is poorly understood. Bevacizumab resistance of VEGFR2-expressing glioblastoma cells prompted interrogation of autocrine VEGF-C/VEGFR2 signaling in glioblastoma.

Methods: Autocrine VEGF-C/VEGFR2 signaling was functionally investigated using RNA interference and exogenous ligands in patient-derived xenograft lines and primary glioblastoma cell cultures in vitro and in vivo. VEGF-C expression and interaction with VEGFR2 in a matched pre- and post-bevacizumab treatment cohort were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and proximity ligation assay.

Results: VEGF-C was expressed by patient-derived xenograft glioblastoma lines, primary cells, and matched surgical specimens before and after bevacizumab treatment. VEGF-C activated autocrine VEGFR2 signaling to promote cell survival, whereas targeting VEGF-C expression reprogrammed cellular transcription to attenuate survival and cell cycle progression. Supporting potential translational significance, targeting VEGF-C impaired tumor growth in vivo, with superiority to bevacizumab treatment.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate VEGF-C serves as both a paracrine and an autocrine pro-survival cytokine in glioblastoma, promoting tumor cell survival and tumorigenesis. VEGF-C permits sustained VEGFR2 activation and tumor growth, where its inhibition appears superior to bevacizumab therapy in improving tumor control.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Autocrine Communication
  • Bevacizumab / pharmacology*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism
  • Glioblastoma / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / metabolism*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • VEGFC protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
  • Bevacizumab
  • KDR protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2