Lentivirus-mediated small interfering RNA targeting VEGF-C inhibited tumor lymphangiogenesis and growth in breast carcinoma

Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2009 May;292(5):633-9. doi: 10.1002/ar.20893.

Abstract

Lymph node metastasis is a major prognostic factor for patients with breast cancer. The activation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C plays a key role in lymph node metastasis through promoting lymphangiogenesis. Thus, we attempted to elucidate whether small interfering RNAs (siRNA) targeting VEGF-C could suppress lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis in vivo. A lentivirus-based VEGF-C siRNA vector was infected into breast cancer cells and a xenograft model. The expression of VEGF-C mRNA and protein were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, and western blot analysis. The effect of VEGF-C siRNA on breast cancer cells was investigated by an invasion assay. Lymphangiogenesis was analyzed with anti-LYVE-1 and anti-D2-40 by immunohistochemical analysis. Lentivirus-mediated VEGF-C siRNA stably reduced VEGF-C mRNA and protein expression. VEGF-C siRNA inhibited the invasive ability of breast cancer cells in vitro. Five weeks after intratumoral injection, the tumor volume was significantly smaller in the VEGF-C siRNA group than in the control scramble siRNA group in the MDA-MB-231 cell xenograft model. The numbers of LYVE-1 and D2-40 positive vessels per microscopic field were significantly decreased in the VEGF-C siRNA group, which indicates that VEGF-C siRNA inhibited lymphangiogenesis. Moreover, lymph node metastasis was significantly suppressed by VEGF-C siRNA in vivo. In conclusion, these results indicate that lentivirus-mediated VEGF-C siRNA offers a new approach for therapeutic intervention to prevent tumor growth and lymphatic metastasis of breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Carcinoma / genetics
  • Carcinoma / metabolism
  • Carcinoma / therapy*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Targeting / methods
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Humans
  • Lentivirus / genetics
  • Lymphatic Vessels / metabolism
  • Lymphatic Vessels / pathology
  • Lymphatic Vessels / physiopathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / prevention & control
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / therapy*
  • RNA Interference / physiology
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / metabolism

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
  • vascular endothelial growth factor C, mouse