Human stem cells expressing novel TSP-1 variant have anti-angiogenic effect on brain tumors

Oncogene. 2010 Jun 3;29(22):3185-95. doi: 10.1038/onc.2010.75. Epub 2010 Mar 22.

Abstract

Novel therapeutic agents combined with innovative modes of delivery and non-invasive imaging of drug delivery, pharmacokinetics and efficacy are crucial in developing effective clinical anticancer therapies. In this study, we have created and characterized multiple novel variants of anti-angiogenic protein thrombospondin (aaTSP-1) that comprises unique regions of three type-I-repeats of TSP-1 and used engineered human neural stem cells (hNSC) to provide sustained on-site delivery of secretable aaTSP-1 to tumor-vasculature. We show that hNSC-aaTSP-1 has anti-angiogenic effect on human brain and dermal microvascular endothelial cells co-cultured with established glioma cells and CD133+ glioma-initiating cells. Using human glioma cells and hNSC engineered with different combinations of fluorescent and bioluminescent marker proteins and employing multi-modality imaging techniques, we show that aaTSP-1 targets the vascular-component of gliomas and a single administration of hNSC-aaTSP-1 markedly reduces tumor vessel-density that results in inhibition of tumor-progression and increased survival in mice bearing highly malignant human gliomas. We also show that therapeutic hNSC do not proliferate and remain in an un-differentiated state in the brains of glioma-bearing mice. This study provides a platform for accelerated development of future cell-based therapies for cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / biosynthesis
  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / blood supply*
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Cell Growth Processes / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Genetic Engineering
  • Glioma / blood supply*
  • Glioma / metabolism
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Glioma / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / transplantation
  • Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Thrombospondin 1 / metabolism*
  • Transduction, Genetic

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Thrombospondin 1