Endoglin, a Novel Biomarker and Therapeutical Target to Prevent Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Growth and Metastasis.

TitleEndoglin, a Novel Biomarker and Therapeutical Target to Prevent Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Growth and Metastasis.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2023
AuthorsGonzález-Muñoz T, Di Giannatale A, García-Silva S, Santos V, Sánchez-Redondo S, Savini C, Graña-Castro O, Blanco-Aparicio C, Fischer S, De Wever O, Creus-Bachiller E, Ortega-Bertran S, Pisapia DJ, Rodríguez-Peralto JL, Fernández-Rodríguez J, Pérez-Portabella CRomagosa, Alaggio R, Benassi MSerena, Pazzaglia L, Scotlandi K, Ratner N, Yohay K, Theuer CP, Peinado H
JournalClin Cancer Res
Volume29
Issue18
Pagination3744-3758
Date Published2023 Sep 15
ISSN1557-3265
KeywordsBiomarkers, Cell Line, Tumor, Endoglin, Humans, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases, Nerve Sheath Neoplasms, Neurofibrosarcoma, Signal Transduction
Abstract

PURPOSE: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are highly aggressive soft-tissue sarcomas that lack effective treatments, underscoring the urgent need to uncover novel mediators of MPNST pathogenesis that may serve as potential therapeutic targets. Tumor angiogenesis is considered a critical event in MPNST transformation and progression. Here, we have investigated whether endoglin (ENG), a TGFβ coreceptor with a crucial role in angiogenesis, could be a novel therapeutic target in MPNSTs.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: ENG expression was evaluated in human peripheral nerve sheath tumor tissues and plasma samples. Effects of tumor cell-specific ENG expression on gene expression, signaling pathway activation and in vivo MPNST growth and metastasis, were investigated. The efficacy of ENG targeting in monotherapy or in combination with MEK inhibition was analyzed in xenograft models.

RESULTS: ENG expression was found to be upregulated in both human MPNST tumor tissues and plasma-circulating small extracellular vesicles. We demonstrated that ENG modulates Smad1/5 and MAPK/ERK pathway activation and pro-angiogenic and pro-metastatic gene expression in MPNST cells and plays an active role in tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Targeting with ENG-neutralizing antibodies (TRC105/M1043) decreased MPNST growth and metastasis in xenograft models by reducing tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Moreover, combination of anti-ENG therapy with MEK inhibition effectively reduced tumor cell growth and angiogenesis.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data unveil a tumor-promoting function of ENG in MPNSTs and support the use of this protein as a novel biomarker and a promising therapeutic target for this disease.

DOI10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-22-2462
Alternate JournalClin Cancer Res
PubMed ID37432984
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