Abstract 3085
Background
AXL and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signalling pathways play a key role in modulating tumour microenvironment by promoting epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), stromal activation and regulating immune response in colorectal cancer (CRC). Here we have evaluated the effect of double blockade of TGF-β and AXL receptors, as an innovative therapeutic strategy for CRC.
Methods
We assessed the correlation of TGF-β and AXL by an in silico analysis of a human CRC gene expression profile database. Afterwards, an evaluation of AXL expression of in a panel of human CRC cell lines by Western Blot (WB) and Real time PCR was performed. The sensitivity of HCT116 and LOVO cells to treatment with galunisertib (LY21209761), a TGF-β R1 inhibitor, and R428, an AXL inhibitor, was assessed by MTT, cell migration, and colony forming assays. Furthermore we generated patient derived 3D spheroid cultures from primary CRC, and tested their susceptibility to galunisertib and R428 by MTT assay. Finally, in vivo experiments were done with HCT116 and LOVO tumour xenografts in immunodeficient mice.
Results
In silico analysis showed an association between high expression levels of AXL and TGF-β R1 in CMS4 CRC. AXL was differently expressed on cell lines, and interestingly it resulted increased in HCT116 and LOVO after TGF-β inhibition, probably representing a mechanism of cancer cell escape. Dual blockade with galunisertib and R428 determined a reduction in cell migration of 50% in HCT116 and 37% in LOVO cells, respectively, and colony formation of approximately 90 % in both cell lines. Moreover, combined treatment displayed a strong synergistic activity in 3D cultures derived from five human CRC samples, resulting in the inhibition of proliferation ranging from 80 to 90%. The in vivo experiments of HCT116 and LOVO subcutaneous xenograft models are currently on going and results will be presented.
Conclusions
Combined TGF-β and AXL inhibition showed a promising activity in preclinical models of CRC and could represent a novel potential therapeutic strategy for patients with CRC.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Università degli studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli".
Funding
ICURE project, Università degli studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli".
Disclosure
D. Melisi: Research grant/Funding (self): Lilly.
Resources from the same session
5255 - [18F]-FDG PET/CT in predicting PD-L1 status in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Presenter: Liang Zhao
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4910 - Expression of PD-L1 in Chinese Patients with Common Cancers
Presenter: Min Zheng
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4227 - The clearance of EGF by tumor-associated macrophages is suppressed by chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin
Presenter: Irina Larionova
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5222 - VHIO-300 and a thousand one nights, a tale of Precision Medicine
Presenter: Ginevra Caratù
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5668 - Matched Whole-Genome Sequencing and Whole-Exome Sequencing with Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) Analysis are complementary modalities in clinical practice
Presenter: Robin Imperial
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5772 - Exploring the role of genes associated with familial cancer syndromes on the development of multiple primary tumors
Presenter: Atanaska Mitkova
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4784 - Doxorubicin resistance: early and advanced tumors can use two different strategies based on initial and profound abnormalities in microRNA expression signature
Presenter: Volodymyr Halytskiy
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3456 - From tumor transcriptomes to underlying cell type proportions to better predict prognosis and response to treatments
Presenter: Yuna Blum
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4976 - Optimization of automated germline DNA extraction from non-tumoral formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues
Presenter: Omar Youssef
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4242 - HIV, HBV and HCV screening practices in oncology: a cross-sectional interregional survey
Presenter: Isabelle Poizot-Martin
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract