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Liposomal honokiol inhibits VEGF‐D‐induced lymphangiogenesis and metastasis in xenograft tumor model
Author(s) -
Wen Jing,
Fu Afu,
Chen LiJuan,
Xie XingJiang,
Yang GuangLi,
Chen XianCheng,
Wang YongSheng,
Li Jiong,
Chen Ping,
Tang MingHai,
Shao Xi Ming,
Lu You,
Zhao Xia,
Wei YuQuan
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.24244
Subject(s) - lymphangiogenesis , lewis lung carcinoma , cancer research , metastasis , medicine , lymphatic system , lymphatic endothelium , honokiol , vascular endothelial growth factor c , pathology , vascular endothelial growth factor , immunology , cancer , vascular endothelial growth factor a , pharmacology , vegf receptors
Lymph nodes metastasis of tumor could be a crucial early step in the metastatic process. Induction of tumor lymphangiogenesis by vascular endothelial growth factor‐D may play an important role in promoting tumor metastasis to regional lymph nodes and these processes can be inhibited by inactivation of the VEGFR‐3 signaling pathway. Honokiol has been reported to possess potent antiangiogenesis and antitumor properties in several cell lines and xenograft tumor models. However, its role in tumor‐associated lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis remains unclear. Here, we established lymph node metastasis models by injecting overexpressing VEGF‐D Lewis lung carcinoma cells into C57BL/6 mice to explore the effect of honokiol on tumor‐associated lymphangiogenesis and related lymph node metastasis. The underlying mechanisms were systematically investigated in vitro and in vivo . In in vivo study, liposomal honokiol significantly inhibited the tumor‐associated lymphangiogenesis and metastasis in Lewis lung carcinoma model. A remarkable delay of tumor growth and prolonged life span were also observed. In in vitro study, honokiol inhibited VEGF‐D‐induced survival, proliferation and tube‐formation of both human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and lymphatic vascular endothelial cells (HLECs). Western blotting analysis showed that liposomal honokiol‐inhibited Akt and MAPK phosphorylation in 2 endothelial cells, and downregulated expressions of VEGFR‐2 of human vascular endothelial cells and VEGFR‐3 of lymphatic endothelial cells. Thus, we identified for the first time that honokiol provided therapeutic benefit not only by direct effects on tumor cells and antiangiogenesis but also by inhibiting lymphangiogenesis and metastasis via the VEGFR‐3 pathway. The present findings may be of importance to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the spread of cancer via the lymphatics and explore the therapeutical strategy of honokiol on antilymphangiogenesis and antimetastasis. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.