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Impaired melanoma growth in VASP deficient mice
Author(s) -
Kim Young Min,
Renné Christoph,
Seifert Stefanie,
Schuh Kai,
Renné Thomas
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2011.07.002
Subject(s) - melanoma , downregulation and upregulation , biology , cancer research , in vivo , cancer , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genetics
Progression of tumors depends on interactions of cancer cells with the host environment. Expression of the cytoskeleton protein VASP is upregulated in various cancer entities. We analyzed the role of VASP for melanoma growth in murine allograft models. Growth of VASP expressing melanomas was retarded in VASP −/− versus wild‐type animals. Over time tumor size was <50% in VASP −/− versus wild‐type animals and independent of expression levels of Ena/VASP protein family members. Histological analyses showed smaller cells with impaired nutrition status and less vascularization in melanomas derived from VASP −/− versus counterparts from wild‐type mice. Cumulatively, the data reveal a critical role of VASP in non‐tumor cells in the tumor environment for melanoma growth in vivo.