Killeen, SD, Andrews, EJ, Wang, JH, Wu, T, Schmalix, W, Muehlenweg, B, Redmond, HP;

2007

January

British Journal of Cancer

Inhibition of Urokinase Plasminogen Activator With A Novel Enzyme Inhibitor, Wxc-340, Ameliorates Endotoxin and Surgery-Accelerated Growth of Murine Metastases

Validated

()

96

2

262

268

The urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) is intimately associated with tumour invasion and metastases. Surgery facilitates accelerated metastatic tumour growth in murine models, a phenomenon related to elevated perioperative bacterial lipopolysaccaride (LPS) and inflammatory cytokine levels. The objectives of the study were to examine the role of u-PA in cytokine-enhanced tumour cell invasion in vitro and surgery-induced accelerated metastatic tumour growth in vivo and to assess the potential benefit of a novel selective u-PA inhibitor WXC-340 in this setting. CT-26 murine colorectal carcinoma cells were stimulated with LPS, tumour necrosis factor a (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Cell supernatant u-PA expression and activity were determined using a colorimetric assay and Western blot analysis, respectively. Baseline and cytokine-stimulated in vitro invasion were assessed using ECmatrix invasion chambers. Two established murine models of accelerated metastatic tumour growth were used to investigate the consequences of u-PA inhibition on postoperative metastatic tumour burden. The effect of u-PA inhibition in vitro and in vivo was examined using the novel selective u-PA inhibitor, WXC-340. Proinflammatory cytokine stimulation significantly enhanced in vitro u-PA expression, activity and extracellular matrix invasion by approximately 50% compared to controls (P < 0.05). This was abrogated by WXC-340. In vivo WXC-340 almost completely ameliorated both LPS-and surgery-induced, metastatic tumour growth compared to controls (P > 40.05). In conclusion, u-PA cascade is actively involved in cytokine-mediated enhanced tumour cell invasion and LPS and surgery-induced metastatic tumour growth. Perioperative u-PA inhibition with WXC-340 may represent a novel therapeutic paradigm..

DOI 10.1038/sj.bjc.6603550