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Kuczynski EA, Yin M, Bar-Zion A, Lee CR, Butz H, Man S, Daley F, Vermeulen PB, Yousef GM, Foster FS, Reynolds AR, Kerbel RS. Co-option of Liver Vessels and Not Sprouting Angiogenesis Drives Acquired Sorafenib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Natl Cancer Inst 2016; 108:djw030. [PMID: 27059374 PMCID: PMC5017954 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djw030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The anti-angiogenic Sorafenib is the only approved systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, acquired resistance limits its efficacy. An emerging theory to explain intrinsic resistance to other anti-angiogenic drugs is ‘vessel co-option,’ ie, the ability of tumors to hijack the existing vasculature in organs such as the lungs or liver, thus limiting the need for sprouting angiogenesis. Vessel co-option has not been evaluated as a potential mechanism for acquired resistance to anti-angiogenic agents. Methods: To study sorafenib resistance mechanisms, we used an orthotopic human HCC model (n = 4-11 per group), where tumor cells are tagged with a secreted protein biomarker to monitor disease burden and response to therapy. Histopathology, vessel perfusion assessed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and miRNA sequencing and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to monitor changes in tumor biology. Results: While sorafenib initially inhibited angiogenesis and stabilized tumor growth, no angiogenic ‘rebound’ effect was observed during development of resistance unless therapy was stopped. Instead, resistant tumors became more locally infiltrative, which facilitated extensive incorporation of liver parenchyma and the co-option of liver-associated vessels. Up to 75% (±10.9%) of total vessels were provided by vessel co-option in resistant tumors relative to 23.3% (±10.3%) in untreated controls. miRNA sequencing implicated pro-invasive signaling and epithelial-to-mesenchymal-like transition during resistance development while functional imaging further supported a shift from angiogenesis to vessel co-option. Conclusions: This is the first documentation of vessel co-option as a mechanism of acquired resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy and could have important implications including the potential therapeutic benefits of targeting vessel co-option in conjunction with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Kuczynski
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (EAK, FSF, RSK); Physical Sciences Platform (MY, FSF) and Biological Sciences Platform (CRL, SM, RSK), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (ABZ); Keenan Research Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada (HB, GMY); The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK (FD, PBV, ARR); Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals St. Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium (PBV)
| | - Melissa Yin
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (EAK, FSF, RSK); Physical Sciences Platform (MY, FSF) and Biological Sciences Platform (CRL, SM, RSK), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (ABZ); Keenan Research Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada (HB, GMY); The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK (FD, PBV, ARR); Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals St. Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium (PBV)
| | - Avinoam Bar-Zion
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (EAK, FSF, RSK); Physical Sciences Platform (MY, FSF) and Biological Sciences Platform (CRL, SM, RSK), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (ABZ); Keenan Research Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada (HB, GMY); The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK (FD, PBV, ARR); Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals St. Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium (PBV)
| | - Christina R Lee
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (EAK, FSF, RSK); Physical Sciences Platform (MY, FSF) and Biological Sciences Platform (CRL, SM, RSK), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (ABZ); Keenan Research Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada (HB, GMY); The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK (FD, PBV, ARR); Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals St. Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium (PBV)
| | - Henriett Butz
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (EAK, FSF, RSK); Physical Sciences Platform (MY, FSF) and Biological Sciences Platform (CRL, SM, RSK), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (ABZ); Keenan Research Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada (HB, GMY); The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK (FD, PBV, ARR); Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals St. Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium (PBV)
| | - Shan Man
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (EAK, FSF, RSK); Physical Sciences Platform (MY, FSF) and Biological Sciences Platform (CRL, SM, RSK), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (ABZ); Keenan Research Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada (HB, GMY); The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK (FD, PBV, ARR); Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals St. Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium (PBV)
| | - Frances Daley
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (EAK, FSF, RSK); Physical Sciences Platform (MY, FSF) and Biological Sciences Platform (CRL, SM, RSK), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (ABZ); Keenan Research Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada (HB, GMY); The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK (FD, PBV, ARR); Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals St. Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium (PBV)
| | - Peter B Vermeulen
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (EAK, FSF, RSK); Physical Sciences Platform (MY, FSF) and Biological Sciences Platform (CRL, SM, RSK), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (ABZ); Keenan Research Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada (HB, GMY); The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK (FD, PBV, ARR); Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals St. Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium (PBV)
| | - George M Yousef
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (EAK, FSF, RSK); Physical Sciences Platform (MY, FSF) and Biological Sciences Platform (CRL, SM, RSK), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (ABZ); Keenan Research Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada (HB, GMY); The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK (FD, PBV, ARR); Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals St. Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium (PBV)
| | - F Stuart Foster
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (EAK, FSF, RSK); Physical Sciences Platform (MY, FSF) and Biological Sciences Platform (CRL, SM, RSK), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (ABZ); Keenan Research Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada (HB, GMY); The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK (FD, PBV, ARR); Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals St. Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium (PBV)
| | - Andrew R Reynolds
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (EAK, FSF, RSK); Physical Sciences Platform (MY, FSF) and Biological Sciences Platform (CRL, SM, RSK), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (ABZ); Keenan Research Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada (HB, GMY); The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK (FD, PBV, ARR); Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals St. Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium (PBV)
| | - Robert S Kerbel
- Affiliations of authors: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (EAK, FSF, RSK); Physical Sciences Platform (MY, FSF) and Biological Sciences Platform (CRL, SM, RSK), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (ABZ); Keenan Research Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada (HB, GMY); The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK (FD, PBV, ARR); Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals St. Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium (PBV)
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