PURPOSE: Neuroblastoma is a common pediatric tumor that is derived from improperly differentiated neural crest cells (NCC). We recently revealed that endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor/prokineticin-1 (EG-VEGF/Prok-1) is a key factor mediating the growth and differentiation of enteric NCCs during development. In this report, we further elucidate its role in neuroblastoma progression. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We studied the expression and copy number of EG-VEGF/Prok-1 receptors (PK-R1 and PK-R2) in 26 neuroblastoma tumors by real-time reverse transcription-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis. Implication of EG-VEGF/Prok-1 signaling in neuroblastoma progression was further shown in a neuroblastoma cell line (SK-N-SH). RESULTS: We found that all neuroblastoma samples from stages II to IV expressed both PK-R1 and PK-R2. Kruskall-Wallis signed rank tests revealed that the expression level of PK-R1 transcript is associated with the stages and metastasis of the neuroblastoma (P<0.05), and PK-R2 is persistently higher in advanced-stage neuroblastoma samples. About 38% of the neuroblastoma tumors (10:26) possessed MYCN amplification, whereas no PK-R1 and PK-R2 amplifications were detected, suggesting that the overexpression of the receptors was not due to gene amplification. Subsequent functional studies showed that EG-VEGF/Prok-1 activates the Akt pathway to induce the proliferation of neuroblastoma cells. Targeted down-regulation studies revealed that EG-VEGF/Prok-1-mediated proliferation requires the presence of these two receptors, and that PK-R2 is essential for inhibiting apoptosis. In vitro migration and invasion assays also indicated that EG-VEGF/Prok-1 significantly enhances the cell migration/invasion of SK-N-SH. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has shown for the first time that aberrant EG-VEGF/Prok-1 signaling favors neuroblastoma progression and could be a potential target for future neuroblastoma treatment.
PURPOSE:Neuroblastoma is a common pediatric tumor that is derived from improperly differentiated neural crest cells (NCC). We recently revealed that endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor/prokineticin-1 (EG-VEGF/Prok-1) is a key factor mediating the growth and differentiation of enteric NCCs during development. In this report, we further elucidate its role in neuroblastoma progression. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We studied the expression and copy number of EG-VEGF/Prok-1 receptors (PK-R1 and PK-R2) in 26 neuroblastoma tumors by real-time reverse transcription-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis. Implication of EG-VEGF/Prok-1 signaling in neuroblastoma progression was further shown in a neuroblastoma cell line (SK-N-SH). RESULTS: We found that all neuroblastoma samples from stages II to IV expressed both PK-R1 and PK-R2. Kruskall-Wallis signed rank tests revealed that the expression level of PK-R1 transcript is associated with the stages and metastasis of the neuroblastoma (P<0.05), and PK-R2 is persistently higher in advanced-stage neuroblastoma samples. About 38% of the neuroblastoma tumors (10:26) possessed MYCN amplification, whereas no PK-R1 and PK-R2 amplifications were detected, suggesting that the overexpression of the receptors was not due to gene amplification. Subsequent functional studies showed that EG-VEGF/Prok-1 activates the Akt pathway to induce the proliferation of neuroblastoma cells. Targeted down-regulation studies revealed that EG-VEGF/Prok-1-mediated proliferation requires the presence of these two receptors, and that PK-R2 is essential for inhibiting apoptosis. In vitro migration and invasion assays also indicated that EG-VEGF/Prok-1 significantly enhances the cell migration/invasion of SK-N-SH. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has shown for the first time that aberrant EG-VEGF/Prok-1 signaling favors neuroblastoma progression and could be a potential target for future neuroblastoma treatment.
Authors: Brian H Kushner; Nai-Kong V Cheung; Shakeel Modak; Oren J Becher; Ellen M Basu; Stephen S Roberts; Kim Kramer; Ira J Dunkel Journal: Int J Cancer Date: 2016-09-30 Impact factor: 7.396
Authors: Macarena Ruiz-Ferrer; Ana Torroglosa; Rocío Núñez-Torres; Juan Carlos de Agustín; Guillermo Antiñolo; Salud Borrego Journal: PLoS One Date: 2011-08-12 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Dorothee Heck; Sebastian Wortmann; Luitgard Kraus; Cristina L Ronchi; Richard O Sinnott; Martin Fassnacht; Silviu Sbiera Journal: Horm Cancer Date: 2015-12 Impact factor: 3.869
Authors: Carolina Torres; Ana Linares; Maria José Alejandre; Rogelio J Palomino-Morales; Octavio Caba; Jose Prados; Antonia Aránega; Juan R Delgado; Antonio Irigoyen; Joaquina Martínez-Galán; Francisco M Ortuño; Ignacio Rojas; Sonia Perales Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2015-08-04 Impact factor: 3.411