EPA and DHA Fatty Acids Induce a Remodeling of Tumor Vasculature and Potentiate Docetaxel Activity.

n-3 long chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (n-3 LCPUFA) have been shown to improve the efficacy of conventional chemotherapies used for breast cancer treatment. In addition to their reported ability to increase the chemosensitivity of cancer cells, we hypothesized that n-3 LCPUFA could induce a remodeling of the vascular network in mammary tumors. A contrast-enhanced ultrasound method was used to monitor the vascular architecture during docetaxel treatment of mammary tumors in rats fed either a control or an n-3 LCPUFA-enriched diet (docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)). The vascular network was remodeled in favor of smaller vessels (microvascularization), which represented 54% of the vasculature in n-3 LCPUFA tumors but only 26% in control tumors after 2 weeks of chemotherapy. Importantly, vascularization changes occurred both before and during docetaxel treatment. The density of smaller vessels quantified before chemotherapy was correlated with improved tumor size reduction by docetaxel treatment. Furthermore, transcript levels of the angiogenesis-specific genes epiregulin and amphiregulin were reduced by ~4.5- and twofold in tumors obtained from rats fed an n-3 LCPUFA-enriched diet compared to those of rats fed a control diet, respectively. Their expression levels were negatively correlated with tumor regression after chemotherapy. Taken together, this preclinical data strengthen the potential usefulness of n-3 LCPUFA as a complementary clinical strategy to improve drug efficiency via remodeling of the tumor vasculature.

1. Introduction

Unlike the normal vascular network, the <span class="Disease">tumor vascular tree lacks an orderly branched hierarchy from large vessels to successively smaller vessels (microvascularization) that normally feed a capillary bed involved in the exchange of molecules such as <span class="Chemical">oxygen, nutrients, or therapeutic agents. In addition, tumor vasculature quality is admittedly poorly developed, with highly dilated and permeable vessels leading to high interstitial fluid pressure. These differences can irreversibly affect the delivery of molecules and lead to poorly perfused regions within the tumor [1]. These types of structural abnormalities of the tumor vasculature have far-reaching consequences that include poor response to anticancer therapies. Studies have identified an apparent conflict between the use of antiangiogenic molecules targeting tumor vascularization and adequate tumor perfusion for effective intravenous chemotherapeutic agent delivery. Several lines of evidence have indicated that antiangiogenic treatments can “normalize” an abnormal structure and function of the tumor vasculature. Vessels become smaller in diameter, less tortuous and are more efficient at delivering oxygen, nutrients, and drugs [2,3].

Using the ultrasound contrast agent SonoVue® (microbubbles of <span class="Chemical">sulfur hexafluoride), <span class="Disease">tumor functional vascularization, from large to small vessels, may be visualized and quantified by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Microbubbles, with a diameter equivalent or inferior to red blood cells (10 µm), circulate into capillaries and increase ultrasound signal detection. Larger vessels contained more contrast agents than the smaller ones. This system therefore permits a scaled intensity of contrast enhancement. We have previously reported an original contrast-enhanced ultrasound analysis method (CEUS) capable of discriminating and quantifying between vessels according to their diameters [4]. This method is based on discrimination of pixels according to their contrast intensity, which allows the quantification of macro-, medium- and microvascularization densities. This technique has been validated by standard immunohistological analysis and applied in a clinical setting to detect changes of the vascular architecture during chemotherapeutic treatment of human breast carcinoma [4].

Among <span class="Chemical">n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (<span class="Chemical">n-3 LCPUFA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) have generated an important interest due to their abilities to decrease chemotherapeutic resistance of experimental mammary tumors to anthracyclines, taxanes, or radiotherapy without additional side effects (reviewed in [5,6,7]). In addition to promoting an increased chemosensitivity of cancer cells, a nutritional supply of n-3 LCPUFA has been shown to act on the tumor microenvironment by inducing an antiangiogenic effect [8,9,10,11]. We previously reported that a reduction in the tumor vascularization during n-3 LCPUFA supplementation is accompanied by an enhancement of tumor sensitivity to anthracyclines or taxanes [8,12]. An n-3 LCPUFA diet can alter the tumor vasculature towards an increase in its functional efficacy (decreased interstitial fluid pressure and increased dye perfusion) [12].

Based on the hypothesis that functional modifications by <span class="Chemical">n-3 LCPUFA may be associated with alte<span class="Species">rations in the vascular structure, the present study was set up to analyze the vascular tree and determine the ratio of macro-, medium- and microvascularization densities in a tumor model using CEUS methodology. Furthermore, the present study was performed to test the capacity of n-3 LCPUFA to induce a remodeling of the rat mammary tumor vascular architecture in favor of a microvascularization prior to or during chemotherapy with docetaxel, a major anticancer drug used in clinical practice. Additionally, by screening the transcription levels of genes involved in angiogenesis, this study identified n-3 LCPUFA-regulated genes, which expression levels correlate with vascular parameters and anti-tumor efficacy of docetaxel in rat mammary tumors.

2. Results

2.1. n-3 LCPUFA Supplementation Induces a Remodeling of the Mammary Tumor Vasculature Prior to the Initiation of Chemotherapy

Vasculature quantification with CEUS was performed as soon as the mammary <span class="Disease">tumors of each nutritional group reached 2 cm² (W0, before <span class="Chemical">docetaxel injection). The quantification of the CEUS signal, taking into account all contrast pixels within tumors, allowed us to show the global pixel density (GPD), reflecting the global vascular density. These results are presented in Figure 1A,B.

Figure 1

An n-3 long chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (n-3 LCPUFA)-enriched diet induces a remodeling of the tumor vasculature in favor of the microvasculature. Female rats carrying mammary tumors were fed a control diet or an n-3 LCPUFA-enriched diet. Tumor vascularization was quantified using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) methodology after SonoVue® microbubbles injection when tumors reached 2 cm² (n = 14 by nutritional group). Using the MATLAB® software a specific analysis of CEUS signal lead us to evaluate several vascular parameters within tumors defined as the region of interest (ROI). The global contrasted-pixel density (GPD) took into account all pixels with contrast signal and reflected a global vascular density. With discrimination of pixels according to their contrast signal intensity, three vascular compartments (macro-, medium- and micro-vasculature) were quantified and expressed as a proportion (%) of the global vascular network. (A) Representative images obtained by CEUS showing GPD reflecting global vascular density left panels) and macrovascularization (right panels). Contours of tumors were surrounded by the white line (ROI). Magnification factor: 1.5×. (B) Histograms representing the GPD, global vascular density (with its quantification in red), subdivided in the three compartments (micro, medium and macrovasculature) (bar and values on the right: median and interquartile range, 25–75th percentile) and obtained in mammary tumors of rat fed a control or n-3 LCPUFA diet (n = 14 per nutritional group). (C) Three-dimensional images of tumor vasculature after cast realized with two control and two n-3 LCPUFA tumors. * p < 0.05 (compared to control group, Mann–Whitney test). Magnification factor: 1.5×.

Before <span class="Chemical">docetaxel treatment, the global vascular density (<span class="Disease">GPD, overall histogram) was similar between both groups (85% (74–93) and 85% (75–95), median (interquartiles)) (Figure 1A, left panels and Figure 1B). The specific analysis, including the pixel intensity discrimination, allowed us to access the vascular network architecture and quantify large, medium and small vessels. We used a histogram to present the GPD subdivided into the three compartments: micro-, medium- and macrovasculature (median values, bar interquartiles) (Figure 1B).

A remodeling of the vascular architecture was observed in the <span class="Chemical">n-3 LCPUFA group, with a microvascularization enrichment of ~15% (48 to 55%) and a decreased macrovascularization of ~80% (3 to 0.6%) compared to <span class="Disease">tumors obtained in rats fed a control diet (Figure 1B, right panels). In addition, two rats per nutritional group were perfused with polymer PU4ii mixed. Then, a three-dimensional X-ray scan acquisition was performed. In agreement with the CEUS signal experiment, a decrease in the number of large vessels was also visible in vascular casting of n-3 LCPUFA tumors compared to control tumors (Figure 1C).

2.2. The Microvasculature Proportion Remains Preponderant in n-3 LCPUFA Tumors During Docetaxel Treatment and Correlates with Tumor Regression

When <span class="Disease">tumor reached 2 cm2 (W0), <span class="Chemical">docetaxel was injected once a week for 6 weeks, and the evolution of the different vascular compartments was followed by CEUS after 2 and 6 weeks of chemotherapy (W2 and W6). As expected and as already described in a previous study [12], in this new study, n-3 LCPUFA improved the efficacy of docetaxel by increasing tumor regression after 6 weeks of chemotherapy. We observed that tumor regression under docetaxel chemotherapy (between W0 and W6) reached 70% in the n-3 LCPUFA group compared to 40% in the control nutritional group (Figure 2A).

Figure 2

An n-3 LCPUFA-enriched diet maintains a microvascular compartment preponderance during docetaxel treatment. When tumors reached 2 cm2, docetaxel was injected (6mg/kg/week) every week for 6 weeks and tumor vascularization was quantified by CEUS methodology before (W0), or two weeks (W2) and six weeks (W6) after the beginning of docetaxel therapy (n = 14/nutritional group). Magnification factor: 1.5×. (A) Curves of tumors volumes (cm²) according to time (weeks). Tumor size was measured once a week for 6 weeks (mean ± SEM, n = 14) (B) Representative images obtained by CEUS showing GPD reflecting global vascular density within tumor of control or n-3 LCPUFA group (C) Histograms showing GPD (with its quantification in red) subdivided into three compartments: micro- (low intensity pixel density), medium- (medium intensity pixel density) and macro- (high intensity pixel density) vascularization in control and n-3 LCPUFA groups at W0, W2 and W6 (bar and values on the right: median and interquartile range, 25–75th percentile). * p < 0.05, *** p < 0.001 (compared to W0 in the same dietary group, paired t-test); # p < 0.05 (compared to control nutritional group at the corresponding time points, Mann–Whitney test). (D) Correlation between microvascularization measured before chemotherapy at W0 (%) and tumor size at the end of the chemotherapeutic treatment (W6). Points represent individual data (Spearman test, ** p < 0.001).

Figure 2B shows the evolution of the global vascular density (<span class="Disease">GPD, represented by all pixels with contrast signal) in each nutritional group before (W0), 2 weeks (W2), or 6 weeks (W6) after the beginning of the treatment. All CEUS results obtained for the two nutritional groups were compiled in Figure 2C. The global vascular densities (<span class="Disease">GPD values, overall histogram) were unchanged after 2 weeks of chemotherapy (W2) compared to W0. However, important differences in the tumor vascular architecture were observed at W2 in the control group, with an increased macrovascularization at W2 (a fivefold median change compared to W0) (Figure 2C). Interestingly, this effect was not observed in the n-3 LCPUFA tumor group in which microvascularization remained preponderant at W2. It represented 54% of the vasculature in the n-3 LCPUFA group and 26% in the control group (median values, p < 0.01). At W6, docetaxel induced an anti-angiogenic effect in the control diet group with a GPD reduction by 23% compared to W0, and a decrease in the levels of macro and medium compartments (median changes were threefold and twofold, respectively). Similar results were observed in n-3 LCPUFA-tumors. However, the effect of docetaxel on the vascular tree reorganization tended to be more important in n-3 LCPUFA tumors. The ratio of micro, medium, and macro-vessels was 73, 23, and 1% in the control group compared to 88, 11, and 0.04% in the n-3 LCPUFA group, respectively.

We tested whether the efficacy of <span class="Chemical">docetaxel was enhanced in <span class="Disease">tumors with the highest density of microvasculature at the beginning of treatment (Figure 2D). A significant negative correlation was observed between the tumor microvasculature evaluated at W0 and tumor size measured after six cycles of chemotherapy (W6) (r² = −0.54, p < 0.01, Figure 2D). These data indicate that, in tumors with a high microvasculature density, regression is more efficient than in tumors with a reduced microvascularization density. Taken together, these experiments suggest a better distribution of the anticancer drug in tumors from rats fed an n-3 LCPUFA-enriched diet.

2.3. Epiregulin and Amphiregulin are New Molecular Targets of the n-3 LCPUFA-Enriched Diet, and Their mRNA Levels Correlate With Docetaxel Efficacy

Some of the effects mediated by <span class="Chemical">n-3 LCPUFA on <span class="Disease">tumor vascular remodeling are similar to those reported following anti-VEGF therapy [2]. In the presented study, whereas plasma levels of VEGFα were decreased after six cycles of docetaxel chemotherapy compared to untreated tumors (Figure S1), no difference was observed between the control and the n-3 LCPUFA group. This finding indicates that the effect of n-3 LCPUFA on vascularization cannot be directly attributed to a change in plasma VEGFα levels.

To identify other potential molecular effectors of the <span class="Chemical">n-3 LCPUFA-enriched diet, we used an angiogenesis PCR arrays (SuperArray Bioscience). This array includes 84 genes that have been involved in the modulation of angiogenesis (growth factors and receptors, adhesion molecules and matrix proteins, proteases and their inhibitors, cytokines and chemokines). The study was performed on <span class="Disease">tumors before (n = 4) or after six cycles of chemotherapy (n = 7) in both nutritional groups. Without docetaxel i.e., at W0 before chemotherapy starting, no statistical difference in term of mRNA expression levels between the two nutritional groups was observed. After completed chemotherapeutic treatment (W6), the levels of gene up- or downregulated in the n-3 LCPUFA group versus the control nutritional group are presented in Table S1. It can be observed that only VEGFβ among VEGF family members was increased 1.9-fold in n-3 LCPUFA tumors (p < 0.05). In addition, the selection of genes with a fold change greater than two included epiregulin (EREG, an epithelial growth factor (EGF) family member), matrix metallopeptidase 3 (MMP3), and tumor necrosis factor member 2 (TNFα). EREG and MMP3 were downregulated 6- (p < 0.01) and threefold (p < 0.05), respectively, in the n-3 LCPUFA group and TNFα was upregulated threefold (p < 0.05). Contrary to EREG, epithelial growth factor (EGF) expression levels were not modified in the two nutritional groups (Table S1).

A qPCR analysis of these selected genes was extended to a larger number of <span class="Disease">tumors (n = 14 per nutritional group). With this more exhaustive analysis, the statistically significant differences obtained with <span class="Gene">VEGFβ, MMP3, and TNFα were not confirmed. In contrast, epiregulin (EREG) expression levels were confirmed as being clearly reduced ~4.5-fold in n-3 LCPUFA tumors compared to control tumors at W6 (n = 14, p < 0.001) (Figure 3A). In tumors without docetaxel, EREG expression levels were decreased twofold in n-3 LCPUFA tumors (n = 14, p < 0.05) (Figure 3A).

Figure 3

Regulation by n-3 LCPUFA of tumor epiregulin (EREG) and amphiregulin (AREG) mRNA expression levels is associated to tumor regression and microvascular compartment quantification. (A,D) EREG and AREG mRNA levels in mammary tumors in the two nutritional groups before (W0) and after docetaxel treatment (W6). (n = 14/nutritional group at W0 and n = 14/nutritional group at W6). qPCR results were expressed in -ΔCt. Lines are median values, * p < 0.05, *** p < 0.001, Man Whitney test. (B) Correlation between EREG mRNA levels at W6 and response to chemotherapy (expressed as percent of tumor regression). Points represent individual data (Spearman test, *** p < 0.001). (C) Correlation between EREG mRNA levels and microvasculature at W6. Points represent individual data (Spearman test, * p < 0.05, *** p < 0.001). (E) Correlation between AREG mRNA levels and microvasculature at W6. Points represent individual data (Spearman test, *** p < 0.001).

Correlations between <span class="Gene">EREG mRNA levels at W6 with <span class="Disease">tumor regression or vascular parameters were also examined. A significant negative correlation was identified between EREG expression and tumor regression (r = −0.6, p < 0.001, Figure 3B). Among the vascular parameters measured with CEUS at W6, EREG expression was negatively correlated with microvascularization (r = −0.4, p < 0.05) (Figure 3C). Taken together, these data suggested that a reduction in EREG mRNA expression levels within tumors was associated with an increased microvascular density and a better response to docetaxel treatment.

Gene transcription analysis was also performed with other <span class="Gene">EGF family members. No significant change in mRNA levels was detected for <span class="Gene">heparin-bound EGF (HB-EGF), β cellulin, tumor growth factor TGFα and neuregulin1 (NRG1) (Figure S2). Regarding the mRNA expression levels of amphiregulin (AREG), transcription levels of this gene were not affected by the diet alone, but mRNA expression levels of AREG were significantly downregulated (twofold) in docetaxel/n-3 LCPUFA tumors compared with docetaxel/control tumors (p < 0.05) (Figure 3D). As with EREG, a significant negative correlation was observed between AREG mRNA expression levels and tumor regression (r² = −0.6, p < 0.001, Figure 3E). However, only a modest correlation was found between AREG mRNA expression levels and microvasculature density (r = −0.3, p = 0.06).

3. Discussion

In the present study, the CEUS approach allowed us to demonst<span class="Species">rate that <span class="Chemical">n-3 LCPUFA can induce a remodeling of the tumor vascular architecture in favor of a microvasculature. This vascular compartment has been physiologically described as the most adapted compartment for molecules exchanges between the vascular bed and the interstitial fluid of tumors. In a healthy vascular tree, only microvessels (capillaries) display optimal parameters that favor pressure gradients (microvascular pressure, interstitial fluid pressure, and osmotic pressures) contributing to the exit of a therapeutic agent. Unlike what is observed in a normal vascular network, tumor vessels have been described as vasodilated and hyperpermeable [13,14]. These alterations can lead to increased interstitial fluid pressure and prevent adequate drug delivery [2,15]. In the present study, we show that, upon docetaxel treatment, the tumor vasculature with small caliber vessels remains preponderant in n-3 LCPUFA-tumors and is correlated with improved response to docetaxel chemotherapy. Mammary tumors with a high initial microvasculature (i.e., small caliber vessels) showed the best response to chemotherapy. This finding is in agreement with a better distribution of the anticancer drug. In a previous study, we have demonstrated that n-3 LCPUFA treatment reduces interstitial fluid pressure and improves tumor oxygenation and molecules extravasation [12]. The process of vascular normalization proposed by Jain et al. [16] may explain this observation. By restoring the balance between pro- and anti-angiogenic factors in the tumor microenvironment, antiangiogenic therapy restores a “normal” tumor vasculature by reducing vessel diameter. Accordingly, microvessels become preponderant at the expense of larger vessels. This type of vasculature allows the efficient delivery of cytotoxic agents into tumors and enhances chemotherapy efficacy [1,3]. Taken together, these data suggest that n-3 LCPUFA can “normalize” the tumor vasculature via architectural remodeling, which may improve functional vascular efficiency for drug delivery and tumor size regression.

Many studies have demonst<span class="Species">rated that the application of mode<span class="Species">rate doses of anti-angiogenesis agents can normalize an abnormal tumor vascularization and improve blood perfusion and tumor therapy [2,17,18,19,20]. During vessel normalization, the architecture of the vasculature is largely restored, in a process that reduces the diameter of microvessels and prunes the most immature vasculature [21]. This effect creates a window of opportunity during which various concomitantly administered therapies are likely to be most effective [22,23].

With others, we have previously reported that <span class="Chemical">n-3 LCPUFA displayed anti-angiogenic properties in rodent <span class="Disease">tumors [8,9] or in cultured endothelial cells [24,25]. Several mechanisms have been proposed to account for these antiangiogenic effects. n-3 LCPUFA can exert their effects on pathways regulating immune and inflammatory cells that participate in angiogenesis via the modulation of eicosanoid production and the production of anti-inflammatory n-3 PUFA-derived mediators (e.g., neuroprotectins and resolvins) [26,27,28]. In these conditions, a decrease in VEGF and/or its receptor levels has been reported in endothelial cells and colon cancer cells [25,29]. We have also shown a decreased in endothelial NO synthase activity with n-3 LCPUFA treatment and, subsequently, the production of NO, which is well known for its proangiogenic properties [12]. Other anti-angiogenic effects of DHA have been reported, and they may be mediated through secretion of exosome and their microRNA content [30].

Two new clinically relevant effectors of <span class="Chemical">n-3 LCPUFA have been identified in the present study. Whereas the <span class="Chemical">n-3 LCPUFA diet decreased EREG transcription levels in tumors, the combination of docetaxel with n-3 LCPUFA potentiated this downregulation. The docetaxel/n-3 LCPUFA combination was required to reduce AREG mRNA levels. The pro-oncogenic activities of AREG and EREG have been examined in previous studies of lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate carcinoma [31,32]. Importantly, the role of AREG and EREG in the regulation of tumorigenesis was underlined. These identified were self-sufficiency in the generation of growth signals, metastasis, angiogenesis, and resistance to various chemotherapeutic agents [31,32,33,34]. These two effectors are also clinically relevant since their mRNA levels in primary tumors can predict the outcome of metastatic colorectal cancer [35]. In two pre-clinical studies, AREG/EREG were not identified as regulated targets by docetaxel treatment [36,37]. However, AREG expression levels have been associated with disease progression of breast cancer or head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in patients receiving a combination treatment of anti-EGFRs and docetaxel [38,39]. The present study shows that EREG mRNA levels are inversely correlated with the mammary tumor microvascular density. This finding suggests a potential role for EREG in the vascular effects mediated by n-3 LCPUFA. This hypothesis is consistent with the previously described roles of EREG in angiogenesis [31].

Besides the effect of <span class="Chemical">n-3 PUFAs in <span class="Disease">cancer, epidemiological and clinical studies have provided evidence, which suggest that n-3 LCPUFA and fish oils can offer cardiovascular disease protection. DHA plays an important role in the regulation of vascular endothelial cell function. Consumption of n-3 PUFAs, and in particular DHA, has been associated with improved endothelium function and prevention of cardiovascular disease via its effects on endothelial metabolism, inflammation, thrombosis, and arrhythmia [40].

In conclusion, this study demonst<span class="Species">rates that dietary <span class="Chemical">n-3 LCPUFA can influence vascular remodeling in mammary tumors. We also demonstrated the ability of the n-3 LCPUFA/docetaxel combination to downregulate EREG and AREG, which are two newly identified effectors with clinical relevance. Despite major clinical advances provided by cytotoxic, hormonal and targeted therapies, the median survival after diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer with visceral organ invasion remains below 2 years. The addition of a dietary strategy using n-3 LCPUFA may therefore be relevant to complement the clinical strategy to improve drug efficacy in mammary tumors and decrease anticancer drug resistance. The present preclinical study strengthens the findings of three previously published Phase II clinical trial using n-3 LCPUFA for patients treated for breast, lung, or colon cancers [7,41,42]. In addition, it reinforces the rationale for the organization of a phase III clinical trial, which would test the effects of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation on the efficacy of conventional cancer treatment.

4. Materials and Methods

4.1. In Vivo Study

Animal protocols used for these studies were approved by the Val de Loire Animal Ethics Committee (approved on 13 January 2006, approval code: CL2006-001). Experimental <span class="Disease">carcinogenesis induction and diets have previously been described by Kornfeld et al. [12]. The experimental design is summarized in Figure 4.

Figure 4

Diagram summarizing the in vivo experimental design. Mammary carcinogenesis was initiated with a single dose of N-methylnitrosourea. Three days later, an experimental diet was provided until the end of the study. Rats were divided into a control (n = 28) and an n–3 LCPUFA diet group (n = 28). When tumors reached 2 cm3 (W0), rats were treated with docetaxel using one injection/week (arrow) (n = 14/nutritional group) or euthanized (n = 14/nutritional group). Functional vascular and mRNA analyses were performed at the indicated time points before (W0), 2 (W2), or 6 weeks (W6) after the start of docetaxel treatment.

Mammary <span class="Disease">carcinogenesis was induced in 48 days-old female <span class="Species">Sprague-Dawley rats by injection of a single dose of 25 mg/kg n-methyl-n-nitrosourea (NMU). Three days after induction, an experimental diet was provided until the end of the study. Rats from the control group (n = 28) were fed a diet containing peanut oil (12%) and rapeseed oil (3%) (%, g/100 g of diet). Rats from the n-3 LCPUFA group (n = 28) were fed a diet containing peanut oil (8%), rapeseed oil (2%), and fish oil (5%). Importantly, the n-3 LCPUFA-enriched diet contained 2.5% DHA and 1% EPA. When tumors reached 2 cm3 (week 0), 14 out of 28 rats from each group were treated intraperitoneally once a week with 6 mg/kg/week docetaxel (Taxotere®, Sanofi Aventis, France) for 6 weeks. Rats were examined weekly and tumor area was calculated using the ellipse formula: tumor area= π (Ø1 * Ø2)/4 where Ø1 and Ø2 are the two largest diameters. The beginning of the chemotherapy was set as the reference, and tumor regression was calculated as the percentage of tumor area variation between tumor size before docetaxel treatment and at the end of treatment. qPCR analysis was performed on tumors without docetaxel treatment or after 6 chemotherapeutic cycles (week 6). Animals were individually monitored twice weekly to follow their health status, record their weight, and assess global aspect and activity level. During this experiment, no animals became severely ill or died at any time prior to the experimental endpoint. Rats were euthanized at the endpoint with a pentobarbital overdose (150 mg/kg, intraperitoneal).

4.2. Functional Vascularization and Quantification of Micro, Medium and Macrovascularization

We used Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) to investigate <span class="Disease">Tumor vascularization. Acquisition of CEUS data was performed with a dedicated CnTI™ technology (Contrast Tuned Imaging, Esaote, Genoa, Italy) using a Technos scanner equipped with a 5–10 MHz probe (LA 532, Esaote, Italy). Microbubbles from SonoVue® (Bracco Imaging SpA, Milano, Italy) were used as a contrast agent (0.3 mL, 45 µg/mL, intravenous bolus injection) only to perfuse functional blood vessels [43]. Echographic explo<span class="Species">rations were performed under 2.5% isoflurane anesthesia.

The strongly echogenic microbubbles contained <span class="Chemical">sulfur hexafluoride, which is a gas encapsulated within a phospholipid shell [44]. With diameters of up to 10 µm, they remained in the vascular bed and were not appropriate to evaluate vascular leakage. The specific CEUS analysis used for quantification of micro, medium and macrovascularization has previously been described [4]. Briefly, using the Visilog 6 software version 1.52 (Noesis, Courbaboeuf, France), CEUS signal from a video clip was analyzed within the <span class="Disease">tumors after defining the tumor as the region of interest (ROI). Two frames (one before SonoVue® arrival and one at the peak of contrast enhancement) were selected from the CEUS video clip. Pixels from the first frame (background tissue signal) were subtracted from the peak frame. All contrast-enhanced pixels in the ROI defined the global pixel density (GPD) corresponding to a global vascular density. Larger vessels contained more contrast agent than the smaller ones, leading to a scaled intensity of contrast enhancement. Using the MATLAB® software (MathWorks, Natick MA, USA), the CEUS signal was analyzed to discriminate between pixels according to their contrast intensity and allowed us to determine high- (intensity 170–255), medium- (intensity 85–170) and low-intensity pixels (intensity 1–85). The lowest intensity pixel density (from 1 to 85) was used to quantify microvascularization. While the medium contrast-enhanced pixel density (85–170) allowed us to calculate medium vascularization, the brightest pixels density permitted to quantify macrovascularization. To report the different vascular tree proportions, high-, medium- and low-intensity pixels densities were finally expressed as a percentage of the ROI. Importantly, we have previously validated this CEUS method by standard immunohistological analysis [4].

4.3. Casting of the Tumor Vasculature

After anesthesia, polymer PU4ii (VasQtec, Zürich, Switzerland) mixed with <span class="Chemical">lipiodol (X-ray contrast agent, Guerbet, Villepinte, France) was used to perfused <span class="Species">rats (CERB, Baugy, France). After X-ray scan acquisition (Imaging Center, CIPA, Orléans, France), a modified Feldkamp cone-beam reconstruction algorithm with 50 µm3 isotropic voxels (CT 120 and Micro View Analysis; GE Healthcare, Buc, France) was used to reconstruct the raw data.

4.4. Oligonucleotide PCR Arrays and Real-Time Quantitative PCR Analysis

Total RNA from <span class="Disease">tumor samples were extracted with <span class="Chemical">TRIzol reagent (Invitrogen, Life Technologies, Courtaboeuf, France). RNA was reverse transcribed using a cDNA synthesis kit (“Ready-to-go”, GE Healthcare, Buc, France) following the manufacturer’s instructions. cDNA was used for real-time PCR analyses with the Angiogenesis RT² ProfilerTM PCR Array (SuperArray Bioscience Corporation, Frederick, MD, USA). The 84 genes of the PCR array were involved in the modulation of angiogenesis (gene list provided in supplementary data 2). Real-time qPCR was carried out with MyiQ thermocycler (Biorad, Marnes-la-Coquette, France) using Platinum® SYBR® Green qPCR SuperMix-UDG kit (Invitrogen, Life Technologies, Courtaboeuf, France). The thermal cycling parameters were as follows: 10 min at 95 °C, followed by 40 cycles of 15 s at 95 °C, 30 s at 60 °C, and 30 s at 72 °C.

Complementary analyses were performed using the <span class="Species">rat primer sequences for <span class="Gene">EREG (epiregulin), AREG (amphiregulin), β cellulin, heparin-binding EGF, tumor growth factor α neuregulin1 and reference gene hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase 1 (HPRT1) (Sigma-Aldrich, Saint-Quentin Fallavier, France) were as follows: EREG forward, 5′-CCGTGATTCTCGTTTTCCTC-3′ and reverse 5′-TTTACTTTTGCGATTTCTGTACCA-3′; AREG forward, 5′-GGTGAATGCAGATACATCGAGA-3′ and reverse 5′-CGTTCGCCAAAGTAATCCTG-3′; β cellulin for 5′-TGAAACCAATGGCTCTCTTTG and rev 5′-CGATTTCTGTCTAGGGGTGGT-3′; heparin-binding EGF: for 5′-TGGGGCTTCTCATGTTTAGG-3′ and rev 5′-CATGCCCAACTTCACTTTCTC-3′, tumor growth factor α: for 5′-TTGCTGCCACTCAGAAACAG-3′ and rev 5′-ATCTGCCACAGTCCACCTG-3′, neuregulin1: for 5′-CTGCTAGCCCCTTGAGGAT-3′ and rev 5′-GCTCGTACTCTTGGGTCGTTT-3′, HPRT1 for 5′-GAC CGG TTC TGT CAT GTC G-3′ and rev 5′-ACC TGG TTC ATC ATC ACT AAT CAC-3′.

4.5. Statistical Analyses

Statistical analyses were carried out using the GraphPad Prism 4 software (La Jolla, CA, USA). Mann–Whitney tests and paired t tests were used. Spearman test was used for correlation. P-values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

5. Conclusions

In conclusion, this study demonst<span class="Species">rates that dietary <span class="Chemical">n-3 LCPUFA can influence vascular remodeling in mammary tumors. We also demonstrated the ability of n-3 LCPUFA to downregulate EREG and AREG, which are two newly identified effectors with clinical relevance.