JAM-A as a prognostic factor and new therapeutic target in multiple myeloma

Leukemia. 2018 Mar;32(3):736-743. doi: 10.1038/leu.2017.287. Epub 2017 Sep 28.

Abstract

Cell adhesion in the multiple myeloma (MM) microenvironment has been recognized as a major mechanism of MM cell survival and the development of drug resistance. Here we addressed the hypothesis that the protein junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A) may represent a novel target and a clinical biomarker in MM. We evaluated JAM-A expression in MM cell lines and in 147 MM patient bone marrow aspirates and biopsies at different disease stages. Elevated JAM-A levels in patient-derived plasma cells were correlated with poor prognosis. Moreover, circulating soluble JAM-A (sJAM-A) levels were significantly increased in MM patients as compared with controls. Notably, in vitro JAM-A inhibition impaired MM migration, colony formation, chemotaxis, proliferation and viability. In vivo treatment with an anti-JAM-A monoclonal antibody (αJAM-A moAb) impaired tumor progression in a murine xenograft MM model. These results demonstrate that therapeutic targeting of JAM-A has the potential to prevent MM progression, and lead us to propose JAM-A as a biomarker in MM, and sJAM-A as a serum-based marker for clinical stratification.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers, Tumor*
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Junctional Adhesion Molecule A / blood*
  • Junctional Adhesion Molecule A / genetics
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Multiple Myeloma / blood*
  • Multiple Myeloma / drug therapy
  • Multiple Myeloma / mortality*
  • Multiple Myeloma / pathology
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Junctional Adhesion Molecule A