A claudin-targeting molecule as an inhibitor of tumor metastasis

J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2010 Aug;334(2):576-82. doi: 10.1124/jpet.110.168070. Epub 2010 May 4.

Abstract

Tumor metastasis of epithelium-derived tumors is the major cause of death from malignant tumors. Overexpression of claudin is observed frequently in malignant tumors. However, claudin-targeting antimetastasis therapy has never been investigated. We previously prepared a claudin-4-targeting antitumor molecule that consisted of the C-terminal fragment of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (C-CPE) fused to protein synthesis inhibitory factor (PSIF) derived from Pseudomonas exotoxin. In the present study, we investigated whether claudin CPE receptors can be a target for tumor metastasis by using the C-CPE-fused PSIF as a claudin-targeting agent. One of the most popular murine metastasis models is the lung metastasis of intravenously injected B16 cells. Therefore, we first investigated the effects of the C-CPE-fused PSIF on lung metastasis of claudin-4-expressing B16 (CL4-B16) cells. Intravenous administration of the C-CPE-fused PSIF suppressed lung metastasis of CL4-B16 cells but not B16 cells. Injection of C-CPE-fused PSIF also inhibited tumor growth and spontaneous lung metastasis of murine breast cancer 4T1 cells inoculated into the subcutis. Treatment with C-CPE-fused PSIF did not show apparent side effects in mice. These findings indicate that claudin targeting may be a novel strategy for inhibiting some tumor metastases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Claudin-4
  • Clostridium perfringens
  • Enterotoxins / genetics*
  • Exotoxins / genetics
  • Female
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / secondary
  • Melanoma, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / pathology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / secondary
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Pseudomonas
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Claudin-4
  • Cldn4 protein, mouse
  • Enterotoxins
  • Exotoxins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • enterotoxin, Clostridium
  • Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin receptor