Heparin-like polysaccharides reduce osteolytic bone destruction and tumor growth in a mouse model of breast cancer bone metastasis

Mol Cancer Res. 2012 May;10(5):597-604. doi: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-11-0482. Epub 2012 Apr 20.

Abstract

TGF-β regulates several steps in cancer metastasis, including the establishment of bone metastatic lesions. TGF-β is released from bone during osteoclastic bone resorption and it stimulates breast cancer cells to produce osteolytic factors such as interleukin 11 (IL-11). We conducted a cell-based siRNA screen and identified heparan sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase 2 (HS6ST2) as a critical gene for TGF-β-induced IL-11 production in highly bone metastatic MDA-MB-231(SA) breast cancer cells. HS6ST2 attaches sulfate groups to glucosamine residues in heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans. We subsequently showed how heparin and a high-molecular-weight Escherichia coli K5-derived heparin-like polysaccharide (K5-NSOS) inhibited TGF-β-induced IL-11 production in MDA-MB-231(SA) cells. In addition, K5-NSOS inhibited bone resorption activity of human osteoclasts in vitro. We evaluated the therapeutic potential of K5-NSOS and fragmin in a mouse model of breast cancer bone metastasis. MDA-MB-231(SA) cells were inoculated into the left cardiac ventricle of athymic nude mice which were treated with fragmin, K5-NSOS, or vehicle once a day for four weeks. Both heparin-like glycosaminoglycans inhibited weight reduction, decreased osteolytic lesion area, and reduced tumor burden in bone. In conclusion, our data imply novel mechanisms involved in TGF-β induction and support the critical role of heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans in cancer metastasis as well as indicate that K5-NSOS is a potential antimetastatic and antiresorptive agent for cancer therapy. This study illustrates the potential to translate in vitro siRNA screening results toward in vivo therapeutic concepts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Capsules* / chemistry
  • Bone Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Bone Resorption / genetics
  • Bone Resorption / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Heparin* / chemistry
  • Heparin* / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-11 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-11 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Osteoclasts / drug effects*
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Sulfotransferases* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Sulfotransferases* / genetics
  • Sulfotransferases* / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-11
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • capsular polysaccharide K5
  • Heparin
  • Hs6st2 protein, mouse
  • Sulfotransferases