Disrupting VEGF-A paracrine and autocrine loops by targeting SHP-1 suppresses triple negative breast cancer metastasis

Sci Rep. 2016 Jul 1:6:28888. doi: 10.1038/srep28888.

Abstract

Patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) had an increased likelihood of distant recurrence and death, as compared with those with non-TNBC subtype. Regorafenib is a multi-receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor targeting oncogenesis and has been approved for metastatic colorectal cancer and advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Recent studies suggest regorafenib acts as a SHP-1 phosphatase agonist. Here, we investigated the potential of regorafenib to suppress metastasis of TNBC cells through targeting SHP-1/p-STAT3/VEGF-A axis. We found a significant correlation between cancer cell migration and SHP-1/p-STAT3/VEGF-A expression in human TNBC cells. Clinically, high VEGF-A expression is associated with worse disease-free and distant metastasis-free survival. Regorafenib induced significant anti-migratory effects, in association with downregulation of p-STAT3 and VEGF-A. To exclude the role of RTK inhibition in regorafenib-induced anti-metastasis, we synthesized a regorafenib derivative, SC-78, that had minimal effect on VEGFR2 and PDGFR kinase inhibition, while having more potent effects on SHP-1 activation. SC-78 demonstrated superior in vitro and in vivo anti-migration to regorafenib. Furthermore, VEGF-A dependent autocrine/paracrine loops were disrupted by regorafenib and SC-78. This study implies that SHP-1/p-STAT3/VEGF-A axis is a potential therapeutic target for metastatic TNBC, and the more potent SC-78 may be a promising lead for suppressing metastasis of TNBC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autocrine Communication / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Paracrine Communication / drug effects
  • Phenylurea Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 6 / metabolism*
  • Pyridines / pharmacology*
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays*

Substances

  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Pyridines
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • regorafenib
  • PTPN6 protein, human
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 6