FGF401 and vinorelbine synergistically mediate antitumor activity and vascular normalization in FGF19-dependent hepatocellular carcinoma

Exp Mol Med. 2020 Nov;52(11):1857-1868. doi: 10.1038/s12276-020-00524-4. Epub 2020 Nov 25.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal cancer with limited therapeutic options, and standard therapy with sorafenib provides only modest survival benefits. Fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) has been proposed as a driver oncogene, and targeting its receptor, FGFR-4, may provide a better alternative to standard therapy for patients with FGF19-driven tumors. Sixty-three HCC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models were screened for FGF19 expression. Mice bearing high and low FGF19-expressing tumors were treated with FGF401 and/or vinorelbine, and the antitumor activity of both agents was assessed individually and in combination. Tumor vasculature and intratumoral hypoxia were also examined. High FGF19 expression was detected in 14.3% (9 of 63) of the HCC models tested and may represent a good target for HCC treatment. FGF401 potently inhibited the growth of high FGF19-expressing HCC models regardless of FGF19 gene amplification. Furthermore, FGF401 inhibited the FGF19/FGFR-4 signaling pathway, cell proliferation, and hypoxia, induced apoptosis and blood vessel normalization and prolonged the overall survival (OS) of mice bearing high FGF19 tumors. FGF401 synergistically acted with the microtubule-depolymerizing drug vinorelbine to further suppress tumor growth, promote apoptosis, and prolong the OS of mice bearing high FGF19 tumors, with no evidence of increased toxicity. Our study suggests that a subset of patients with high FGF19-expressing HCC tumors could benefit from FGF401 or FGF401/vinorelbine treatment. A high level of FGF19 in a tumor may serve as a potential biomarker for patient selection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / etiology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Synergism
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / genetics
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / etiology
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mice
  • Piperazines / pharmacology*
  • Pyridines / pharmacology*
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4 / genetics
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4 / metabolism
  • Vinorelbine / pharmacology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • FGF19 protein, human
  • Piperazines
  • Pyridines
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • FGFR4 protein, human
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4
  • roblitinib
  • Vinorelbine