Mikkel Wandahl Pedersen

Activation of the EGFR Gene Target EphA2 Inhibits Epidermal Growth Factor–Induced Cancer Cell Motility

EphA2 overexpression has been reported in many cancers and is believed to play an important role in tumor metastasis and angiogenesis. We show that the activated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the cancer-specific constitutively active EGFR type III deletion mutant (EGFRvIII) induce the expression of EphA2 in mammalian cell lines, including the human cancer cell lines A431 and HN5. The regulation is partially dependent on downstream activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal–regulated kinase kinase and is a direct effect on the EphA2 promoter. Furthermore, EGFR and EphA2 both localize to the plasma membrane and EphA2 coimmunoprecipitates with activated EGFR and EGFRvIII. Ligand activation of EphA2 and EphA2 knockdown by small interfering RNA inhibit EGF-induced cell motility of EGFR-overexpressing human cancer cells, indicating a functional role of EphA2 in EGFR-expressing cancer cells. (Mol Cancer Res 2007;5(3):283–93)

Expression of a naturally occurring constitutively active variant of the epidermal growth factor receptor in mouse fibroblasts increases motility

Tumor cell motility is one of the rate‐limiting steps of invasion, which defines progression toward a more malignant phenotype. Elevated expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in many cancers is associated with progression of superficial to invasive forms of the disease. The naturally occuring type III mutant epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRvIII) is a tumor‐specific, ligand‐independent, constitutively active variant of the epidermal growth factor receptor. EGFRvIII is expressed frequently by a number of human solid tumours including those of the lung, breast, prostate, brain and ovary. Our study was designed to investigate the effect of EGFRvIII expression on cell motility and compare it to that of ligand‐activated EGFR using transfected fibroblasts. We show here using time‐lapse video recording that expression of EGFRvIII greatly enhances the motility of fibroblasts independently of ligand stimulation. In addition, expression of EGFRvIII caused a marked increase in the number of cellular protrusions (lamellipodia) and a reduction in the number of stress fibers and focal adhesions. The EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, AG1478, and the MEK inhibitor, U0126, blocked these cellular effects of EGFRvIII. Two cell lines expressing different levels of EGFR were used for comparison. The low‐expressing cell line responded to EGF treatment by increasing motility in a manner very similar to the motility induced by EGFRvIII. In contrast, the high‐expressing cell line responded to EGF by detachment from the extracellular matrix and decreased motility. Cellular detachment was correlated to a high phosphorylation of PLC‐γ, whereas increased motility was correlated to a high level of ERK phosphorylation. Overall these results indicate that tumor‐associated EGFR mutations might be critical for tumor cell motility, invasion and thus progression of disease.

Rational identification of an optimal antibody mixture for targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is frequently dysregulated in human malignancies and a validated target for cancer therapy. Two monoclonal anti-EGFR antibodies (cetuximab and panitumumab) are approved for clinical use. However, the percentage of patients responding to treatment is low and many patients experiencing an initial response eventually relapse. Thus, the need for more efficacious treatments remains. Previous studies have reported that mixtures of antibodies targeting multiple distinct epitopes are more effective than single mAbs at inhibiting growth of human cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The current work describes the rational approach that led to discovery and selection of a novel anti-EGFR antibody mixture Sym004, which is currently in Phase 2 clinical testing. Twenty-four selected anti-EGFR antibodies were systematically tested in dual and triple mixtures for their ability to inhibit cancer cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. The results show that targeting EGFR dependent cancer cells with mixtures of antibodies is superior at inhibiting their growth both in vitro and in vivo. In particular, antibody mixtures targeting non-overlapping epitopes on domain III are efficient and indeed Sym004 is composed of two monoclonal antibodies targeting this domain. The superior growth inhibitory activity of mixtures correlated with their ability to induce efficient EGFR degradation.

Analysis of the epidermal growth factor receptor specific transcriptome: Effect of receptor expression level and an activating mutation

Overexpression or expression of activating mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is common in cancer and correlates with neoplastic progression. The present study employed Affymetrix® oligonucleotide arrays to profile genes induced by ligand‐activated EGFR with the receptor either moderately expressed or overexpressed at an in‐itself transforming level. These changes were compared to those induced by the naturally occurring constitutively active variant EGFRvIII. This study provides novel insight on the activities and mechanisms of EGFRvIII and EGFR mediated transformation, as genes encoding proteins with functions in promoting cell proliferation, invasion, antiapoptosis, and angiogenesis featured prominently in the EGFRvIII‐ and EGFR‐expressing cells. Surprisingly, it was found that ligand‐activated EGFR induced the expression of a large group of genes known to be inducible by interferons. Expression of this module was absent in the EGFRvIII‐expressing cell line and the parental cell line. Treatment with the specific EGFR inhibitor AG1478 indicated that the regulations were primary, receptor‐mediated events. Furthermore, activation of this module correlated with activation of STAT1 and STAT3. The results thus demonstrate that ligand‐activated EGFR at different expression levels results in different kinetics of signaling and induction of gene expression. In addition, the constitutively active variant EGFRvIII seems to activate only a subset of signal pathways and induce a subset of genes as compared to the ligand‐activated EGFR.

Epidermal growth factor receptor mutation type III transfected into a small cell lung cancer cell line is predominantly localized at the cell surface and enhances the malignant phenotype.

In the present study we transfected the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐negative small cell lung cancer cell line, GLC3, with the type III EGFR mutation (EGFRvIII). The EGFRvIII protein could be detected by Western blot analysis as a 145‐kDa protein, which by immunohistochemistry appeared to be localized at the cell surface. Ultrastructurally EGFRvIII was expressed mainly at the cell surface with clusters at cell–cell contacts. In the in vitro invasion assay, GLC3‐EGFRvIII cells had a ≈5‐fold increased invasion compared with uninduced GLC3‐EGFRvIII, GLC3‐Tet‐On and the parental cell line. GLC3‐Tet‐On appeared uniform in size with adherence junctions at cell–cell contacts. In uninduced GLC3‐EGFRvIII cells adherence junctions were also present but less distinct. In doxycycline‐pretreated GLC3‐EGFRvIII cells, adherence junctions were absent. We conclude that the expression of EGFRvIII results in a more malignant phenotype. This effect appears to involve the disruption of adherence junctions.

EGFR induces expression of IRF-1 via STAT1 and STAT3 activation leading to growth arrest of human cancer cells

Recently, we reported that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) induce expression of a module of genes known to be inducible by interferons and particularly interferon‐γ. Here we show that the module is tightly regulated by EGFR in the 2 human cancer cell lines that overexpress EGFR, A431 and HN5. The module of genes included the tumor suppressor IRF‐1, which was used as a prototypical member to further investigate the regulation and function of the module. Ligand‐activated EGFR induce expression of IRF‐1 via phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3. In contrast, cells expressing the constitutively active cancer specific receptor EGFRvIII are unable to mediate phosphorylation of these STATs and thereby incapable of inducing IRF‐1. We also demonstrate that IRF‐1 is expressed in an EGF dose‐dependent manner, which correlates with inhibition of cell proliferation, and that the regulation of IRF‐1 is partially dependent on intracellular Src family kinase activity. Treatment with the dual specific Abl/c‐Src kinase inhibitor AZD0530 significantly reduces the growth inhibitory effect of high EGF concentrations, signifying that EGFR induced IRF‐1 is responsible for the observed growth inhibition. In addition, we show that media from these EGF treated cancer cells upregulate the activation marker CD69 on both B‐cells and T‐cells in peripheral blood. Taken together, these results suggest that cells acquiring sustained high activity of oncogenes such as EGFR are able to activate genes, whose products mediate growth arrest and activate immune effector cells, and which potentially could be involved in alerting the immune system in vivo leading to elimination of the transformed cells.

Preclinical Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Sym004: A Synergistic Antibody Mixture Directed against Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

Purpose: Sym004 is a novel therapeutic antibody mixture product comprising two unmarketed monoclonal antibodies (mAb) targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In previous preclinical proof-of-concept studies, Sym004 was shown to elicit superior cancer cell growth inhibition activities compared with marketed anti-EGFR mAbs. This article describes the design and results of the preclinical safety program conducted to support early clinical development of Sym004. Experimental Design: Tissue cryosections from various species were stained with Sym004 to evaluate tissue cross reactivity. The pharmacokinetics of Sym004 were evaluated in a mouse xenograft model and in Cynomolgus monkeys. Monkeys received once weekly intravenous infusions of Sym004 in the range 2 to 24 mg/kg for 6 to 8 weeks. Cetuximab (a marketed anti-EGFR mAb) and the individual antibodies comprising Sym004 were included in the repeat-dose toxicity studies at single-dose level. Results: Sym004 had a staining pattern similar to cetuximab in tissue panels from both human and non-human primates. Once weekly dosing of Sym004 to Cynomolgus monkeys did not cause accumulation, whereas administration of the individual antibodies resulted in prolonged half-life and accumulation. In direct comparisons with cetuximab, Sym004 did not induce any distinct or novel adverse findings in the animals. However, an early onset of pronounced, reversible, and anticipated anti-EGFR–mediated pharmacologic effects, such as skin rash, dehydration, and liquid feces, was observed. Only minor adverse effects were recorded in animals treated with the individual antibodies comprising Sym004. Conclusion: Sym004 was well tolerated and did not induce any unexpected toxicities. The preclinical safety data enabled initiation of the ongoing clinical development. Clin Cancer Res; 17(18); 5962–72. ©2011 AACR.

GLI1 Is Involved in Cell Cycle Regulation and Proliferation of NT2 Embryonal Carcinoma Stem Cells

Hedgehog (HH) signaling plays a critical role during embryogenesis and regulates early development of multiple tissues and organs, including the central nervous system. Although much has been revealed of the diverse functions of the HH signaling pathway, it is still unclear how the effects of altered HH signaling are interpreted by specific cell types. We have investigated the role of the HH transcription factor glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (GLI1) in the human Ntera2/D1 (NT2) embryonal carcinoma stem cell line. The study revealed that expression of GLI1 and its direct transcriptional target Patched (PTCH) is downregulated in the early stages of retinoic acid-induced neuronal differentiation of NT2 cells. To identify transcriptional targets of the HH transcription factor GLI1 in NT2 cells, we performed global expression profiling following GLI1 RNA interference (RNAi). Of the 8500 transcripts represented on the microarrays, expression of 88 genes was downregulated and expression of 26 genes was upregulated. Nineteen of these genes are involved in cell cycle and proliferation. Further, GLI1 RNAi leads to a significant decrease in NT2 proliferation and changes expression of G1 phase cyclins. In conclusion, our results suggest that GLI1 is involved in cell cycle and proliferation control in the embryonal carcinoma stem cell line NT2.