BACKGROUND:Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] is an endogenous, heptapeptide hormone with anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic properties.
The primary objective of this study was to determine whether Ang-(1-7) effectively reduces prostate cancer metastasis in mice.
METHODS:Human PC3 prostate cancer cells were injected into the aortic arch via the carotid artery of SCID mice pre-treated with Ang-(1-7) or injected into the tibia of athymic mice, administered Ang-(1-7) for 5 weeks beginning 2 weeks post-injection. Tumor growth and volume were determined by bioluminescent and magnetic resonance imaging. The presence of tumors was confirmed by hematoxylin and eosin staining; TRAP histochemistry was used to identify osteolytic lesions. The effect of Ang-(1-7) on osteoclastogenesis was assessed in differentiated bone marrow cells.
RESULTS:Pre-treatment with Ang-(1-7) prevented metastatic tumor formation following intra-aortic injection of PC3 cells, while 83% of untreated mice developed tumors in metastatic sites. Circulating VEGF was significantly higher in control mice compared to mice administered Ang-(1-7). A 5-week regimen of the heptapeptide hormone attenuated intra-tibial tumor growth; Ang-(1-7) was significantly higher in the tibia of treated mice than in control animals. Osteoclastogenesis was reduced by 50% in bone marrow cells differentiated in the presence of Ang-(1-7), suggesting that the heptapeptide hormone prevents the formation of osteolytic lesions to reduce tumor survival in the bone microenvironment.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that Ang-(1-7) may serve as an anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic agent for advanced prostate cancer. By extension, the heptapeptide hormone may provide effective therapy for bone metastasis produced from primary tumors of the lung and breast.
Written by:
Krishnan B, Smith TL, Dubey P, Zapadka ME, Torti FM, Willingham MC, Tallant EA, Gallagher PE. Are you the author?
Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Molecular Genetics & Genomics Program, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Reference: Prostate. 2012 May 29. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1002/pros.22542
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22644942
UroToday.com Investigative Urology Section
