IGF activation in a molecular subclass of hepatocellular carcinoma and pre-clinical efficacy of IGF-1R blockage

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• 作者：Victoria Tovar ; Clara Alsinet ; Augusto Villanueva ; Yujin Hoshida ; Derek Y. Chiang ; Manel Solé ; Swan Thung ; Susana Moyano ; Sara Toffanin ; Beatriz Mí ; nguez ; Laia Cabellos ; Judit Peix ; Myron Sch
• 关键词：Hepatocellular carcinoma ; IGF signaling ; Molecular therapy ; A12 ; miR-100
• 刊名：Journal of Hepatology
• 出版年：2010
• 出版时间：April 2010
• 年：2010
• 卷：52
• 期：4
• 页码：550-559
• 全文大小：1283 K

文摘

Background & Aims

IGF signaling has a relevant role in a variety of human malignancies. We analyzed the underlying molecular mechanisms of IGF signaling activation in early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; BCLC class 0 or A) and assessed novel targeted therapies blocking this pathway.

Methods

An integrative molecular dissection of the axis was conducted in a cohort of 104 HCCs analyzing gene and miRNA expression, structural aberrations, and protein activation. The therapeutic potential of a selective IGF-1R inhibitor, the monoclonal antibody A12, was assessed in vitro and in a xenograft model of HCC.

Results

Activation of the IGF axis was observed in 21 % of early HCCs. Several molecular aberrations were identified, such as overexpression of IGF2 –resulting from reactivation of fetal promoters P3 and P4-, IGFBP3 downregulation and allelic losses of IGF2R (25 % of cases). A gene signature defining IGF-1R activation was developed. Overall, activation of IGF signaling in HCC was significantly associated with mTOR signaling (p = 0.035) and was clearly enriched in the Proliferation subclass of the molecular classification of HCC (p = 0.001). We also found an inverse correlation between IGF activation and miR-100/miR-216 levels (FDR < 0.05). In vitro studies showed that A12-induced abrogation of IGF-1R activation and downstream signaling significantly decreased cell viability and proliferation. In vivo, A12 delayed tumor growth and prolonged survival, reducing proliferation rates and inducing apoptosis.

Conclusions

Integrative genomic analysis showed enrichment of activation of IGF signaling in the Proliferation subclass of HCC. Effective blockage of IGF signaling with A12 provides the rationale for testing this therapy in clinical trials.