A recombinant decoy comprising EGFR and ErbB-4 inhibits tumor growth and metastasis

Oncogene. 2012 Jul 26;31(30):3505-15. doi: 10.1038/onc.2011.518. Epub 2011 Nov 21.

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factors control tumor progression as well as evasion from the toxic effects of chemotherapy. Accordingly, antibodies targeting the cognate receptors, such as EGFR/ErbB-1 and the co-receptor HER2/ErbB-2, are widely used to treat cancer patients, but agents that target the EGF-like growth factors are not available. To circumvent the existence of 11 distinct ErbB ligands, we constructed a soluble fusion protein (hereinafter: TRAP-Fc) comprising truncated extracellular domains of EGFR/ErbB-1 and ErbB-4. The recombinant TRAP-Fc retained high-affinity ligand binding to EGF-like growth factors and partially inhibited growth of a variety of cultured tumor cells. Consistently, TRAP-Fc displayed an inhibitory effect in xenograft models of human cancer, as well as synergy with chemotherapy. Additionally, TRAP-Fc inhibited invasive growth of mammary tumor cells and reduced their metastatic seeding in the lungs of animals. Taken together, the activities displayed by TRAP-Fc reinforce critical roles of EGF-like growth factors in tumor progression, and they warrant further tests of TRAP-Fc in preclinical models.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • ErbB Receptors / chemistry*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mice, SCID
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / chemistry
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Receptor, ErbB-4
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • ERBB4 protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Erbb4 protein, mouse
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Receptor, ErbB-4