Publications [#168923] of Mark W. Dewhirst

Papers Published

1. Y Cao, P Sonveaux, S Liu, Y Zhao, J Mi, BM Clary, CY Li, CD Kontos, MW Dewhirst, Systemic overexpression of angiopoietin-2 promotes tumor microvessel regression and inhibits angiogenesis and tumor growth., Cancer research, vol. 67 no. 8 (April, 2007), pp. 3835-44, ISSN 0008-5472 [doi]
   (last updated on 2013/05/13)

   Abstract:
   Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) is a conditional antagonist and agonist for the endothelium-specific Tie-2 receptor. Although endogenous Ang-2 cooperates with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to protect tumor endothelial cells, the effect on tumor vasculature of high levels of exogenous Ang-2 with different levels of VEGF has not been studied in detail. Here, we report that systemic overexpression of Ang-2 leads to unexpected massive tumor vessel regression within 24 h, even without concomitant inhibition of VEGF. By impairing pericyte coverage of the tumor vasculature, Ang-2 destabilizes the tumor vascular bed while improving perfusion in surviving tumor vessels. Ang-2 overexpression transiently exacerbates tumor hypoxia without affecting ATP levels. Although sustained systemic Ang-2 overexpression does not affect tumor hypoxia and proliferation, it significantly inhibits tumor angiogenesis, promotes tumor apoptosis, and suppresses tumor growth. The similar antitumoral, antiangiogenic efficacy of systemic overexpression of Ang-2, soluble VEGF receptor-1, and the combination of both suggests that concomitant VEGF inhibition is not required for Ang-2-induced tumor vessel regression and growth delay. This study shows the important roles of Ang-2-induced pericyte dropout during tumor vessel regression. It also reveals that elevated Ang-2 levels have profound pleiotropic effects on tumor vessel structure, perfusion, oxygenation, and apoptosis.

   Keywords:
   Adenocarcinoma • Adenoviridae • Angiopoietin-2 • Animals • Apoptosis • Cell Growth Processes • Cell Hypoxia • Colonic Neoplasms • Genetic Therapy • Genetic Vectors • Humans • Mice • Mice, Nude • Neovascularization, Pathologic • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays • biosynthesis • biosynthesis* • blood supply* • genetics • metabolism • methods* • pathology • physiology • therapy • therapy*