Extracelluar matrix metalloproteinase as a novel target for pancreatic cancer therapy

The objective of this study was to evaluate extracellular matrix metalloproteinase (EMMPRIN) as a novel target in orthotopic pancreatic cancer murine models. MIA PaCa-2 human pancreatic tumor cells were implanted in groups 1 and 3-7, whereas MIA PaCa-2 EMMPRIN knockdown cells were implanted in group 2. Dosing with anti-EMMPRIN antibody started immediately after implantation for groups 1-3 (residual tumor model) and at 21 days after cell implantation for groups 4-7 (established tumor model). Groups 3, 5, and 7 were treated with anti-EMMRPIN antibody (0.2-1.0 mg) twice weekly for 2-3 weeks, whereas the other groups served as the control. In the residual tumor model, tumor growth of anti-EMMPRIN-treated group was successfully arrested for 21 days (15 +/- 4 mm(3)), which was significantly lower than that of the EMMPRIN knockdown group (80 +/- 15 mm(3); P=0.001) or the control group (240 +/- 41 mm(3); P<0.001). In the established tumor model, anti-EMMPRIN therapy lowered tumor volume increase by approximately 40% compared with the control, regardless of the dose amount. Ki67-expressed cell density of group 5 was 939 +/- 150 mm(-2), which was significantly lower than that of group 4 (1709 +/- 145 mm(-2); P=0.006). Microvessel density of group 5 (30 +/- 6 mm(-2)) was also significantly lower than that of group 4 (53 +/- 5 mm(-2); P=0.014), whereas the microvessel size of group 5 (191 +/- 22 mu m(2)) was significantly larger than that of group 4 (113 +/- 26 mu m(2); P=0.049). These data show the high potential of anti-EMMPRIN therapy for pancreatic cancer and support its clinical translation. Anti-Cancer Drugs 22:864-874 (C) 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.