Abstract
Background/Aim: Pazopanib (PAZ) can inhibit tumor progression, but whether PAZ inhibits lymph node metastasis and lymphangiogenesis in colorectal cancer is still unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of PAZ on tumor growth, lymph node metastasis and lymphangiogenesis in an orthotopic nude mouse model in colorectal cancer. Materials and Methods: CT-26-green fluorescence protein (GFP)-expressing mouse colon cancer cells were injected into nude mice to establish a subcutaneous colorectal cancer model and were treated with saline and PAZ. Additionals subcutaneous tumors were harvested and cut into 5 mm3 fragments, then tumor fragments were implanted orthotopically in the cecum to establish an orthotopic colorectal-cancer nude mouse model. Orthotopic mice were randomized into two groups for the treatment with saline and PAZ, respectively. Tumor width, length and mouse body weight was measured twice a week. The Fluor Vivo imaging system was used to image the GFP. Hematoxylin & eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining was used for histological analysis. Results: PAZ inhibited the growth of subcutaneous colorectal cancer, as wells as orthotopic transplanted colorectal cancer tumors. PAZ suppressed lymph node metastasis and lymphangiogenesis in the orthotopic colon cancer model. No significant changes were observed in the body weight between the control and the mice treated with PAZ. Conclusion: PAZ can inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer and inhibit lymph node metastasis and lymphangiogenesis in orthotopic colon cancer nude mouse models.
Lymph node metastasis is frequently occurrs in colorectal cancer, indicating at least stage III (1-4). Lymphangiogenesis is necessary for lymph node metastasis (5). It has been demonstrated that vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs) play an important role in lymphangiogenesis (6-11). Blocking VEGFR-2/3 can block lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis of colorectal cancer (12).
Pazopanib (PAZ) is an orally available, multi-targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGFRs, including VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 (13). PAZ is a potent inhibitor of all three VEGF receptors (13). PAZ has been shown to control tumor growth and progression by blocking angiogenesis through targeting of VEGFRs (14). In the present study, we used an orthotopic model of the CT26 mouse tumor to determine the efficacy of PAZ on colorectal cancer growth, lymph node metastasis and lymphangiogenesis.
Materials and Methods
Cell culture. The CT26-GFP (green fluorescence protein) cell line (murine colon cancer) was from AntiCancer Inc (http://www.anticancer.com; San Diego, CA, USA). CT26-GFP was cultured in RPMI 1640 (GBICO-BRL, Grand Island, New York, NY, USA), supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (BioPioneer Inc. San Diego, CA, USA) at 37°C in 5% CO2 saturated humidity.
PAZ inhibited the growth of subcutaneously implanted CT26-GFP in nude mice in a model of colorectal cancer. (A) photographs of representative CT26 subcutaneous tumors of colorectal cancer in the PAZ and control groups at treatment day 14. Arrows indicate the margins of the tumors. (B) Photographs (upper panel) and fluorescence images (black and white; lower panel) of subcutaneous tumors from the control and the PAZ groups. (C) Mouse body weight. Bar graphs show mouse body weight in the PAZ and in the control groups at pre- and post-treatment. (D) Line graphs indicate the relative subcutaneous tumor volume (ratio of tumor volume at each time point to volume at the start of the treatment) for the PAZ and the control group. (N=5, *p<0.05; ***p<0.001).
Mice. Athymic nu/nu nude mice (4-6 weeks) were obtained from AntiCancer Inc. Mouse housing, feeding and anesthesia were performed as described in our previous publications (15, 16). To minimize any suffering of the animals, anesthesia and analgesics were used for surgical experiments and mice were humanely sacrificed based on methods we have previously published (16, 17). All animal studies including surgery and imaging were conducted with an AntiCancer, Inc. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)-protocol specifically approved for this study including surgery and imaging, and in accordance with the principals and procedures outlined in the National Institute of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Animals under Assurance Number A3873–1 (15).
Establishment of subcutaneous and the orthotopic nude mouse models using CT26-GFP cells. CT26-GFP cells (106) were injected into the left thigh of nude mice (n=10). When the tumor volume reached approximately 100 mm3, mice were randomly separated into 2 groups (5 mice/per treatment group): i) Pazopanib-treated (100 mg/kg, oral gavage, daily for 2 weeks) and ii) control (saline 0.1ml, oral gavage, daily for 2 weeks) groups. Tumor length, width and mouse body weight was measured twice per week. Tumor volume was calculated using the following formula:
Subcutaneous CT26-GFP tumors grown in the nude mice were harvested, cut into 5 mm3 fragments, and implanted as intact tumor tissue orthotopically into new nude mice using the following procedure: i) nude mice were anesthetized using a ketamine-mixed drug, ii) an approximately 1 cm skin incision was made in the middle of the abdomen, iii) tumor fragments were implanted the cecum, and iv) wounds were closed using 6-0 nylon sutures, as described before (18). After two weeks, tumors were imaged using the FluorVivo imaging system (INDEC Biosystems, Santa Clara, CA, USA) (19). When tumors grew approximately to 100 mm3, mice were randomly separated into 2 groups (5
mice/per treatment group): i) Pazopanib-treated (100 mg/kg, oral gavage, daily for 2 weeks) and ii) control (saline 0.1 ml, oral gavage, daily for 2 weeks) mice. Tumors were imaged on the 8th and 14th days from the start of the treatment. Mouse body weight was measured twice a week. Data are presented as a mean±SD.
Longitudinal non-invasive in vivo fluorescence imaging of tumor progression over time in nude mice treated with PAZ in the CT26-GFP orthotopic colorectal cancer model. Fluorescence imaging was performed on days: i) 1, ii) 8, and iii) 14 after the initiation of the treatment. (A) Control group (N=5) (B) PAZ group (N=5).
Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and analysis. Fresh orthotopic tumors and lymph node tissues were fixed in 10% formalin and embedded in paraffin before sectioning and staining. Tissue sections 4 μm thick were deparaffinized in xylene and rehydrated in ethanol series. H&E staining was performed according to standard protocols (19). Image acquisition was performed using a BHS system microscope (Olympus Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) and images were analyzed with INFINITY ANALYZE software (Lumenera Corporation, Ottawa, Canada) (20).
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and evaluation. Serial sections, 4-μm-thick, were deparaffinized in xylene and rehydrated in ethanol series. The antigen was repaired by heating in sodium citrate (pH 6.0) and then blocked by a non-specific antigen. Subsequently, 4-μm-thick slices of tumor specimen were incubated with rabbit polyclonal anti-mouse LYVE-1 antibody (1:400, Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA) overnight in a humidified box at 4°C, followed by incubation with a biotinylated goat anti-polyvalent antibody (Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA). Specimens were then incubated for 10 min in streptavidin peroxidase, followed by incubation in DAB for 1-8 min and hematoxylin for 2 min. All steps were performed in accordance with the protocol of the rabbit-specific HRP/DAB (ABC) detection IHC kit (Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA) at room temperature. Lymphatic vessel density was measured as described in our previous publication (21). Samples were imaged using the BHS system microscope and were analyzed using the INFINITY ANALYZE software.
PAZ inhibits nude mice lymph-node metastasis of orthotopic colorectal cancer tumors.
Effect of PAZ on the body weight of CT-26-GFP orthotopic colorectal cancer mouse models. Bar graphs show body weight in the control and the PAZ groups at pre-treatment (A) and 2 weeks post initiation of treatment (B). There were no significant differences between the two groups (N=5 in each group, p>0.05).
Statistical analysis. All statistical analyses were performed using the GraphPad Prism 5 software (GraphPad Software, Inc. La Jolla, CA, USA). The paired t-test was used for the parametric test to compare the means between two related groups. The data are expressed as a mean±SD. A p-Value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
PAZ inhibited the growth of the CT26-GFP subcutaneous nude mouse colon-cancer model. To initially test the efficacy of PAZ in the CT-26 colorectal cancer we used a subcutaneous mouse model. The tumor volumes at the end of the experiment were: i) PAZ-treated group: 414.4±66.2 mm3, and ii) control group: 137±19.1 mm3 (Figure 1A). Photographs and fluorescence images of the control subcutaneous tumors and PAZ-treated group are shown in Figure 1B. The control group tumor grew more than 4 times lager after 2 weeks compared to the time of the initial treatment (tumor-volume ratio=4.15±1.05). The PAZ-treated group inhibited tumor growth (tumor-volume ratio=1.38±0.19, p<0.001) compared to the control (Figure 1D). Two weeks following treatment, mouse body weight was greater compared to the pre-treatment weight in both groups (Control group average weight: 25.6g vs. 32.2 g, p<0.05; PAZ group average weight: 25.5 g vs. 31.9 g, p<0.05) (Figure 1C).
PAZ inhibited the growth and metastasis of the orthotopic CT26-GFP colon-cancer nude mouse model visualized by GFP imaging. The GFP images the FluorVivo System in mice treated with PAZ or saline (Figure 2A and B; left panel). Following treatment for 8 days, green fluorescence in the control group was significantly higher compared to that of the PAZ group (Figure 2A and B; middle panel). Following 14 days of treatment, the green fluorescence in the control group was wide spread, occupying the entire abdominal area (Figure 2A; right panel); however, green fluorescence in the upper abdomen of the PAZ-treated group was less compared to the control group (Figure 2B; right panel).
Body weight of mice with orthotopic colorectal-cancer tumors. There was no significant difference observed in body weight between the two groups (control group vs. PAZ group) (Figure 3A and B).
PAZ inhibited lymph node metastasis in the orthotopic CT26-GFP colorectal cancer model. In the control group, the number of lymph node metastases was higher compared to the PAZ group (Figure 4C and F). Figures 4A-C and D-F show the control group and the PAZ group, respectively, where the metastatic status was visualized as also shown in Table I. Both groups of nude mice were under orthotopically transplantated into the cecum with colon cancer 100% success. We found in the control group that 80% of nude mice had ascites formation, while only 20% of the PAZ group had ascites (Figure 4A and D). No liver or lung metastasis was found in either group.
Photographs and fluorescence images of orthotopic CT-26-GFP colorectal cancer nude-mouse model at autopsy in the control and PAZ groups. (A-C) Representative photographs of the control group (upper panels) and corresponding fluorescence images (lower panels). (A) Nude mice have bloody ascites, and tumors show GFP fluorescence. (B) After removal of the transplanted tumor, many metastatic lymph nodes can be seen, particularly in the mesentery (C). (D-F) Representative photographs of the PAZ group (upper panels) and corresponding GFP images (lower panels). (D) Nude mice do not show bloody ascites in the PAZ group. (E) Following removal of the transplanted tumor, images show metastatic lymph nodes expressing GFP, with very few metastatic lymph nodes in the isolated mesentery (arrows in F).
Effect of PAZ on relative tumor volume and tumor weight in the orthotopic CT-26-GFP colorectal cancer nude mouse model at autopsy. (A) Bar graph shows relative tumor volume (tumor volume/100) in the control and PAZ group. (B) Bar graph shows tumor weight in the control and PAZ group. (n=5 in each group, *p<0.05, **p<0.01).
PAZ inhibited the volume and weight of the orthotopic CT26-GFP colorectal cancer. The relative tumor volume in the control group was significantly larger compared to the PAZ groups (14±1.72 mm3 vs. 6.21±0.85 mm3, p<0.01) (Figure 5A). The tumor weight at autopsy was significantly reduced in the PAZ-treated group. In the control group, the mean tumor weight was 165.6±21.1 mg, while in the PAZ group it was 108.4±18.8 mg (Figure 5B) (p<0.05).
Tumor histology analysis. Histologically, the control group tumor mainly comprised viable cancer cells (Figure 6A). In the tumor treated with PAZ, the cancer-cell density was lower compared to that of the control (Figure 6B). This suggested that PAZ inhibited the cancer cell proliferation in the orthotopic CT26-GFP colorectal-cancer nude mice. Figure 6C-E show examples where the tumor invaded the colorectal tissue. Figure 6F-H shows examples where the tumor has invaded lymph nodes. H&E staining highlights the shape of the lymph nodes that were filled with cancer cells and where the internal structures of the lymph node were destroyed (Figure 6F-H).
PAZ down-regulated the lymphatic vessel density (LVD) in the orthotopically transplanted CT26-GFP colorectal cancer. The lymphatic vessels of the orthotopic CT26-GFP tumors were marked by LYVE-1 antibodies using immunohistochemical staining. The lymphatic vessel density (LVD) of CT26-GFP orthotopic tumors in the PAZ group was significantly lower compared to the control group (Figure 7).
Discussion
We have previously found that PAZ is effective in PDOX models of sarcoma (20-27). Although, there have been studies of PAZ in colorectal cancer, where it has been shown that it inhibits tumor progression (28-30), no studies have been conducted on how PAZ affects lymphatic metastasis of colorectal cancer. In this study, we confirmed that PAZ inhibits the growth of subcutaneous colon cancer in a nude mice model. In the orthotopic model of CT26-GFP colorectal cancer in nude mice, we found that PAZ was able to inhibit tumor growth, lymphatic metastasis and lymphangiogenesis.
PAZ has a high affinity of VEGFR-1/2/3 and can inhibit the signaling pathway induced by VEGFRs to regulate the corresponding physiological functions (13). In summary, we demonstrated that PAZ can inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer of subcutaneous and orthotopically transplanted tumors in nude mouse models. As far as we are aware, this is the first in vivo study demonstrating that PAZ could inhibit lymph node metastasis and lymphangiogenesis of orthotopic tumors in mice with colorectal cancer. The importance of orthotopic models to study colon cancer is emphasized (31-33).
Histology of the CT26-GFP orthotopic colorectal-cancer mouse model. (A) H&E stained section of the control group. (B) H&E stained sections of the PAZ group. (C-E) H&E stained sections of the control tumor invading the intestine. (F-H) H&E stained sections of metastatic lymph nodes in the control mice. A, B, E, H: Magnification 200×; C, F: magnification, 40×; D, G: magnification, 100×.
PAZ inhibits lymphangiogenesis of the CT26-GFP orthotopic-colorectal cancer mouse model. (A) Representative lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronic acid receptor 1 (LYVE-1) stained in the control tumor (red arrows) and the PAZ group (B; red arrows). (C) The graph shows the corresponding lymphatic vessel density in the control and PAZ group. Magnification 200×; **p<0.01.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81702424 and 81872364), The Joint Funds for the Innovation of Science and Technology, Fujian Province (No. 2017Y9092), The Fujian Provincial Health Department Young and Middle-aged Talents Training Project (No. 2018-ZQN-46), The Project of Science and Technology Research Program in Fujian Province (No. 2016B044), The Fujian Provincial Natural Science Foundation (No. 2018J05127), the National Clinical Key Specialty Construction Project (General Surgery) of China. This paper is dedicated to the memory of A.R. Moossa, MD, Sun Lee, MD, Professor Li Jiaxi, and Masaki Kitajima, MD.
Footnotes
Authors' Contributions
GZ and JY designed the study and wrote the draft manuscript, GZ performed the experiments, MZ, QH and YS supported the experiments, SRS and RMH revised the manuscript. All Authors approved the final manuscript.
This article is freely accessible online.
Conflicts of Interest
GZ, YS and RMH are unpaid affiliates of AntiCancer Inc. MZ, YT and QH are employees of AntiCancer Inc. AntiCancer Inc uses orthotopic mouse models of cancer for contract research. The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this study.
- Received November 12, 2019.
- Revision received November 27, 2019.
- Accepted December 3, 2019.
- Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved













