Targeting focal adhesion kinase with dominant-negative FRNK or Hsp90 inhibitor 17-DMAG suppresses tumor growth and metastasis of SiHa cervical xenografts

Cancer Res. 2009 Jun 1;69(11):4750-9. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-0454. Epub 2009 May 19.

Abstract

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase and key modulator of integrin signaling, is widely expressed in different tissues and cell types. Recent evidence indicates a central function of FAK in neoplasia where the kinase contributes to cell proliferation, resistance to apoptosis and anoikis, invasiveness, and metastasis. FAK, like other signaling kinases, is dependent on the chaperone heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) for its stability and proper function. Thus, inhibition of Hsp90 might be a way of disrupting FAK signaling and, consequently, tumor progression. FAK is expressed in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and metastatic cervical carcinomas but not in nonneoplastic cervical mucosa. In SiHa, a cervical cancer cell line with characteristics of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, the stable expression of dominant-negative FAK-related nonkinase decreases anchorage independence and delays xenograft growth. FAK-related nonkinase as well as the Hsp90 inhibitor 17-dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin both negatively interfere with FAK signaling and focal adhesion turnover. Short-term 17-dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin treatment prolongs survival in a SiHa lung metastasis model and chronic administration suppresses tumor growth as well as metastatic spread in orthotopic xenografts. Taken together, our data suggest that FAK is of importance for tumor progression in cervical cancer and that disruption of FAK signaling by Hsp90 inhibition might be an avenue to restrain tumor growth as well as metastatic spread.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Benzoquinones / administration & dosage
  • Benzoquinones / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Female
  • Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Gene Targeting
  • Genes, Dominant / physiology
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Humans
  • Lactams, Macrocyclic / administration & dosage
  • Lactams, Macrocyclic / therapeutic use*
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / administration & dosage
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / therapeutic use*
  • Tumor Burden / drug effects
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / genetics
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzoquinones
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Lactams, Macrocyclic
  • 17-(dimethylaminoethylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin
  • FAK-related nonkinase
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases