Galectin-3C inhibits tumor growth and increases the anticancer activity of bortezomib in a murine model of human multiple myeloma

PLoS One. 2011;6(7):e21811. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021811. Epub 2011 Jul 13.

Abstract

Galectin-3 is a human lectin involved in many cellular processes including differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, neoplastic transformation, and metastasis. We evaluated galectin-3C, an N-terminally truncated form of galectin-3 that is thought to act as a dominant negative inhibitor, as a potential treatment for multiple myeloma (MM). Galectin-3 was expressed at varying levels by all 9 human MM cell lines tested. In vitro galectin-3C exhibited modest anti-proliferative effects on MM cells and inhibited chemotaxis and invasion of U266 MM cells induced by stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1α. Galectin-3C facilitated the anticancer activity of bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor approved by the FDA for MM treatment. Galectin-3C and bortezomib also synergistically inhibited MM-induced angiogenesis activity in vitro. Delivery of galectin-3C intravenously via an osmotic pump in a subcutaneous U266 cell NOD/SCID mouse model of MM significantly inhibited tumor growth. The average tumor volume of bortezomib-treated animals was 19.6% and of galectin-3C treated animals was 13.5% of the average volume of the untreated controls at day 35. The maximal effect was obtained with the combination of galectin-3C with bortezomib that afforded a reduction of 94% in the mean tumor volume compared to the untreated controls at day 35. In conclusion, this is the first study to show that inhibition of galectin-3 is efficacious in a murine model of human MM. Our results demonstrated that galectin-3C alone was efficacious in a xenograft mouse model of human MM, and that it enhanced the anti-tumor activity of bortezomib in vitro and in vivo. These data provide the rationale for continued testing of galectin-3C towards initiation of clinical trials for treatment of MM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Boronic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Bortezomib
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chemotaxis / drug effects
  • Dependovirus / genetics
  • Drug Synergism
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / metabolism
  • Galectin 3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Galectin 3 / pharmacology*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / immunology
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Multiple Myeloma / blood supply
  • Multiple Myeloma / immunology
  • Multiple Myeloma / metabolism
  • Multiple Myeloma / pathology*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Pyrazines / pharmacology*
  • Umbilical Veins / cytology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Boronic Acids
  • Galectin 3
  • Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3
  • Pyrazines
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Bortezomib