SummaryCells inversely adjust the plasma membrane levels of integrins and cadherins during cell migration and cell-cell adhesion but the regulatory mechanisms that coordinate these trafficking events remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the small GTPase Rab35 maintains cadherins at the cell surface to promote cell-cell adhesion. Simultaneously, Rab35 supresses the activity of the GTPase Arf6 to downregulate an Arf6-dependent recycling pathway for b1-integrin and EGF receptors, resulting in inhibition of cell migration and attenuation of signaling downstream of these receptors. Importantly, the phenotypes of decreased cell adhesion and increased cell migration observed following Rab35 knock down are consistent with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a feature of invasive cancer cells, and we show that Rab35 expression is suppressed in a subset of cancers characterized by Arf6 hyperactivity. Our data thus identify a key molecular mechanism that efficiently coordinates the inverse intracellular sorting and cell surface levels of cadherin and integrin receptors for cell migration and differentiation.

Our study highlights the biological heterogeneity of murine glioma models and illustrates that cotargeting of the VEGF and TGF-β pathways might lead to improved tumor control only in subsets of glioblastoma.

We recently demonstrated that lack of Furin-processing of the N-cadherin precursor (proNCAD) in highly invasive melanoma and brain tumor cells results in the cell-surface expression of a nonadhesive protein favoring cell migration and invasion in vitro. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of malignant human brain tumor cells revealed that of all proprotein convertases (PCs) only the levels of Furin and PC5A are modulated, being inversely (Furin) or directly (PC5A) correlated with brain tumor invasive capacity. Intriguingly, the N-terminal sequence following the Furin-activated NCAD site (RQKR↓DW(161), mouse nomenclature) reveals a second putative PC-processing site (RIRSDR↓DK(189)) located in the first extracellular domain. Cleavage at this site would abolish the adhesive functions of NCAD because of the loss of the critical Trp(161). This was confirmed upon analysis of the fate of the endogenous prosegment of proNCAD in human malignant glioma cells expressing high levels of Furin and low levels of PC5A (U343) or high levels of PC5A and negligible Furin levels (U251). Cellular analyses revealed that Furin is the best activating convertase releasing an ~17-kDa prosegment, whereas PC5A is the major inactivating enzyme resulting in the secretion of an ~20-kDa product. Like expression of proNCAD at the cell surface, cleavage of the NCAD molecule at RIRSDR↓DK(189) renders the U251 cancer cells less adhesive to one another and more migratory. Our work modifies the present view on posttranslational processing and surface expression of classic cadherins and clarifies how NCAD possesses a range of adhesive potentials and plays a critical role in tumor progression.

No abstract

The current standard of care for glioblastoma includes surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapeutic agents such as temozolomide (TMZ), a DNA methylating compound. The cytotoxic effects of TMZ have been linked to guanine methylation at the N7 and O6 positions. These adducts are not currently used as markers of TMZ efficacy. Using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), we have established a sensitive analytical assay to directly detect both N7- and O6-methylguanine adducts from DNA following TMZ treatment. A limit of detection below 1 fmol was observed for O6-methylguanine, while N7-methylguanine was observed below 5 fmol. O6- and N7-methylguanine were successfully detected by LC/MS in tumour and normal brain tissue samples from patients treated with a neoadjuvant TMZ regimen for 14 days (75 mg/m2). Variations in levels of both methylated guanines were detected between patients as well as within different locations of the same tumour sample. This technique provides a direct detection of the damage inflicted by TMZ. This could potentially indicate the efficacy of the drug, allowing for prompt analysis and response. It also holds potential for determining efficacy of treatment dose, schedule and possible concomitant drugs. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B24.

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β are key target molecules in glioblastoma that are interdependently regulated. Both pathways drive key malignant features in glioma cells such as angiogenesis, invasiveness and immunosuppression. Here we explore whether TGF-β acts as an escape pathway from VEGF inhibition using gene expression profiling and in vitro and in vivo studies in a panel of syngeneic mouse glioma models. In vivo, single agent activity was observed for the VEGF antibody B20-4.1.1 in three (SMA-540, SMA-560 and GL-261), and for the TGF-β receptor I antagonist LY2157299 in two (SMA-540 and SMA-560) of four mouse glioma models. Transcriptomic profiling of the four mouse glioma models revealed that SMA-497 and GL-261, while unresponsive to LY2157299, were the most immunogenic tumors as defined by Gene Ontology; specifically, up-regulation of chemokine/chemoreceptors genes involved in immune cell recruitment and interferon-related genes were found. Co-targeting of VEGF and TGF-β was ineffective in one refractory model (SMA-497), in which no major changes in tumor immune-infiltrating cells were detected upon mono- or co-treatment settings. Significant prolongation of survival in the GL-261 model was associated with early stage increased infiltration of CD8+ cells, lower numbers of CD11b+ macrophages/microglia and sustained suppression of angiogenesis compared to anti-VEGF treatment alone. Phosphorylated SMAD2 was increased in both tumor cells and CD45+ leukocytes during anti-angiogenic treatment pointing to the possibility of a TGF-β-induced immunosuppressive micro-milieu that is efficiently counteracted by concomitant administration of LY2157299. In conclusion, our study highlights the biological heterogeneity of glioblastoma even among simple mouse models and illustrates that co-targeting of the VEGF and TGF-β pathways might lead to improved tumor control in subsets of glioblastoma linked with angiogenesis impairment and general reduction of the immune-suppressive phenotype. Note: This abstract was not presented at the conference. Citation Format: Davide Mangani, Michael Weller, Emad Seyed Sadr, Edith Willscher, Katharina Seystahl, Guido Reifenberger, Ghazaleh Tabatabai, Hans Binder, Hannah Schneider. TGF-β pathway-mediated escape from VEGF blockade is linked with angiogenesis and immune-suppression in murine glioma models. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2016 Oct 20-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2017;5(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B88.

Abstracts iii61NEURO-ONCOLOGY • MAY 2017 (RTKs). Of high interest as a tumor target in diffuse glioma is the RTK MET, which is amplified in a significant proportion of glioblastomas, and a number of MET inhibitors have been developed. However, most RTK inhibitors available in the clinic today, including those inhibiting MET, are not entirely selective and inhibit additional kinases at the doses used. They therefore may induce potentially undesired off-target effects, such as blood-brain barrier normalization in the case of concomitant VEGFR2 inhibition. METHODS: We studied the effects of the novel, selective MET-kinase inhibitor (Compound A) and the combined VEGFR2/RET/MET inhibitor cabozantinib on MET activation and proliferation in the MET-amplified E98 astrocytoma cell line in vitro, using western blot analysis and MTT proliferation assays. Effects of compound A were also studied in mice carrying orthotopic xenografts of the same E98 cell line. Survival was monitored and effects of MET inhibition were investigated by immunohistochemistry using phospho-specific antibodies. RESULTS: E98 cells were highly sensitive to treatment with Compound A in vitro (IC50~9.4 nM). Furthermore, Compound A effectively inhibited phosphorylation of MET in orthotopic E98 xenografts. In contrast, we have previously shown that after treatment with cabozantinib in the same model the high levels of phosphorylated MET were maintained. While treatment with Compound A significantly prolonged the survival of E98-xenograft bearing mice, tumors still developed and showed extensive AKT phosphorylation in the absence of MET phopshorylation, suggesting in vivo therapy resistance mechanisms. Interestingly, resistance to Compound A was not seen in vitro in an E98 cell line derived from Compound A-resistant tumor xenografts. CONCLUSIONS: Compound A is a promising, highly selective MET kinase inhibitor with activity against gliomas with constitutive MET signaling. Selective MET kinase inhibitors may be more suited for treatment of glioma than combined VEGFR2/MET inhibitors, as the latter may induce vessel normalization resulting in poor tumor penetration. Similar to clinical experience, E98 tumor-bearing mice ultimately develop resistance to TKIs. Combination therapies targeting both MET and potential resistance pathways may be required to allow long-term tumor treatment.

e13027 Background: Epigenetic methylation of the O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) DNA repair gene promoter in tumor tissue from glioblastoma multiforme patients is associated with improved survival after treatment with radiotherapy plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ). We hypothesized that MGMT promoter methylation mosaicism exists in glial tumors and would affect response to TMZ. Methods: This is a nonrandomized, prospective, open-label, two cohort, single-center phase II study. Twenty-three patients with brain tumors detected by MRI scan and suspected to be gliomas were evaluated. All eligible patients were treatment naive and were self-selected into a TMZ group or a control group. The primary goal of the study was to evaluate the effect of TMZ 75 mg/m2 daily prior to surgery on the brain tumor MGMT expression. Secondary endpoints included safety, tolerability, and MGMT promoter methylation mosaicism in glial tumors. Samples were obtained from multiple regions of each tumor intra-operatively and were analyzed by methylation specific PCR. Results: Our results on MGMT promoter methylation demonstrate that three groups of patients can be identified: Type I: all sites assessed in the tumor demonstrate no methylation of the MGMT promoter; Type II: all sites demonstrate high levels of MGMT promoter methylation; and Type III: a mixed promoter methylation pattern is observed. Conclusions: These results suggest that 1) preoperative neoadjuvant temozolomide is not associated with increased postoperative complications; 2) glial tumors can have very heterogeneous areas of MGMT promoter methylation; and 3) three patterns of MGMT promoter methylation can be discerned. This experimental paradigm may be a useful experimental platform for the assessment of the effect of new drugs at the tumor level. [Table: see text]