Role of CD44 in Tumor Progression
Abstract
During the previous funding period, we have continued to examine the possibility of targeting lung metastases with proteins derived from cartilage. The rational behind this approach is that when tumor cells metastasize to the lungs, there is a dramatic increase in the amount of hyaluronan in their immediate vicinity of the tumors. Initially, we had hopped to target this tumor-associated hyaluronan with a binding probe derive from cartilage attached to a chemotherapeutic agent. In this fashion we hoped the tumor cells would take up the complex, degrade it to release the agent and thereby kill themselves. In the course of testing the feasibility of this approach, we have found that the hyaluronan-binding complex by itself (i.e. without being coupled to a chemotherapeutic agent) had a significant effect on the formation of tumor metastases to the lungs. In these experiments, mice were initially injected i.v. with B 16 melanoma cells (or Lewis lung tumor cells) and then further injected i.p. with a hyaluronan-binding complex fro cartilage. After 2 weeks, the mice were sacrificed and the lungs were evaluated for the presence of tumor nodules. The mice receiving the injections of the complex were found to have fewer and smaller lung metastases than control animals. This result was totally unexpected and may potentially be ve important. Our present goal is to determine the mechanism that underlies this phenomenon.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA366885
Entities
People
- Charles Underhill
Organizations
- Georgetown University