In vivo Wnt pathway inhibition of human squamous cell carcinoma growth and metastasis in the chick chorioallantoic model

J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016 Apr 26:45:26. doi: 10.1186/s40463-016-0140-8.

Abstract

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an aggressive cancer with poor overall survival. New therapeutic strategies that target specific molecular lesions driving advanced disease are needed. Herein we demonstrate the utility of the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay for in vivo human HNSCC tumor growth and metastasis and the tumor suppressive effects of a new chemotherapeutic agent.

Methods: We tested anti-metastatic effects of a WNT pathway inhibitor, WNT974 (also known as LGK974), which targets porcupine (PORCN) the palmityl-transferase that is essential for secretion of Wnt proteins. CAM assays were performed with 8 HNSCC cell lines: UM-SCC-1, UM-SCC-10A, UM-SCC-10B, UM-SCC-11A, UM-SCC-14A UM-SCC-17A, UM-SCC-17B, UM-SCC-25, and UM-SCC-34.

Results: UM-SCC-1 (University of Michigan Squamous Cell Carcinoma cell line) CAM xenografts contain CD44+ and ALDH+ cancer stem cell (CSC) proportions similar to UM-SCC-1 mouse xenografts supporting the applicability of the CAM assay for study of CSCs. Inhibition of WNT signaling by the PORCN inhibitor WNT974 reduced metastatic spread of UM-SCC cells, especially in UM-SCCs with Notch1 deficiency.

Conclusions: Our data demonstrate decreased tumor growth and metastases in tumors from cell lines that showed in vitro responses to WNT974, providing evidence that this agent may have a role in future HNSCC therapy.

Keywords: Cell lines; Chorioallantoic membrane; Human squamous cell carcinoma; In vivo cancer model; NOTCH1 mutation; UM-SCC; WNT pathway inhibition; WNT974.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / secondary
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chick Embryo
  • Chorioallantoic Membrane / metabolism*
  • Chorioallantoic Membrane / pathology
  • DNA / genetics*
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / secondary
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mutation*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasms, Experimental*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptor, Notch1 / genetics*
  • Receptor, Notch1 / metabolism
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics*
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway

Substances

  • Receptor, Notch1
  • WNT9A protein, human
  • Wnt Proteins
  • DNA