Abstract 941: CXCL1-CXCR2 signaling might recruit the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells to the carcinoma-associated fibroblasts of gastric cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background & Aims: Activated fibroblasts in the tumor stroma, also termed carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), play a critical role in the progression of cancer. In our previous studies, we identified CAFs as playing an important role in cancer progression in the development of gastric cancer. However, it remains unclear which factor recruit and promote CAFs. The aim of this study is to clarify from where CAFs originate and which factor recruits them into the gastric cancer microenvironment. Methods: In vitro study analyzed the chemotaxis-stimulating factor from gastric cancer cells using bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells (BM-MCs). The nude mice with bone marrow transplantation from CAG-EGFP mice were used for the in vivo gastric cancer experiments. The influences of chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 2 (CXCR2) inhibitor on the migration of BM-MCs were examined in vitro and in vivo. Results: BM-MCs migrated into tumor stroma of in vivo gastric cancer. The number of BM-MCs was much greater in the gastric tumor than in normal tissue from three days after inoculation of cancer cells. C-X-C motif ligand 1 (CXCL1) from gastric cancer cells significantly (p<0.001) stimulated the chemoattractant ability of BM-MCs in vitro. Anti-CXCL1 antibody and CXCR2 inhibitor significantly (p<0.05) decreased the migration-stimulating activity of gastric cancer cells. A CXCR2 inhibitor, SB225002, decreased tumor size and lymph node metastasis of gastric tumor, and significantly (p=0.039) prolonged survival of gastric-tumor bearing mice. The histologic findings indicated that SB225002 decreased the recruitment of BM-MCs into the tumor stroma, resulting in the reduction of CAFs. Conclusions: BM-MSCs recruit into gastric tumor and differentiate into CAFs. CXCL1 from gastric cancer cells stimulates the recruitment of BM-MCs into gastric cancer locus via CXCR2 signalling. Inhibition of BM-MCs’ recruitment appears a promising therapy for gastric cancer. Citation Format: Masakazu Yashiro, Tomohisa Okuno, Hiroaki Kasashima, Yuichiro Miki, Hirohisa Nakamae, Kisyu Kitayama, Toshiyuki Kawashima, Takaharu Hatano, Heishiro Fujikawa, Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, Takahiko Nakane, Masayuki Hino, Kosei Hirakawa, Masaichi Ohira. CXCL1-CXCR2 signaling might recruit the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells to the carcinoma-associated fibroblasts of gastric cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 941. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-941