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Systemic Induction of the Angiogenesis Switch by the Tetraspanin D6.1A/CO-029

¹ Department of Tumor Progression and Immune Defence, German Cancer Research Centre; ² Department of Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg; and ³ Department of Applied Genetics, Faculty of Chemistry and Bioscience, University of Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany

Requests for reprints: Margot Zöller, Department of Tumor Progression and Tumor Defence, German Cancer Research Centre, Im Neuenheimer Feld, 280 D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Phone: 49-6221-422454; Fax: 49-6221-424760; E-mail: m.zoeller{at}dkfz.de.

Expression of the tetraspanin CO-029 is associated with poor prognosis in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. In a pancreatic tumor line, overexpression of the rat homologue, D6.1A, induces lethally disseminated intravascular coagulation, suggesting D6.1A engagement in angiogenesis. D6.1A-overexpressing tumor cells induce the greatest amount of angiogenesis in vivo, and tumor cells as well as exosomes derived thereof strikingly increase endothelial cell branching in vitro. Tumor cell–derived D6.1A stimulates angiogenic factor transcription, which includes increased matrix metalloproteinase and urokinase-type plasminogen activator secretion, pronounced vascular endothelial growth factor expression in fibroblasts, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor expression, and strong D6.1A up-regulation in sprouting endothelium. Thus, D6.1A initiates an angiogenic loop that, probably due to the abundance of D6.1A in tumor-derived exosomes, reaches organs distant from the tumor. Most importantly, because of the strong D6.1A up-regulation on sprouting capillaries, angiogenesis could be completely inhibited by a D6.1A-specific antibody, irrespective of whether or not the tumor expresses D6.1A. Tetraspanins have been suggested to be involved in morphogenesis. This is the first report that a tetraspanin, CO-029/D6.1A, promotes tumor growth by its capacity to induce systemic angiogenesis that can effectively, and with high selectivity for sprouting endothelium, be blocked by a D6.1A-specific antibody. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(14): 7083-94)

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