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Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor and Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Promote Malignant Growth of Cells from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas In vivo

¹ Group of Tumour and Microenvironment and ² Division of Carcinogenesis and Differentiation, German Cancer Research Centre; ³ Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University Clinics Heidelberg; and ⁴ Division of Neurosurgical Research, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

Requests for reprints: Margareta M. Mueller, Group of Tumour and Microenvironment, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Phone: 49-6221-424533; Fax: 49-6221-424551; E-mail: ma.mueller{at}dkfz.de.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) are used to ameliorate cancer therapy-induced neutropenia and mucositis. Yet, first data in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) indicate an impaired long-term prognosis on G-CSF treatment, and previous studies showed a contribution of both factors to the progression of human epithelial tumors. Therefore, we investigate the role of G-CSF and GM-CSF in progression of tumor cells from human HNSCC. Both factors stimulated proliferation and migration of tumor cell lines established from patient tumors expressing G-CSF and GM-CSF and/or their receptors. Blockade of G-CSF and GM-CSF inhibited tumor cell invasion in a three-dimensional organotypic culture model. The contribution of both factors to tumor malignancy was further confirmed in nude mouse transplants in vivo. Invasive and malignant growth yielding a similar tumor phenotype as the original patient tumor was exclusively observed in G-CSF- and GM-CSF-expressing tumors and was associated with enhanced and persistent angiogenesis and enhanced inflammatory cell recruitment. Although factor-negative tumors grew somewhat faster, they were characterized by lack of invasion, reduced and transient angiogenesis, and large necrotic areas. These data provide evidence for a progression-promoting effect of G-CSF and GM-CSF in human HNSCC and suggest further detailed evaluation of their use in the therapy of these tumors. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(16): 8026-36)

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