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Cetuximab Attenuates Metastasis and u-PAR Expression in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: u-PAR and E-Cadherin are Novel Biomarkers of Cetuximab Sensitivity

¹ Department of Experimental Surgery and Molecular Oncology of Solid Tumors, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg and DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center), ² Interdisciplinary Thoracic Oncology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg, and ³ Department of Biostatistics, DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center), Heidelberg, Germany; and Departments of ⁴ Systems Biology and ⁵ Pediatrics, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

Requests for reprints: Heike Allgayer, Department of Experimental Surgery/Molecular Oncology of Solid Tumors (German Cancer Research Center-DKFZ-Heidelberg), Mannheim Medical Faculty, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany. Phone: 49-621-383-2226; Fax: 49-621-383-3809, ext. 1938; E-mail: heike.allgayer{at}chir.ma.uni-heidelberg.de.

Key Words: Cetuximab • NSCLC • u-PAR transcription • in vivo metastasis • therapeutic markers

Cetuximab, which blocks ligand binding to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is currently being studied as a novel treatment for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its mechanisms of action toward metastasis, and markers of drug sensitivity, have not been fully elucidated. This study was conducted to (a) determine the effect of Cetuximab on invasion and NSCLC-metastasis; (b) investigate urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (u-PAR), a major molecule promoting invasion and metastasis, as a target molecule; (c) delineate molecular mediators of Cetuximab-induced metastasis inhibition; and (d) identify biomarkers of drug sensitivity in NSCLC. Cetuximab treatment resulted in reduced growth and Matrigel invasion of H1395 and A549 NSCLC cell lines, in parallel with reduced u-PAR mRNA and protein. u-PAR down-regulation was brought about by suppressing the binding of JunD and c-Jun to u-PAR promoter motif –190/–171 in vivo, and an inhibition of MAP/ERK kinase signaling. Furthermore, Cetuximab inhibited NSCLC proliferation and metastasis to distant organs in vivo as indicated by the chicken embryo metastasis assay. Low E-cadherin and high u-PAR, but not EGFR, was associated with resistance to Cetuximab in seven NSCLC cell lines. Furthermore, siRNA knockdown of u-PAR led to a resensitization to Cetuximab. Moreover, low E-cadherin and high u-PAR was found in 63% of resected tumor tissues of NSCLC patients progressing under Cetuximab therapy. This is the first study to show u-PAR as a target and marker of sensitivity to Cetuximab, and to delineate novel mechanisms leading to metastasis suppression of NSCLC by Cetuximab. [Cancer Res 2009;69(6):2461–70]