Liver and lung metastases are the predominant cause of colorectal cancer (CRC)-related mortality. Recent research has indicated that CXCR3/chemokines interactions that orchestrate haematopoetic cell movement are implicated in the metastatic process of malignant tumours, including that of CRC cells to lymph nodes. To date, however, the contribution of CXCR3 to liver and lung metastasis in CRC has not been addressed. To determine whether CXCR3 receptors regulate malignancy-related properties of CRC cells, we have used CXCR3-expressing CRC cell lines of human (HT29 cells) and murine (C26 cells) origins that enable the development of liver and lung metastases when injected into immunodeficient and immunocompetent mice, respectively, and assessed the effect of CXCR3 blockade using AMG487, a small molecular weight antagonist. In vitro, activation of CXCR3 on human and mouse CRC cells by its cognate ligands induced migratory and growth responses, both activities being abrogated by AMG487. In vivo, systemic CXCR3 antagonism by preventive or curative treatments with AMG487 markedly inhibited the implantation and the growth of human and mouse CRC cells within lung without affecting that in the liver. In addition, we measured increased levels of CXCR3 and ligands expression within lung nodules compared with liver tumours. Altogether, our findings indicate that activation of CXCR3 receptors by its cognate ligands facilitates the implantation and the progression of CRC cells within lung tissues and that inhibition of this axis decreases pulmonary metastasis of CRC in two murine tumour models.

Metastasis continues to be the leading cause of mortality for patients with cancer. Several years ago, it became clear that chemokines and their receptors could control the tumor progress. CXCR3 has now been identified in many cancers including osteosarcoma and CXCR3 ligands were expressed by lungs that are the primary sites to which this tumor metastasize. This study tested the hypothesis that disruption of the CXCR3/CXCR3 ligands complexes could lead to a decrease in lungs metastasis. The experimental design involved the use of the CXCR3 antagonist, AMG487 and 2 murine models of osteosarcoma lung metastases. After tail vein injection of osteosarcoma cells, mice that were systematically treated with AMG487 according to preventive or curative protocols had a significant reduction in metastatic disease. Treatment of osteosarcoma cells in vitro with AMG487 led to decreased migration, decreased matrix metalloproteinase activity, decreased proliferation/survival and increased caspase‐independent death. Taken together, our results support the hypothesis that CXCR3 and their ligands intervene in the initial dissemination of the osteosarcoma cells to the lungs and stimulate the growth and expansion of the metastatic foci in later stages. Moreover, these studies indicate that targeting CXCR3 may specifically inhibit tumor metastasis without adversely affecting antitumoral host response. © 2009 UICC

Bone is one of the most preferential target site for cancer metastases, particularly for prostate, breast, kidney, lung and thyroid primary tumours. Indeed, numerous chemical signals and growth factors produced by the bone microenvironment constitute factors promoting cancer cell invasion and aggression. After reviewing the different theories proposed to provide mechanism for metastatic progression, we report on the gene expression profile of bone-seeking cancer cells. We also discuss the cross-talk between the bone microenvironment and invading cells, which impacts on the tumour actions on surrounding bone tissue. Lastly, we detail therapies for bone metastases. Due to poor prognosis for patients, the strategies mainly aim at reducing the impact of skeletal-related events on patients’ quality of life. However, recent advances have led to a better understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying bone metastases progression, and therefore of novel therapeutic targets.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most frequent primary malignant bone tumour in children and adolescents with a high propensity for lung metastasis. Chemokines and chemokine receptors have been described to have an important role in many malignancies including OS. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of CXCR7 receptor in OS tissues and its role in the progression of the disease in the lungs. Immunohistochemistry was used to study CXCR7 expression in primary tumours and metastatic tissues from patients with OS. Its contribution to tumour expansion in the lungs has been also assessed using animal models and synthetic-specific CXCR7 ligands. CXCR7 was expressed on human primary bone tumours and on lung metastases. Its expression was predominantly located on tumour-associated blood vessels. Mice challenged with OS cells and systematically treated with synthetic CXCR7 ligands presented a significant reduction of lung nodules compared with untreated mice. This study shows that CXCR7 has a critical role in OS progression in the lungs, where are expressed CXCR7 ligands, especially CXCL12. Moreover, we highlight that synthetic CXCR7 ligands could represent a powerful therapeutic tool to impede lung OS progression.

Potassium channels, the most diverse superfamily of ion channels, have recently emerged as regulators of carcinogenesis, thus introducing possible new therapeutic strategies in the fight against cancer. In particular, the large conductance Ca²⁺‐activated K⁺ channels, often referred to as BK channels, are at the crossroads of several tumor‐associated processes such as cell proliferation, survival, secretion and migration. Despite the high BK channel expression in osteosarcoma (OS), their function has not yet been investigated in this malignant bone pathology. Here, using stable RNA interference to reduce the expression of hSlo, the human pore‐forming α‐subunit of the BK channel, in human Cal72 OS cells, we show that BK channels play a functional role in carcinogenesis. Our results reveal for the first time that BK channels exhibit antitumoral properties in OS in vivo and affect the tumor microenvironment through the modulation of both chemokine expression and leukocyte infiltration.