Tumor metastasis is the major cause of death of cancer patients. Thus, prevention of tumor metastasis will significantly increase the survival rate of cancer patients, allow more moderate radiation or chemotherapy with less side- effects, and control the progression of tumors. One critical step of tumor metastasis is tumor cell migration and invasion. In this application, we focus on a new group of small molecules, the migrastatin analogues. We have shown that these small molecules are potent inhibitors of the migration of metastatic tumor cells, but not normal primary cells. We have shown that two of these migrastatin analogues reduced mouse breast tumor metastasis in a mouse model. We will perform preclinical discovery research and eventually develop these migrastatin analogues for cancer treatment/prevention. We have proposed three specific aims in this application. In the specific aim 1, we will focus on the molecular mechanism by which migrastatin analogues inhibit tumor cell migration. In the specific aim 2, we will examine the role of the target protein of migrastatin analogues in breast tumor cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. In the specific aim 3, we will investigate the effect of migrastatin analogues on the metastasis of human breast cancer cells in immune-compromised nude mice. The success of our study will provide a new therapeutic for cancer treatment, specifically for metastasis prevention.

Public Health Relevance

The proposal investigates potential therapeutics for treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The spread or recurrence of breast cancer is every breast cancer patient's worst fear. Unfortunately, there is currently no curative treatment for breast cancer once it has metastasized. Therefore, there is a tremendous need for new treatments for metastatic (advanced stage) breast cancer. Since tumor cell migration is essential for breast tumor metastasis, cell migration inhibitors can be developed as new drugs to treat breast cancers. The migrastatin analogues hold much promise.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA136837-02
Application #
7932076
Study Section
Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology Study Section (DMP)
Program Officer
Forry, Suzanne L
Project Start
2009-09-15
Project End
2012-07-31
Budget Start
2010-08-01
Budget End
2011-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$345,324
Indirect Cost
Name
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
060217502
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10065
Snyder, Marylynn; Huang, Jianyun; Huang, Xin-Yun et al. (2014) A signal transducer and activator of transcription 3·Nuclear Factor ?B (Stat3·NF?B) complex is necessary for the expression of fascin in metastatic breast cancer cells in response to interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-?. J Biol Chem 289:30082-9
Yang, Shengyu; Huang, Fang-Ke; Huang, Jianyun et al. (2013) Molecular mechanism of fascin function in filopodial formation. J Biol Chem 288:274-84
Yang, Shengyu; Zhang, J Jillian; Huang, Xin-Yun (2012) Mouse models for tumor metastasis. Methods Mol Biol 928:221-8
Snyder, Marylynn; Huang, Xin-Yun; Zhang, J Jillian (2011) Signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) directly regulates cytokine-induced fascin expression and is required for breast cancer cell migration. J Biol Chem 286:38886-93
Chen, Lin; Yang, Shengyu; Jakoncic, Jean et al. (2010) Migrastatin analogues target fascin to block tumour metastasis. Nature 464:1062-6