Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor diagnosed in children. The poor prognosis of children with MB in terms of long-term sequelae challenges us to investigate new treatment modalities. Tumor growth and angiogenesis occur in the context of the extracellular matrix (ECM), the levels and deposition of which are controlled in part by secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), a matricellular glycoprotein. SPARC modulates cellular interaction with the ECM and has diverse roles in normal cells, many of which have been shown to contribute to tumorigenesis. The relative levels of SPARC expression in normal brain decreased with malignant transformation, as indicated by its decrease in immunohistochemical staining for SPARC in medulloblastoma tumor samples. Our preliminary data show that medulloblastoma cells stably overexpressing SPARC exhibit reduced proliferation, adhesion, angiogenesis and tumor growth. We hypothesize that SPARC is deregulated in medulloblastoma. The present proposal will investigate the precise biological and molecular mechanisms by which SPARC expression might contribute to improved tumor therapy.
Specific aim 1 will evaluate the underlying mechanisms involved in the anti-proliferative and anti-adhesive functions of SPARC in medulloblastoma cell lines.
Specific aim 2 will investigate whether SPARC expression can suppress pre-formed tumor growth and angiogenesis in nude mice using an orthotopic human medulloblastoma model. We will also identify the signaling networks that are altered by SPARC expression to better characterize its role in the regulation of distinct cellular aspects of medulloblastoma tumor angiogenesis.
Specific aim 3 will investigate the potential synergistic effects between SPARC expression and irradiation in medulloblastoma cells. We will first determine whether overexpression of SPARC results in radiosensitivity and possible mechanisms in vitro. We will also determine the biological significance of combining SPARC with radiotherapy using an orthotopic medulloblastoma model. This preclinical investigation will provide the biological basis for potential SPARC-based gene therapy, which could be utilized with current therapeutic modalities to affect tumor regression in patients with medulloblastoma.

Public Health Relevance

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Postoperative radiation of the whole central nervous system (CNS) is one of the major treatment methods. However, an increasing number of long-term survivors with secondary effects from this treatment highlighted the need for development of novel therapeutic approaches. This proposal represents a comprehensive analysis to determine therapeutic benefit of SPARC expression for the treatment of medulloblastoma.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA132853-02
Application #
7596479
Study Section
Clinical Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumors Study Section (CNBT)
Program Officer
Jhappan, Chamelli
Project Start
2008-04-01
Project End
2013-01-31
Budget Start
2009-02-01
Budget End
2010-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$260,620
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Illinois at Chicago
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
098987217
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60612
Chetty, Chandramu; Dontula, Ranadheer; Ganji, Purnachandra Nagaraju et al. (2012) SPARC expression induces cell cycle arrest via STAT3 signaling pathway in medulloblastoma cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 417:874-9
Chetty, Chandramu; Dontula, Ranadheer; Gujrati, Meena et al. (2012) Blockade of SOX4 mediated DNA repair by SPARC enhances radioresponse in medulloblastoma. Cancer Lett 323:188-98
Bhoopathi, Praveen; Gondi, Christopher S; Gujrati, Meena et al. (2011) SPARC mediates Src-induced disruption of actin cytoskeleton via inactivation of small GTPases Rho-Rac-Cdc42. Cell Signal 23:1978-87
Bhoopathi, Praveen; Chetty, Chandramu; Dontula, Ranadheer et al. (2011) SPARC stimulates neuronal differentiation of medulloblastoma cells via the Notch1/STAT3 pathway. Cancer Res 71:4908-19
Bhoopathi, P; Chetty, C; Gogineni, V R et al. (2011) MMP-2 mediates mesenchymal stem cell tropism towards medulloblastoma tumors. Gene Ther 18:692-701
Bhoopathi, P; Chetty, C; Gujrati, M et al. (2010) Cathepsin B facilitates autophagy-mediated apoptosis in SPARC overexpressed primitive neuroectodermal tumor cells. Cell Death Differ 17:1529-39
Bhoopathi, P; Chetty, C; Gujrati, M et al. (2010) The role of MMP-9 in the anti-angiogenic effect of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine. Br J Cancer 102:530-40