Heparanase promotes lymphangiogenesis and tumor invasion in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors Journal Article


Authors: Hunter, K. E.; Palermo, C.; Kester, J. C.; Simpson, K.; Li, J. P.; Tang, L. H.; Klimstra, D. S.; Vlodavsky, I.; Joyce, J. A.
Article Title: Heparanase promotes lymphangiogenesis and tumor invasion in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
Abstract: Heparan sulfate proteoglycans are an important and abundant component of the extracellular matrix, which undergo substantial remodeling throughout tumorigenesis via the enzymatic activity of heparanase. Heparanase has been shown to be upregulated in many human cancers; however, its specific functions in human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) and spontaneous mouse models of cancer have not been evaluated. Here, we investigated the role of heparanase in PanNETs using patient samples and the RIP1-Tag2 (RT2) PanNET-transgenic mouse model. High heparanase expression significantly correlated with more advanced tumor stage, higher tumor grade and the presence of distant metastasis in PanNET patients. We genetically manipulated heparanase levels in the RT2 model using heparanase-transgenic mice, which constitutively overexpress heparanase, and heparanase-knockout mice. Heparanase was found to have a critical role in promoting tumor invasion, through both macrophage and cancer cell sources in the tumor microenvironment. In addition, elevated heparanase levels significantly increased peritumoral lymphangiogenesis in vivo and promoted the trans-differentiation of macrophages into lymphatic endothelial cell-like structures in culture. Conversely, we found that heparanase deletion led to increased angiogenesis and pericyte coverage. Together, these data identify important roles for heparanase in regulating several critical aspects of tumorigenesis, demonstrating that heparanase represents a potential therapeutic target for PanNET patients. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited.
Keywords: tumor microenvironment; tumor-associated macrophages; heparan sulfate proteoglycans; matrix-degrading enzyme
Journal Title: Oncogene
Volume: 33
Issue: 14
ISSN: 0950-9232
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 2014-01-01
Start Page: 1799
End Page: 1808
Language: English
DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.142
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 23644656
DOI/URL:
Notes: Cited By (since 1996):1 -- Export Date: 1 May 2014 -- CODEN: ONCNE -- Source: Scopus
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  1. David S Klimstra
    978 Klimstra
  2. Laura Hong Tang
    448 Tang
  3. Johanna A Joyce
    67 Joyce
  4. Karen Hunter
    6 Hunter
  5. Jemila Caplan Kester
    4 Kester