After uncovering a mechanism that promotes chronic intestinal inflammation and the development of colorectal cancer, scientists from Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center have found that fingolimod, a drug currently approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, could potentially eliminate or reduce the progression of colitis-associated cancer (CAC).

The study, published online in the journal Cancer Cell, was led by Sarah Spiegel, Ph.D., Mann T. and Sara D. Lowry Chair in Oncology, co-leader of the Cancer Cell Signaling program at VCU Massey Cancer Center and chair of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department at the VCU School of Medicine. Spiegel’s team discovered that increased production of an enzyme known as sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) causes cells lining the intestine to produce more of a signaling molecule known as sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which activates a variety of biological mechanisms that lead to chronic intestinal inflammation and the development and progression of CAC. The researchers then used animal models to demonstrate that the drug fingolimod decreased expression of SphK1 and S1P’s receptor, S1PR1, which subsequently interfered with the development and progression of CAC, even after tumors were established.

“Perhaps the most significant aspect of this study is the therapeutic potential of fingolimod in the treatment of colitis-associated cancer,” says Spiegel. “Since this drug is already approved for clinical use, we’re hoping to initiate a clinical trial to study its efficacy in patients with CAC in combination with approved therapies.”

Essentially, the researchers discovered a self-feeding loop that results in chronic intestinal inflammation and increases the progression of CAC. The team showed that increased production of SphK1 and S1P lead to sustained activation of NF-kB and Stat3, which are both proteins called transcription factors that control the way DNA is transcribed in a cell’s nucleus in order to respond to environmental stimuli. This increased activation of NF-kB and Stat3 led to an increased production of TNF-a and IL-6, which are small pro-inflammatory molecules secreted by immune system cells. The increased inflammation, in turn, led to increased production of SphK1 and S1P, which continued the malicious cycle.

This is the first time that SphK1 and S1P have been linked to NF-kB, Stat3, chronic inflammation and CAC.

“Because one of the consequences of inflammatory bowel diseases is an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer, the next step in our research is to examine blood samples from patients with irritable bowel syndrome and colitis-associated cancer to measure levels of S1P,” says Spiegel. “Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, and we’re hopeful that this research will lead to more effective treatments.”

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Spiegel collaborated on this study with Kazuaki Takabe, M.D., Ph.D., and Tomasz Kordula, Ph.D., both members of the Cancer Cell Signaling program at VCU Massey; and Jie Liang, Masayuki Nagahashi, M.D., Ph.D., Eugene Y. Kim, Ph.D., Kuzhuvelil B. Harikumar, Ph.D., Akimitsu Yamada, M.D., Wei-Ching Huang, Nitai C. Hait, Ph.D., Jeremy C. Allegood, Ph.D., Megan M. Price, Dorit Avni, Ph.D., and Sheldon Milstien, Ph.D., all from VCU Massey Cancer Center and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at VCU School of Medicine.

This study was supported by NIH grants R37GM043880, RO1CA61774, U19AIO77435, T32HL094290, P30CA16059 and K12HD055881, a Susan G. Komen for the Cure Research Foundation grant and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke core grant 5P30NS047463.

The full manuscript of this study is available online at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1535610812004928

News directors: Broadcast access to VCU Massey Cancer Center experts is available through VideoLink ReadyCam. ReadyCam transmits video and audio via fiber optics through a system that is routed to your newsroom. To schedule a live or taped interview, contact John Wallace, (804) 628-1550.

About VCU Massey Cancer Center

VCU Massey Cancer Center is one of only 67 National Cancer Institute-designated institutions in the country that leads and shapes America’s cancer research efforts. Working with all kinds of cancers, the Center conducts basic, translational and clinical cancer research, provides state-of-the-art treatments and clinical trials, and promotes cancer prevention and education. Since 1974, Massey has served as an internationally recognized center of excellence. It has one of the largest offerings of clinical trials in Virginia and serves patients in Richmond and in four satellite locations. Its 1,000 researchers, clinicians and staff members are dedicated to improving the quality of human life by developing and delivering effective means to prevent, control and ultimately to cure cancer. Visit Massey online at http://www.massey.vcu.edu or call 877-4-MASSEY for more information.

About VCU and the VCU Medical Center

Virginia Commonwealth University is a major, urban public research university with national and international rankings in sponsored research. Located in downtown Richmond, VCU enrolls more than 31,000 students in 222 degree and certificate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities. Sixty-six of the programs are unique in Virginia, many of them crossing the disciplines of VCU’s 13 schools and one college. MCV Hospitals and the health sciences schools of Virginia Commonwealth University compose the VCU Medical Center, one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers.

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John Wallace
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804-628-1550
Virginia Commonwealth University