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SPARC enhances tumor stroma formation and prevents fibroblast activation

Oncogene volume 26, pages 4513–4522 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Tumor growth is influenced by interactions between malignant cells and the tumor stroma. Although the normal host microenvironment is nonpermissive for neoplastic progression, tumor-reactive stroma, characterized by the presence of activated fibroblasts, promotes neoplastic growth and metastasis. Secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a matricellular glycoprotein that is capable of inhibiting the growth of several different types of cancer. Recently, we reported that SPARC also impairs the growth of xenografts comprised of 293 cells. In this study, we show that in addition to enhancing stroma formation, SPARC prevents fibroblast activation in 293 xenografts, suggesting that the anti-cancer effects of SPARC may be due, at least in part, to the formation of tumor stroma that is not supportive of tumor growth. In vitro, 3T3 fibroblasts cocultured with SPARC-transfected 293 cells remain negative for α-smooth muscle actin, whereas wild-type 293 cells induce fibroblast activation. Moreover, activation of 3T3 cells and primary fibroblasts by transforming growth factor β is blocked by SPARC treatment. We also demonstrate that SPARC significantly increases basic fibroblast growth factor-induced fibroblast migration in vitro, indicating that it may recruit host fibroblasts to the tumor stroma. Taken together, our results suggest that in addition to blocking angiogenesis, SPARC may inhibit tumor growth by promoting the assembly of stroma that is non-permissive for tumor progression.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the NIH Grant NS 049814, the Neuroblastoma Children's Cancer Society, Friends for Steven Pediatric Cancer Research Fund, the Elise Anderson Neuroblastoma Research Fund, Neuroblastoma Kids and The Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, NIH, NCI Core Grant 5P30CA60553.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    A Chlenski, L J Guerrero, Q Yang, Y Tian & H R Salwen

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    R Peddinti

  3. Division of Clinical Sciences, The Institute for Molecular Pediatric Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    S L Cohn

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  1. A Chlenski
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  2. L J Guerrero
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Correspondence to S L Cohn.

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Chlenski, A., Guerrero, L., Yang, Q. et al. SPARC enhances tumor stroma formation and prevents fibroblast activation. Oncogene 26, 4513–4522 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1210247

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