Abstract
Most patients with ovarian cancer are diagnosed late in progression and often experience tumor recurrence and relapses due to drug resistance. Surface expression of matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-14 on ovarian cancer cells stimulates a tumor-stromal signaling pathway that promotes angiogenesis and tumor growth. In a cohort of 92 patients, we found that MMP-14 was increased in the serum of women with malignant ovarian tumors. Therefore, we investigated the preclinical efficacy of a MMP-14 monoclonal antibody that could inhibit the migratory and invasive properties of aggressive ovarian cancer cells in vitro. MMP-14 antibody disrupted ovarian tumor-stromal communication and was equivalent to Avastin in suppressing blood vessel growth in mice harboring Matrigel plugs. These effects on angiogenesis correlated with downregulation of several important angiogenic factors. Furthermore, mice with ovarian cancer tumors treated with anti-MMP-14 monotherapy showed a marked and sustained regression in tumor growth with decreased angiogenesis compared with immunoglobulin G (IgG)-treated controls. In a model of advanced peritoneal ovarian cancer, MMP-14-dependent invasion and metastasis was effectively inhibited by intraperitoneal administration of monoclonal MMP-14 antibody. Together, these studies provide a preclinical proof-of-concept for MMP-14 targeting as an adjuvant treatment strategy for advanced ovarian cancer.