Single‑agent nintedanib suppresses metastatic osteosarcoma growth by inhibiting tumor vascular formation

Shimizu,Takatsune; Sagara,Atsunobu; Fukuchi,Yumi; Muto,Akihiro

doi:10.3892/ol.2024.14254

Single‑agent nintedanib suppresses metastatic osteosarcoma growth by inhibiting tumor vascular formation

Authors:
- Takatsune Shimizu
- Atsunobu Sagara
- Yumi Fukuchi
- Akihiro Muto
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Affiliations: Department of Pathophysiology, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hoshi University, Tokyo 142‑8501, Japan, Division of Applied Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hoshi University, Tokyo 142‑8501, Japan
Published online on: January 25, 2024 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2024.14254
Article Number: 123
Copyright: © Shimizu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

New therapeutic approaches are needed for osteosarcoma, which is the most common malignancy of the bone, especially for metastatic cases. Nintedanib is a potent, oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which blocks a variety of receptor signals, including fibroblast growth factor receptors, vascular endothelial growth factor receptors and platelet‑derived growth factor receptors. The present study assessed the effect of nintedanib on previously developed mouse AXT osteosarcoma cells, and on AXT‑derived osteosarcoma developed in C57BL/6 mice, which displays lethal tumors with osteoid formation and lung metastatic lesions that mimics human disease. In vitro analysis, including flow cytometry and immunoblotting, revealed that nintedanib inhibited AXT cell proliferation and cell cycle progression, induced apoptosis, and inactivated AKT and ERK1/2. Immunoblot analysis using tumor lysates demonstrated that nintedanib inhibited its target molecules in vivo. As a single agent, nintedanib decreased the size of primary AXT‑derived osteosarcoma, and reduced circulating tumor cells and lung metastasis. Immunohistochemical findings indicated that nintedanib exerted antitumor activity mainly by inhibiting the formation of CD31‑positive tumor vasculature, while αSMA‑positive cells were still enriched in tumors after nintedanib treatment. In addition, nintedanib exhibited an anti‑osteosarcoma effect on C57BL/6 severe combined immunodeficient mice in which T‑ and B‑cell function is obsolete, suggesting that the antitumor effect of nintedanib was not attributable to antitumor immunity. Collectively, these findings indicated that nintedanib holds potential for treating osteosarcoma.

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