Abstract IA024: Identification of a “hypoxic secretome” and its role in metastasis
Authors: Eisinger T.S. Karin , Liu Ying , Murazzi Ileana 
Published: September 2022

Only a small percentage of disseminating tumor cells are capable of forming lethal metastatic foci. Though advances in sequencing and genomics have dramatically enhanced our understanding of primary tumor biology and novel target identification, these techniques alone have not proven sufficient to identify the factors that permit metastasis of this small cellular fraction. For example, we observed that in some tumors the major molecular predictor of metastatic potential is HIF1α protein stabilization in response to low intratumoral O2 tension (hypoxia). These observations clearly show that in-depth understanding of environmental signals and subsequent cellular responses is necessary to fully characterize metastatic potential. Consistent with our earlier observations, we discovered that the collagen-modifying enzyme PLOD2, a direct transcriptional target of HIF1α, dramatically enhances both early (cell migration/invasion) and late (extravasation/lung colonization) steps of the metastatic cascade. We previously reported the role of PLOD2 in modulating the primary tumor microenvironment to facilitate cell migration and intravasation. However, the mechanisms by which PLOD2 and tumor associated collagen impact later metastatic stages (i.e., endothelial adherence, extravasation) are unknown- in part because these processes are particularly difficult to simulate in vitro and to visualize in vivo. Therefore, we have developed new models and tools including a zebrafish embryo xenograft system to image migrating and extravasating tumor cells in vivo. This approach allows us to investigate the late metastatic cascade and define the microenvironmental cues that promote tumor cell dissemination. We also observed that PLOD2-modified collagen is secreted into the extracellular milieu during dissemination and weakens endothelial barrier function. We are investigating the role of tumor collagen and PLOD2 in endothelial adherence and extravasation for the purpose of therapeutically targeting the molecular underpinnings of metastases. Our work focuses on soft tissue sarcomas. However, recent studies by other groups have linked PLOD2 and modified collagen to carcinoma metastasis as well, suggesting a broader applicability for our work. Ultimately, we believe these studies will transform our ability to treat and even prevent metastasis, a unique possibility in sarcoma patients due to the relatively long interval between primary tumor diagnosis and metastatic outgrowth in some patients (5-10 years). The tools we have developed and the mechanisms we are pursuing will open new avenues of research that were once inaccessible and lead to novel therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of metastatic disease in multiple cancer contexts.

Citation Format: T.S. Karin Eisinger, Ying Liu, Ileana Murazzi. Identification of a “hypoxic secretome” and its role in metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Sarcomas; 2022 May 9-12; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2022;28(18_Suppl):Abstract nr IA024.