Abstract
Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of cancers occurring in tissues derived from the mesenchyme. Despite improved treatment strategies that include surgery and broad-based chemotherapeutics, survival of patients with sarcoma remains unchanged in the last 40 years with 5-year overall survival less than 25%. In part, this high rate of mortality can be attributed to the development of pulmonary metastases, a process that occurs in up to 50% of patients. We propose that preventing the occurrence or growth of lung metastases can improve the outcome for many of these patients. Our growing understanding of the dynamic relationship between inflammation and cancer has led to the investigation of anti-inflammatory approaches to treat cancer, including metastasis. Specifically, recent studies suggest a role for neutrophils in cancer metastasis, identifying a promising target for therapeutic intervention. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of myeloid cells in the metastatic process, and their potential to act as therapeutic targets during the development of lung metastases. Herein we used human and syngeneic osteosarcoma lung metastatic models together with in vitro assays to assess the role of neutrophils in this process. Our results demonstrate that neutrophils are essential to facilitate the development of osteosarcoma pulmonary metastases and that treatment with the novel anti-inflammatory agent GM1-targeted linoleate-containing TLR2 ligand (GML), known to inhibit neutrophil recruitment, diminishes their occurrence. Overall, our results suggest that neutrophils play a role in mediating osteosarcoma lung metastasis and reveal GML as a potential anti-metastatic drug therapy.
Citation Format: Liane Babes, Lauren A. Wierenga, Ngoc-Ha Dan, Xueqing Lun, Kimberly-Ann R. Goring, Stephen M. Robbins, Donna L. Senger. The novel anti-inflammatory agent GML (GM1-targeted linoleate-containing TLR2 ligand) inhibits sarcoma metastasis to the lung [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 A014.