1. ¹Molecular Cell Biology, Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland
2. ²Department of Pathology, University Hospital, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland

Correspondence: Dr RA Schwendener, Present address: Laboratory of Liposome Research, Institute of Molecular Cancer Research, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland. E-mail: rschwendener@imcr.unizh.ch

Received 9 March 2006; Revised 18 May 2006; Accepted 6 June 2006; Published online 11 July 2006.

Abstract

Tumour-associated macrophages, TAMs, play a pivotal role in tumour growth and metastasis by promoting tumour angiogenesis. Treatment with clodronate encapsulated in liposomes (clodrolip) efficiently depleted these phagocytic cells in the murine F9 teratocarcinoma and human A673 rhabdomyosarcoma mouse tumour models resulting in significant inhibition of tumour growth ranging from 75 to >92%, depending on therapy and schedule. Tumour inhibition was accompanied by a drastic reduction in blood vessel density in the tumour tissue. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the major inducers of tumour angiogenesis and is also required for macrophage recruitment. The strongest effects were observed with the combination therapy of clodrolip and a VEGF-neutralising antibody, whereas free clodronate was not significantly active. Immunohistologic evaluation of the tumours showed significant depletion of F4/80⁺ and MOMA-1⁺ and a less pronounced depletion of CD11b⁺ TAMs. Blood vessel staining (CD31) and quantification of the vessels as well as TAMs and tumour-associated dendritic cells (TADCs) in the A673 model showed reduction rates of 85 to >94%, even 9 days after the end of therapy. In addition, CD11c⁺ TADCs, which have been shown to potentially differentiate into endothelial-like cells upon stimulation by tumour released growth and differentiation factors, were similarly reduced by clodrolip or antibody treatment. These results validate clodrolip therapy in combination with angiogenesis inhibitors as a promising novel strategy for an indirect cancer therapy aimed at the haematopoietic precursor cells that stimulate tumour growth and dissemination and as a tool to study the role of macrophages and dendritic cells in tumorigenesis.