Abstract 262: Upregulation of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin by ErbB2 through NF-κB activation

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC ErbB2 (HER2, neu) is a receptor tyrosine kinase overexpressed in about 25% of invasive breast carcinomas. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a secreted glycoprotein expressed in a variety of cancers including breast carcinomas. NGAL can inhibit erythroid cell production leading to anemia. Anemia usually occurs in cancer patients and negatively impacts quality of life. However, current treatment for cancer-related anemia has potential complications. ErbB2, NGAL, and anemia have all been associated with increased metastasis and poor prognosis in breast cancer patients, although the relationship between ErbB2 and NGAL expression is not clear. Here, using breast cancer cell lines in vitro and transgenic mice carrying the activated c-neu oncogene driven by a mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV-neu) in vivo, we demonstrate that ErbB2 overexpression leads to NGAL upregulation, which is dependent on nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activity. MMTV-neu transgenic mice developed anemia after tumor onset, and anemia progression could be partially arrested by an NF-κB inhibitor and an ErbB2-targeted therapy. Taken together, upregulation of NGAL by ErbB2 through NF-κB activation is involved in cancer-related anemia, and ErbB2, NF-κB, NGAL pathway may serve as potential therapeutic targets for cancer-related anemia. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 262.