New Blocking Antibodies against Novel AGR2–C4.4A Pathway Reduce Growth and Metastasis of Pancreatic Tumors and Increase Survival in Mice

Anterior gradient 2 (AGR2) promotes cancer growth, metastasis and resistance to therapy via unknown mechanisms. We investigated the effects of extracellular AGR2 signaling through the orphan GPI-linked receptor C4.4A in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Proliferation, migration and invasion and apoptosis were measured using colorimetric, Boyden chamber, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses. We developed blocking monoclonal antibodies against AGR2 and C4.4A and tested their effects, along with siRNAs, on cancer cell functions and on orthotopic tumors in nude mice. Extracellular AGR2 stimulated proliferation, migration, invasion and chemoresistance of PDAC cell lines. AGR2 interacted with C4.4A in cell lysates and mixtures of recombinant proteins. Knockdown of C4.4A reduced migration and resistance to gemcitabine. PDAC tissues, but not adjacent healthy pancreatic tissues, expressed high levels of AGR2 and C4.4A. AGR2 signaling through C4.4A required laminins 1 or 5 and integrin β1. Administration of antibodies against AGR2 and C4.4A reduced growth and metastasis and caused regression of aggressive xenograft tumors leading to increased survival of mice. These data support a model in which AGR2 binds and signals via C4.4A in an autocrine loop and promotes the growth of pancreas tumors in mice. Blocking monoclonal antibodies against AGR2 and C4.4A may have therapeutic potential against PDAC.