Angiogenesis inhibitors overcome tumor induced endothelial cell anergy

We report here that tumor angiogenesis-mediated endothelial cell (EC) anergy can be overcome by inhibitors of angiogenesis. We found previously that tumor growth, known to be dependent on angiogenesis, results in down-regulation of endothelial adhesion molecules and tumor EC anergy to inflammatory signals. We hypothesized that counteracting angiogenesis induces re-expression of adhesion molecules and normalizes responses to inflammatory cytokines. Here, we present data to show that the angiogenesis inhibitor platelet factor-4 (PF4) is able to prevent basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced down-regulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Furthermore, PF4 restores ICAM-1 expression following bFGF-induced down-regulation of ICAM-1. This PF4 effect occurs at the protein level and the RNA level and it has functional impact on leukocyte adhesion. In addition, PF4 overcomes the tumor-induced EC anergy to inflammatory signals such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). Our findings may be the basis of new cancer therapies by combining anti-angiogenic therapy and immunotherapy to decrease blood vessel formation and to increase the effectiveness of inflammatory reactions against tumors.