Angiogenesis in myeloproliferative neoplasms, new markers and future directions

Angiogenesis, new blood vessel formation, is fundamental to tumor growth and spread [1]. Tumors require nutrients and oxygen to grow, and new blood vessels, formed by angiogenesis, provide these substrates [2]. The key mediator of angiogenesis is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Its expression is regulated by a plethora of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, with hypoxia and hypoglycemia being the major stimuli [3]. Little is known about the exact trigger mechanisms of VEGF expression in hematolymphoid tumors, but mechanisms analogous to those observed in solid tumors are anticipated [4, 5]. Tight control of angiogenesis is maintained by a balance of endogenous antiangiogenic and proangiogenic factors. VEGF has a key, rate-limiting role in promoting tumor angiogenesis and exerts its effects by binding to one of three tyrosine kinase receptors: VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1; fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, Flt-1), VEGFR-2 (human kinase domain region, KDR/murine fetal liver kinase-1, Flk-1), and VEGFR-3 (Flt-4) [6, 7].

The identification of an acquired somatic mutation in the JAK2 gene, resulting in a valine to phenylalanine substitution at position 617 (JAK2-V617F), has provided new insights into the pathogenesis of BCR-ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), being present in most patients with polycythemia vera (PV) and in approximately 50 % of patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) [8, 9]. Although the molecular diagnostic gap in JAK2V617F-negative PV was adequately addressed by the discovery of other JAK2 mutations, the same had not been realized for the 35–40 % of patients with ET or PMF who do not express JAK2 mutations. In December 2013, two groups reported the occurrence of novel calreticulin (CALR) mutations in JAK2/MPL-unmutated PMF or ET [10, 11]. Both groups found mutual exclusivity between CALR, JAK2, and MPL mutations. In the study by Klampfl et al., CALR mutations were not seen in 382 cases of PV but were detected in 25 % of patients with ET (n = 311) and 35 % of those with PMF (n = 203).

We and the others showed that angiogenesis and expression of VEGF and its receptors in the bone marrow of patients with BCR-ABL1-negative MPN is increased, especially in PMF [12‐17]. We found significantly increased microvessel density (MVD), particularly that assessed by CD105, and VEGF expression in MPN compared with controls (PMF > PV > MDS/MPN > ET) [12]. We observed stronger association between CD105-MVD and VEGF expression, fibrosis, and JAK2-V617F mutant allele burden, compared with CD34-MVD. CD105-MVD probably better reflects angiogenic activity in MPN than CD34-MVD. CD105/endoglin is a cell transmembrane glycoprotein and a key component of transforming growth factor-b receptor complex [18]. It is mainly expressed by angiogenic endothelial cells and has been correlated with tumor MVD [19]. CD105 is preferentially expressed by newly formed vessels [20, 21], and thus, CD105-based MVD quantification better reveals ongoing proangiogenic activity. MVD was strongly increased in MPN with high JAK2-V617F mutant allele burden. Considering correlations between the JAK2-V617F status and angiogenesis in MPN, we showed that MVD, particularly if assessed by CD105, in PV and PMF patients correlate with a high JAK2-V617F mutant allele burden (≥ 55 % mutant alleles), but not with the diagnostic level for JAK2 mutations of 3 %. These observations implicate that higher activity of JAK2-related pathways, as observed in cases with higher JAK2-V617F mutant allele burdens, may influence angiogenesis in MPN. This assumption is further supported by our observation that VEGF⁺ cellular amounts did not concurrently rise with increasing JAK2-V617F mutant allele burden regardless of rising MVD [12].

Whether this observed increased neovascularization in neoplastic bone marrow is instrumental for the neoplastic process or rather an “innocent bystander” resulting from growth factors and cytokines being out of balance can only be determined by carefully designed experiments and clinical studies where inhibition of the angiogenic process does or does not inhibit the growth of the neoplasm.

Antiangiogenic therapies are mostly based on inhibiting the binding of VEGF to VEGFR by neutralizing antibodies to the ligand or to the receptor, soluble receptors, or small molecule inhibitors or are directed against the tyrosine kinase activity of the VEGF receptors (Table 1) [22]. A growing list of antiangiogenics is now available, either in various stages of clinical development or as components of standard clinical regimens. The major classes of antiangiogenic therapy include (1) receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), targeting VEGFR signaling as well as receptors of other (proangiogenic) factors, (2) direct anti-VEGF acting molecules (anti-VEGF antibodies, VEGF-antisense nucleotides), and (3) immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) with antiangiogenic properties [22].

Small TKI that target VEGFR are a further important class of antiangiogenic drugs with application to MPN, although their efficacy in hematolymphoid neoplasias might be attributable to inhibition of a variety of pathways. Small-molecule inhibitors targeting VEGFRs and other kinases, e.g., sorafenib (Nexavar^®) and sunitinib (Sutent^®), have been approved based on their efficacy in treating renal cell and hepatocellular carcinoma [23, 24]. Vatalanib is an oral angiogenesis inhibitor that is active against VEGFR and platelet-derived growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases, thereby offering a novel approach to inhibiting tumor growth [25] by interfering with the ATP-binding sites of VEGFR. In a phase I dose-escalation study, vatalanib, a VEGFR TKI, was administered to 29 PMF patients at doses of 500 or 750 mg bid [26]. One patient (3 %) achieved CR (complete remission) and five (17 %) achieved clinical improvement. Transient potentially vatalanib-related toxicities were mild nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, or thrombocytopenia. Cumulatively, this study indicated that vatalanib had modest activity in PMF patients.

The first antiangiogenic agent to be approved in solid tumors was bevacizumab (Avastin^®), a humanized anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody. Administration of bevacizumab, in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy, conferred benefits to patients with several tumor entities like metastatic colorectal cancer, nonsquamous, non-small-cell lung cancer, and metastatic breast cancer [27, 28]. In a phase II study, bevacizumab monotherapy was tested in patients with symptomatic, relapsed/refractory PMF. A total of 13 patients were enrolled in the first stage of this two-stage trial. Among the 11 patients who received therapy, only 3 received more than 4 cycles of therapy; none of the patients achieved an objective response. Furthermore, significant toxicity, not directly related to the vascular or gastrointestinal events typically associated with the anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody preparation in other disease states, was observed. Lack of objective responses coupled with toxicity led to the decision to terminate the study early. The authors concluded that if future studies incorporate bevacizumab in combination therapy for myelofibrosis, more modest doses should be considered [29].

Thalidomide was originally introduced as sedative and withdrawn in the 1960s due to deleterious side effects. Recently, there is increasing evidence for the efficacy of thalidomide in cancer therapy. The surprising effects of thalidomide have led to the development of a series of IMiDs with even higher antiangiogenic potency [30, 31]. The interest on thalidomide as an antineoplastic agent rose after demonstration of its antiangiogenic activity in a rabbit model of corneal neovascularization that was induced in response to bFGF [32]. Thalidomide and the newer IMiDs (e.g., lenalidomide) have been shown to significantly decrease the expression of the proangiogenic factors VEGF and interleukin-6 in multiple myeloma [33]. The newer IMiDs were found to be two to three times more potent compared with thalidomide concerning antiangiogenic activity in various in vivo assays [34]. The antiangiogenic activity of IMiDs has been shown to be independent of their immunomodulatory effects [35]. In a recent study, the antiangiogenic effect of lenalidomide was studied in vitro in bone marrow endothelial cells of patients with multiple myeloma and in vivo using the chorioallantoic membrane assay. Lenalidomide exerted a relevant antiangiogenic effect in vivo at 1.75 μmol/L, a dose reached in interstitial fluids of patients treated with 25 mg/day. In vitro, lenalidomide inhibited angiogenesis and migration of multiple myeloma endothelial cells [36].

In a phase II study of 44 PMF patients, the efficacy of thalidomide monotherapy was assessed [37]. Of 41 evaluable patients receiving treatment for at least 15 days, 17 (41 %) showed a response. CR (complete remission) (without reversal of bone marrow fibrosis) was achieved in four patients (10 %) and partial response in four (10 %), and hematological improvements of anemia, thrombopenia, and/or splenomegaly were observed in nine patients (21 %). In phase II studies with lenalidomide monotherapy in patients with symptomatic PMF, the overall response rates were 22 % for anemia, 33 % for splenomegaly, and 50 % for thrombocytopenia [38]. In a combination study of lenalidomide with prednisone in 40 PMF patients [39], responses were recorded in 12 patients (30 %) and are ongoing in 10 (25 %), with a median time to response of 12 weeks. Three patients (7.5 %) had partial response and nine (22.5 %) had clinical improvement lasting a median of 18 months. Overall response rates were 30 % for anemia and 42 % for splenomegaly. Interestingly, all eight JAK2-V617F-positive responders also experienced a reduction of the baseline mutant allele burden. In a study with pomalidomide, a newer IMiD, in patients with MF, 94 patients were treated with pomalidomide with or without prednisone. Overall anemia response was 27 % and increased to 53 % in JAK2V617F-positive patients. Median duration of anemia response was 16 months. Treatment effect on splenomegaly was negligible [40].

Ruxolitinib is a potent and selective inhibitor against both JAK1 and JAK2. It is the first approved JAK2 inhibitor for the treatment of myelofibrosis. The COMFORT-I trial assessed the activity of ruxolitinib at 15 or 20 mg orally twice daily in 309 patients with PMF, or with post-PV or post-ET MF, whereas COMFORT-II trial compared the activity of ruxolitinib in 219 patients with PMF or post-PV or post-ET MF against the best available therapy (BAT). The proportion of patients with at least a 35 % reduction in spleen volume was detected by either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography at 24 (COMFORT-I) or 48 (COMFORT-II) weeks of therapy. In COMFORT-I, the reduction in spleen volume was observed in 41.9 % of patients taking ruxolitinib compared with 0.7 % taking placebo; the proportion of patients with a reduction of 50 % or more in the total symptom score from baseline to week 24 was 45.9 % in the ruxolitinib group versus 5.3 % in the placebo group [41, 42]. In COMFORT-II, the reduction in spleen volume was observed in 28 % of patients on ruxolitinib compared with 0 % on BAT after a 48-week follow-up period [41, 42]. The 3-year follow-up data with ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis showed, in the ruxolitinib arm, with continued therapy, spleen volume reductions of ≥ 35 % by MRI were sustained for at least 144 weeks, with the probability of 50 %. A total of 45 % of the patients randomized to ruxolitinib remained on treatment, and ruxolitinib continues to be well tolerated. Anemia and thrombocytopenia were the main toxicities, but they were generally manageable, improved over time, and rarely led to treatment discontinuation. Additionally, patients randomized to ruxolitinib showed longer overall survival than those randomized to BAT [43].

Angiogenic and especially VEGF/VEGFR pathways are possibly involved in the pathophysiology of MPN. VEGF/VEGFR interactions can stimulate proliferation, migration, and survival of leukemia/lymphoma cells by autocrinous and paracrinous loops. Novel agents, targeting VEGF, its receptors, and other angiogenic pathways, are in various stages of clinical development and investigation in MPN. As we know from the treatment of solid tumors, combination therapies of different antiangiogenic molecules with chemotherapy or irradiation increases treatment efficacy. However, not all patients treated with antiangiogenic therapies benefit from this kind of therapy, and in most cases, the effect is transient. It has to be kept in mind that most of these studies used anti-VEGF monotherapy to treat heavily pretreated, refractory, or relapsed patients. The molecular diagnostic gap in JAK2/MPL-unmutated ET/PMF is now partially addressed by the recent discovery of CALR mutations in the majority of such cases.