Targeting the Notch ligand jagged1 in both tumor cells and stroma in ovarian cancer

Purpose: Jagged1, a Notch ligand, is expressed on both tumor epithelial and endothelial cells and therefore may be amenable to dual targeting of the tumor stroma and malignant cell compartments of the tumor microenvironment. Experimental Design: We describe in vitro effects of targeting of Jagged1 on ovarian cancer cells and in vivo effects of independent targeting of stromal and malignant cell Jagged1 using species-specific human or murine siRNA constructs incorporated into chitosan nanoparticles and delivered intravenously in an orthotopic mouse model. Results: Jagged1 expression was prominent in SKOV3ip1 and IGROV-AF1, and significantly overexpressed in SKOV3TRip2, a taxane-resistant SKOV3 subclone. Jagged1 silencing with siRNA decreased cell viability and reversed taxane chemoresistance. In two different orthotopic ovarian cancer models, treatment with anti-human Jagged1 siRNA-CH reduced growth by 54.4% to 58.3% and with anti-murine Jagged1 siRNA-CH reduced growth by 41.7% to 48.8%. The combination of both species-specific constructs reduced tumor weight by 87.5% to 93.1% and sensitized SKOV3TRip2 tumors to docetaxel in vivo. Tumors showed reduced microvessel density with anti-murine Jagged1 constructs and decreased proliferation with anti-human Jagged1 siRNAs-CH. In addition, we show that Jagged1 downregulation does not sensitize cells to taxanes through a reduction in MDR1 expression, but at least in part by cross-talk with the GLI2 mediator of the Hedgehog pathway. Conclusions: Jagged1 plays dual roles in cancer progression through an angiogenic function in tumor endothelial cells and through proliferation and chemoresistance in tumor cells. Dual inhibition represents an attractive therapeutic strategy for ovarian and potentially other malignancies.