Loss of GDF-15 abolishes sulindac chemoprevention in the ApcMin/+ mouse model of intestinal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Growth-differentiation factor (GDF)-15, a member of the TGF-beta superfamily, is potently induced in the intestine following mechanical injury, genotoxic insult and following non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) exposure. GDF-15 expression correlates with apoptosis in intestinal cells and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer formation and the anti-tumor effects of NSAIDs. We sought to determine the effect of loss of Gdf15 on animal tumor models of hereditary colon cancer and in the NSAID-mediated prevention of heritable colorectal cancer.

METHODS: GDF-15 null (Gdf15 (-/-)) mice and mice with the genetic mutation found in hereditary poliposis coli, Apc ( min/+ ) were bred. Gdf15 ( -/- ), Apc ( min/+ ) and Gdf15 ( +/+ ), Apc ( min/+ ) mice were generated.

RESULTS: In Gdf15 ( -/- ), Apc ( min/+ ) mice, intestinal neoplasia formation rate and size were indistinguishable from that in Gdf15 ( +/+ ), Apc ( min/+ ) mice. Sulindac chemoprotection activity although potent in Gdf15 ( +/+ ), Apc ( min/+ ) mice was abolished in Gdf15 ( -/- ), Apc ( min/+ ) mice.

CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate in a murine model that GDF-15 does not significantly regulate heritable in vivo intestinal carcinogenesis but does mediate sulindac chemoprevention in heritable colon cancer. These data suggest that the use of GDF-15 activated signaling pathways may allow improved chemoprevention and therapies for colorectal cancer.