Denosumab Induces Neoplastic Stromal Cell Apoptosis Via p62 Downregulation Dependent on Autophagy Pathway in Giant Cell Tumour of Bone.

Background: As the only humanized monoclonal antibody against receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) for giant cell tumour of bone (GCTB) therapy, denosumab has limited antitumour effect on neoplastic stromal cells. Nevertheless, its mechanism of action has not yet been clarified. A previous study has revealed that p62 may play an important role in the antitumour activity of denosumab.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate if the mechanism by which denosumab inhibits GCTB neoplastic stromal cells growth is via p62 modulation and other related mechanisms.

Methods: p62 expression before and after denosumab therapy was analysed by RT‒qPCR, western blot, ELISA, and immunohistochemical assays. Two primary neoplastic stromal cells were isolated from fresh GCTB tumour tissue (L cell) and metastatic tissue (M cell). Cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and autophagy were investigated in p62 knockdown neoplastic stromal cells transfected by short hairpin RNA lentivirus in vitro. Tumor growth was evaluated in the chick chorioallantoic membrane model in vivo.

Results: p62 expression was found to be downregulated following denosumab therapy. The patients with a decrease in p62 expression had lower recurrence-free survival rates. The proliferation of M cells was not inhibited by denosumab therapy, but it was restored by p62 knockdown. Moreover, p62 knockdown inhibited tumour growth in vivo. Denosumab induced M cell apoptosis and arrested the cell cycle at the G1/G0 transition and these effects were also enhanced by p62 knockdown. Autophagic flux assays revealed p62 modulation to be dependent on autophagy following denosumab incubation.

Conclusion: Denosumab induced neoplastic stromal cells apoptosis via p62 downregulation dependent on autophagy pathway. The combination of p62 and RANKL knockdown might be a better strategy than RANKL knockdown alone for GCTB targeted therapy.