Heterogeneous distribution of trastuzumab in HER2-positive xenografts and metastases: role of the tumor microenvironment

Most HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients continue to relapse. Incomplete access to all target HER2-positive cells in metastases and tumor tissues is a potential mechanism of resistance to trastuzumab. The location of locally bound trastuzumab was evaluated in HER2-positive tissues in vivo and as in vivo xenografts or metastases models in mice. Microenvironmental elements of tumors were related to bound trastuzumab using immunohistochemical staining and include tight junctions, vasculature, vascular maturity, vessel patency, hypoxia and HER2 to look for correlations. Trastuzumab was evaluated alone and in combination with bevacizumab. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging parameters of overall vascular function, perfusion and apparent permeability were compared with matched histological images of trastuzumab distribution and vascular patency. Trastuzumab distribution is highly heterogeneous in all models examined, including avascular micrometastases of the brain and lung. Trastuzumab distributes well through the extravascular compartment even in conditions of high HER2 expression and poor convective flow in vivo. Microregional patterns of trastuzumab distribution in vivo do not consistently correlate with vascular density, patency, function or maturity; areas of poor trastuzumab access are not necessarily those with poor vascular supply. The number of vessels with perivascular trastuzumab increases with time and higher doses and dramatically decreases when pre-treated with bevacizumab. Areas of HER2-positive tissue without bound trastuzumab persist in all conditions. These data directly demonstrate tissue- and vessel-level barriers to trastuzumab distribution in vivo that can effectively limit access of the drug to target cells in brain metastases and elsewhere. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s10585-018-9929-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.