SSAO inhibitors suppress hepatocellular tumor growth in mice

• SSAO inhibitors suppressed tumor growth in hepatocellular carcinoma-bearing mice.
• The cytotoxic effects of SSAO inhibitors on H22 carcinoma cells were limited.
• SSAO inhibitor treatments did not alter H2O2 levels in tumors and sera.

Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is both an endothelial adhesion molecule involved in leukocytes emigration, and an oxidase belonging to the family of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidases (SSAOs). The enzyme activity of VAP-1 plays an important role in the migration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) into tumor site, and SSAO inhibitors can block the function of VAP-1. The effects of SSAO inhibitors on leukocyte infiltration and tumor progression were evaluated in H22 hepatocellular carcinoma-bearing C57BL/6 mice. Tumor weight and volume were measured after SSAO inhibitor treatment. Then, MDSCs recruitment and neo-angiogenesis were determined using immunostaining. SSAO inhibitors significantly blocked the catalytic activity of VAP-1 in tumor, attenuated tumor progression, and reduced neo-angiogenesis. CD11b+ and Gr-1+ MDSCs, which normally infiltrate into tumors, were significantly diminished in tumor-bearing mice treated with SSAO inhibitors. The present study demonstrated that SSAO inhibitors might have an anti-tumor effect on hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting recruitment of CD11b+ and Gr-1+ cells and hindering angiogenesis, which could be attributed to impairing the catalytic activity of VAP-1.