RNA干扰肝细胞肝癌中PECAM-1的表达对肿瘤细胞侵袭及增殖的影响

目的:探讨PECAM-1在肝细胞肝癌(Hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)组织中的表达及意义。方法:选择2013年5月-2015年6月在我院接受治疗的HCC患者100例,收集肝癌患者HCC组织及癌旁组织,另选取100例正常肝脏组织作为对照组。应用免疫组织化学法检测PECAM-1在肝癌组织、癌旁组织以及正常肝脏组织中的阳性表达。利用小分子干扰RNA技术(si RNA)构建低表达的PECAM-1,并转染至肝癌细胞中抑制PECAM-1的表达。应用Transwell小室法检测肝癌细胞的侵袭能力,CCK-8法检测肝癌细胞的增殖能力。结果:PECAM-1在肝癌组织、癌旁组织及正常肝脏组织中呈不同程度阳性表达(P0.05);PECAM-1在肝癌组织及癌旁组织中的表达显著高于正常肝脏组织,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);PECAM-1在肝癌组织中的表达显著高于癌旁组织,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);转染si RNA PECAM-1后,肝癌细胞中PECAM-1 m RNA的表达水平明显下降,PECAM-1蛋白表达也明显降低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);转染si RNA PECAM-1后,肝癌细胞侵袭及增殖能力明显降低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.001)。结论:PECAM-1在肝癌患者血清中高表达,PECAM-1 si RNA能够抑制肝癌细胞的侵袭及增殖能力,提示PECAM-1可作为预测肝癌发生及发展的临床指标。     

HIF-1α/MMP9信号通路介导低氧诱导的人视网膜母细胞瘤HXO-RB44细胞侵袭

目的:探究低氧条件下人视网膜母细胞瘤细胞侵袭能力的变化及其调控机制。方法:将人视网膜母细胞瘤HXO-RB44细胞株于常氧(21%O_2)和低氧(1%O_2)条件下培养,采用Transwell侵袭实验检测细胞侵袭能力,real time-PCR和Western blot法检测细胞中HIF-1α及MMP9 m RNA和蛋白的表达水平,荧光素酶报告基因分别检测低氧对HIF-1α、HIF-1α对MMP9启动子区域的调控作用。并进一步使用HIF-1α及MMP9特异性si RNA阻断其表达,并检测低氧对细胞侵袭能力的影响。结果:低氧组Transwell下室HXO-RB44每高倍视野细胞数目、HXO-RB44HIF-1α和MMP9 m RNA和蛋白表达均较常氧组显著上调(P0.05)。转染HIF-1α过表达质粒组的MMP9活性较空载组相比明显增加(P0.05),低氧处理24小时的HXO-RB44细胞的HIF-1α启动子活性较常氧组明显增强(P0.05)。HIF-1αsi RNA组的HIF-1α及MMP9的m RNA和蛋白表达水平较NC组明显降低(P0.05),MMP9 si RNA组的HIF-1αm RNA和蛋白无明显改变,分别转染HIF-1αsi RNA组MMP9 si RNA组下室HXO-RB44每高倍视野细胞数目显著减少(P0.05)。结论:低氧能够促进HXO-RB44细胞株的侵袭转移,而可HIF-1α/MMP9轴在这一过程起关键作用。     

RNA干扰c-maf基因表达对多发性骨髓瘤细胞凋亡的影响及机制研究

目的:探讨RNA干扰c-maf基因表达对多发性骨髓瘤细胞凋亡的影响及机制。方法:将人骨髓瘤细胞株NCI-H929分为正常对照组、转染si RNA Control的阴性对照组和转染si RNA c-maf基因的沉默组,转染48 h后,提取细胞中的蛋白,Western blot检测各组细胞中c-maf的蛋白表达,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡情况,Western blot检测凋亡相关蛋白Cleaved caspase3及Wnt/β-catenin信号通路相关蛋白β-catenin和Cyclin D1蛋白表达。结果:阴性对照组c-maf的蛋白表达与正常对照组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),沉默组c-maf的蛋白表达显著低于正常对照组(P0.01),而阴性对照组c-maf的蛋白表达与正常对照组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。与阴性对照组比较,沉默组的细胞凋亡率显著升高,Cleaved caspase3蛋白显著上调表达,β-catenin和Cyclin D1蛋白显著下调表达(P0.01)。结论:RNA干扰c-maf基因表达可诱导多发性骨髓瘤细胞凋亡,其机制可能与抑制Wnt/β-catenin信号通路有关。     

UHRF1在结肠癌中的表达及其与细胞增殖的关系

目的:探讨UHRF1(Ubiquitin-like with plant homeodomain and ring覱nger domains 1)在结肠癌组织中的表达,及其与结肠癌细胞增殖的关系。方法:采用免疫组织化学方法检测62例结肠癌组织和癌旁正常对照组织的UHRF1表达,统计分析其表达和临床病理资料和预后关系。采用si RNA抑制UHRF1表达,分析其与细胞增殖的关系。结果:结肠癌组织中UHRF1高表达,癌旁正常组织低表达。62例结肠癌组织中33例UHRF1阳性,阳性率为53.2%。UHRF1表达与淋巴结转移、远处器官转移和Dukes'分期相关(P0.05)。高表达UHRF1结肠患者的生存时间明显较低表达者短(P0.05)。单因素分析显示淋巴结转移、远处器官转移、UHRF1和Dukes'分期与患者累积生存率相关(P0.05)。多因素分析显示UHRF1可作为结肠癌患者预后的独立危险因子(P0.05)。采用si RNA转染HCT116后,UHRF1表达显著降低,细胞增殖被抑制。结论:UHRF1参与结肠癌细胞增殖,与结肠癌患者预后密切相关。     

miR-223在结肠癌组织中的表达及促进结肠癌细胞迁移侵袭的机制研究

目的:探讨微小RNA-223 (mi R-223)在结肠癌组织中的表达及对结肠癌HT-29细胞侵袭、迁移能力的影响及机制。方法:检测mi R-223在结肠癌组织与癌旁组织中的表达。通过脂质体转染法将mi R-223模拟物(mi R-223 mimics,mi R-223 mimics组)及microRNA无关序列(mi R-223 NC,NC组)转染入结肠癌HT-29细胞。采用Real-time PCR检测转染后细胞中mi R-223和TWIST的表达,Western blot检测TWIST的蛋白表达,Tranwell检测细胞的迁移与侵袭能力。双荧光素酶报告基因检测mi R-223对TWIST基因启动子活性的影响。采用Transwell迁移与侵袭实验检测mi R-223 mimic及Twist si RNA共转染后人结肠癌细胞系HT-29迁移与侵袭能力的变化。结果:与癌旁结肠组织比较,mi R-223在结肠癌组织中呈现明显高表达(P0.05);与空白对照组和mi R-223 NC组比较,转染mi R-223 mimics后的HT-29细胞中的mi R-223表达显著增加(P0.05)。与阴性对照组和空载转染组相比较,mi R-223 mimics转染组穿透的细胞数目明显增加(P0.05),且mi R-223 mimics转染组的细胞侵袭能力显著增强(P0.05)。与mi R-223 NC组和空白对照组比较,转染mi R-223 mimics的HT-29细胞的TWIST基因m RNA和蛋白表达均显著增加(P0.05)。双荧光素酶检验结果显示TWIST为mi R-223的下游靶基因。共转染TWIST si RNA和mi R-223 mimics的结肠癌HT-29细胞的迁移与侵袭能力较单独转染mi R-223 mimics的HT-29细胞显著减弱(P0.05)。结论:mi R-223可能通过上调下游靶基因TWIST水平促进结肠癌HT-29细胞的迁移与侵袭。     

卵巢癌组织中dbpA的表达及其对卵巢癌细胞增殖的影响

目的:探讨dbp A蛋白在卵巢癌组织中的表达及其对卵巢癌细胞增殖的影响。方法:通过荧光定量和蛋白质免疫印迹方法检测临床卵巢癌组织和正常癌旁组织中dbp A的表达量;设计合成针对dbp A基因的双链小干扰RNA转染人卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3和A2780细胞,用荧光定量和蛋白质免疫印迹方法检测细胞中dbp A的表达量,MTT法和克隆形成试验检测细胞的增殖能力和克隆形成能力,流式细胞术检测各组细胞周期和细胞凋亡的变化。结果:dbp A在卵巢癌组织、SKOV3和A2780细胞中表达较癌旁正常卵巢组织显著升高。沉默dbp A后,SKOV3和A2780细胞中dbp A蛋白表达量显著降低,SKOV3和A2780细胞增殖能力和克隆形成能力显著下降(P0.05),G0/G1期细胞百分比显著增加(P0.01),S期细胞百分比明显减少(P0.05),细胞凋亡率显著升高(P0.01)。结论:dbp A在卵巢癌组织和卵巢癌细胞SKOV3和A2780中过表达,沉默dbp A基因后可抑制SKOV3和A2780细胞的增殖能力和克隆形成能力。     

MicroRNA-21在卵巢癌病灶转移过程中的作用及机制研究

目的:探讨micro RNA-21在卵巢癌病灶转移过程中的作用及其机制。方法:选取本院2016年6月-2018年5月收治的138例卵巢癌患者,其中63例出现结直肠转移,75例未发现有转移。q RT-PCR分别检测两组患者肿瘤组织、癌旁组织和正常组织中micro RNA-21的表达;Western blot检测两组患者肿瘤组织中PGDH、PGE2、Twist表达。通过转染过表达载has-micro RNA-21上调A2780细胞中micro RNA-21的表达,采用平板克隆实验检测细胞克隆形成能力,Trans-well细胞迁移实验和侵袭实验分别检测细胞迁移和侵袭能力。Western blot检测PGDH、PGE2、Twist蛋白表达。结果:卵巢癌转移组肿瘤组织中micro RNA-21表达高于未转移组、癌旁组织和正常卵巢组织(P0.05),卵巢癌转移组肿瘤组织中PGDH表达低于未转移组,而PGE2、Twist表达高于未转移组(P0.05)。micro RNA-21过表达的A2780细胞平板克隆形成能力、迁移和侵袭能力及上皮间质转化相关蛋白PGE2和Twist表达均明显高于阴性对照组(P0.05),而PGDH表达的表达明显降低(P0.05)。结论:micro RNA-21可能通过抑制PGDH的表达增加PGE2的表达,进而激活上皮间质转化,促进卵巢癌转移。     

转录因子FOXM1在卵巢癌细胞中的表达及其对侵袭转移能力的影响

目的:研究上皮性卵巢癌细胞中FOXM1的表达,探讨FOXM1与MMP9之间的相关性以及与卵巢癌细胞侵袭、转移的关系。方法:采用Real-time RT-PCR、Western blotting技术检测pcDNA3.1-FOXM1和FOXM1-siRNA分别转染卵巢癌细胞株HO-8910(低转移)和HO-8910PM(高转移)前后FOXM1的表达水平,用Transwell方法检测转染该序列后HO-8910和HO-8910PM细胞侵袭能力的改变,并用荧光素酶双报告基因分析技术检测FOXM1对MMP9的调控作用。结果:与对照组和空载组相比,转染了pcDNA3.1-FOXM1的HO-8910细胞FOXM1 mRNA、蛋白表达显著升高,而转染了FOXM1-siRNA的高转移细胞株HO-8910PM FOXM1 mRNA、蛋白表达显著降低(P0.05);相对于空载体组和空白组,pcDNA3.1-FOXM1转染组细胞的侵袭能力明显增强,而FOXM1-siRNA转染细胞的侵袭能力明显降低(P0.05);FOXM1参与对MMP9的转录调控作用(P0.05)。结论:FOXM1可能是一个潜在的治疗靶点,通过下调FOXM1的表达,从而抑制卵巢癌的浸袭和转移。     

Chk1反义寡核苷酸联合顺铂抑制卵巢癌侵袭转移的分子机制

目的:探究Chk1反义寡核苷酸(CHK1-ASODN)单独或联合顺铂(DDP)对卵巢癌细胞系SKOV-3侵袭转移能力的影响,并阐明其可能的分子机制。方法:体外培养人卵巢癌细胞系SKOV-3,CHK1-ASODN单独或联合DDP处理48 h后,划痕实验检测细胞迁移能力;Transwell实验检测细胞侵袭能力;显微镜下观察细胞上皮或间质表型特征;Western blot及实时定量PCR技术分别检测上皮间质转化(EMT)特异性标志物(E-cadherin、N-cadherin)以及EMT关键调控分子ZEB1的蛋白及m RNA的表达水平。结果:与对照组相比较,CHK1-ASODN单独或联合DDP均能显著抑制SKOV-3细胞的迁移及侵袭(P0.05);细胞表现为间质化表型;E-cadherin的表达显著升高(P0.05),而N-cadherin的表达则显著降低(P0.05);ZEB1的表达显著降低(P0.05)。结论:CHK1-ASODN单独或联合DDP下调ZEB1的表达进而逆转EMT可能是其抑制卵巢癌侵袭转移的重要机制之一。     

长链非编码RNA PCGEM1促进胰腺癌细胞增殖和迁移

该文的目的为探讨长链非编码RNA PCGEM1(long non-coding RNA PCGEM1,lnc RNAPCGEM1)对胰腺癌细胞增殖和迁移的影响。通过荧光定量PCR检测三种胰腺癌细胞以及人胰腺癌组织和癌旁组织中PCGEM1的表达水平,分别在Bx PC3和Pa Tu8988细胞中转染p CDH-PCGEM1及其空载质粒p CDH,在SW1990细胞中转染si RNA和其对照si RNA,分别上调或下调PCGEM1在不同胰腺癌细胞中的表达;细胞克隆形成、CCK-8实验检测细胞增殖能力;Transwell实验检测细胞迁移能力;Western blot法检测MMP2、MMP9和E-钙黏着蛋白的蛋白表达以及荧光定量PCR检测MMP2和MMP9水平。结果表明,PCGEM1差异性表达于三种胰腺癌细胞中,其中SW1990表达水平相对较高,Bx PC3和Pa Tu8988表达水平相对较低。胰腺癌组织中PCGEM1水平高于癌旁组织。过表达PCGEM1后,细胞增殖和迁移能力增强,MMP2和MMP9的蛋白质水平增加,E-钙黏着蛋白的蛋白质水平降低;相反,降低PCGEM1表达,细胞增殖和迁移能力减弱,MMP2和MMP9的蛋白质水平降低,E-钙黏着蛋白的蛋白质水平升高。由此说明,lnc RNA PCGEM1可促进胰腺癌细胞的增殖和迁移。     

Nanog 基因在卵巢癌和卵巢肿瘤干细胞中的表达及意义

目的:探讨胚胎干细胞关键因子Nanog基因mRNA及其蛋白在卵巢癌和卵巢癌肿瘤干细胞中的表达及意义。方法:选取10例正常卵巢上皮组织、10例卵巢良性肿瘤及60例卵巢癌组织,采用逆转录酶-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)方法和免疫组织化学PV-6000两步法检测Nanog mRNA和蛋白表达水平;采用无血清悬浮培养法从SKOV-3卵巢癌细胞株中分离培养肿瘤干细胞,流式细胞术鉴定肿瘤干细胞CD117表达,采用RT-PCR和Western Blot方法检测SKOV-3卵巢癌细胞及肿瘤干细胞中NanogmRNA及其蛋白的表达水平。结果:Nanog mRNA在卵巢癌组织中的表达水平均高于正常卵巢组织和卵巢良性肿瘤组织(P<0.05);Nanog mRNA在不同分化程度及临床分期的卵巢癌组织中表达水平不同,低分化组高于高分化组(P<0.05);III-IV期高于I-II期(P<0.05);免疫组化结果同RT-PCR。从SKOV-3卵巢癌细胞株中成功分离出肿瘤干细胞,SKOV-3卵巢癌细胞和肿瘤干细胞Nanog mRNA相对含量分别为0.6044±0.0368,0.8736±0.0537,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),两种细胞Nanog蛋白相对含量分别为0.6364±0.0169 1.2788±0.0314,差别具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:Nanog基因在卵巢癌组织和SKOV-3细胞系中均高表达,其在组织中的表达强度与临床分期及病理分级关系密切,且在肿瘤干细胞中表达高于一般卵巢癌细胞,其与卵巢癌的发生发展关系密切,可能是卵巢癌干细胞的表面标志物,有望成为新的标志物。     

Gambogic Acid Sensitizes Ovarian Cancer Cells to Doxorubicin Through ROS-Mediated Apoptosis

Ovarian cancer is one human malignancy which has response portly to doxorubicin. The anti-cancer activity of gambogic acid has been tested in in vitro and in vivo studies. In this study, we showed that gambogic acid, a natural compound, could potentiate the anticancer activity of doxorubicin in ovarian cancer through ROS-mediated apoptosis. Platinum-resistant human ovarian cancer cell line (SKOV-3) was treated with gambogic acid, doxorubicin, or the combination of both to investigate cell proliferation and apoptosis. We found that the combination of gambogic acid and doxorubicin causes synergistic loss of cell viability in SKOV-3 cells and this synergistic effect correlated with increased cellular ROS accumulation. Moreover, in vivo results showed that gambogic acid and doxorubicin combination resulted in a synergistic suppressing effect on tumor growth in ovarian cancer mice model. Taken together, the results suggested that doxorubicin in combination with gambogic acid might provide a promising therapeutic strategy to enhance chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer to doxorubicin.     

LMTK2基因沉默抑制人上皮性卵巢癌细胞生长和转移的作用机制

摘要 目的：探讨狐猴酪氨酸激酶2（LMTK2）基因沉默对人上皮性卵巢癌(EOC)细胞生长和转移的抑制作用及其可能的机制。方法：通过RT-qPCR和Western-blot检测了人正常卵巢上皮细胞IOSE80和人上皮性卵巢癌细胞系（SKOV3、ES2、OVCAR-3和HEY）中LMTK2的表达,使用Lipofectamine 3000转染试剂将LMTK2的短发夹RNA（shRNA）、阴性对照shRNA、LMTK2过表达重组pcDNA3.1质粒或阴性对照质粒转染到SKOV3细胞中,并分为LMTK2-shRNA组、NC-shRNA组、LMTK2-pcDNA3.1组或NC-pcDNA3.1组。另外,使用PI3K/Akt抑制剂LY294002处理SKOV3细胞1 h。通过CCK-8法测定细胞增殖,Annexin V-FITC/PI染色法测定细胞凋亡,划痕实验评价细胞迁移,Transwell实验评价细胞侵袭。对BALB/c雌性裸鼠皮下注射转染NC-shRNA或LMTK2-shRNA的SKOV3细胞建立体内移植瘤模型,并记录接种28 d内的肿瘤体积。结果：与人正常卵巢上皮细胞IOSE80相比,卵巢癌细胞系（SKOV3、ES2、OVCAR-3和HEY）中LMTK2的mRNA和蛋白表达水平均显著升高,其中SKOV3的LMTK2 mRNA和蛋白表达水平最高（P<0.05）。与NC-shRNA组相比,LMTK2-shRNA组SKOV3细胞活力、相对迁移面积、侵袭细胞数均显著降低,而细胞凋亡率显著升高（P<0.05）。此外,与NC-shRNA组相比,LMTK2-shRNA组SKOV3细胞中Bax的蛋白表达水平显著升高,而Bcl-2、MMP2、MMP9、p-Akt的蛋白表达水平显著降低（P<0.05）。LY294002处理逆转了上调LMTK2对SKOV3细胞生长和转移的影响（P<0.05）。在接种第21天和28天时,与NC-shRNA组相比,LMTK2-shRNA组裸鼠的肿瘤体积显著降低（P<0.05）。结论：LMTK2基因沉默通过抑制PI3K/Akt信号通路降低了人上皮性卵巢癌细胞的生长和转移能力。     

TRPC3对上皮性卵巢癌细胞株迁移和侵袭的影响

目的:探讨瞬时受体电位通道C3(TRPC3)对人卵巢癌细胞迁移、侵袭能力的影响。方法:采用蛋白免疫印迹法和实时荧光定量PCR法分别检测卵巢癌细胞株SKOV3、ES-2和HEY-T30中TRPC3蛋白和m RNA的表达水平。通过Transwell迁移实验(不含Matrigel胶的Transwell小室)和Transwell侵袭实验分别检测卵巢癌细胞株SKOV3、ES-2和HEY-T30的迁移、侵袭能力。结果:在SKOV3、ES-2和HEY-T30三种卵巢癌细胞株中,ES-2中TRPC3的蛋白和m RNA表达均显著高于其他两株(P0.05)。Transwell迁移实验和Transwell侵袭实验显示卵巢癌细胞株ES-2的迁移、侵袭能力均显著高于其他两种细胞株(P0.05)。结论:瞬时受体电位通道C3(TRPC3)在ES-2人卵巢癌细胞中高表达,并可能促进人卵巢癌细胞的迁移、侵袭。     

UHRF1 Induces Methylation of the TXNIP Promoter and Down-Regulates Gene Expression in Cervical Cancer

DNA methylation, and consequent down-regulation, of tumour suppressor genes occurs in response to epigenetic stimuli during cancer development. Similarly, human oncoviruses, including human papillomavirus (HPV), up-regulate and augment DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) activities, thereby decreasing tumour suppressor genes (TSGs) expression. Ubiquitin-like containing PHD and RING finger domain 1 (UHRF1), an epigenetic regulator of DNA methylation, is overexpressed in HPV-induced cervical cancers. Here, we investigated the role of UHRF1 in cervical cancer by knocking down its expression in HeLa cells using lentiviral-encoded short hairpin (sh)RNA and performing cDNA microarrays. We detected significantly elevated expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), a known TSG, in UHRF1-knockdown cells, and this gene is hypermethylated in cervical cancer tissue and cell lines, as indicated by whole-genome methylation analysis. Up-regulation of UHRF1 and decreased TXNIP were further detected in cervical cancer by western blot and immunohistochemistry and confirmed by Oncomine database analysis. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we identified the inverted CCAAT domain-containing UHRF1-binding site in the TXNIP promoter and demonstrated UHRF1 knockdown decreases UHRF1 promoter binding and enhances TXNIP expression through demethylation of this region. TXNIP promoter CpG methylation was further confirmed in cervical cancer tissue by pyrosequencing and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Critically, down-regulation of UHRF1 by siRNA or UHRF1 antagonist (thymoquinone) induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7), which stabilises and promotes UHRF1 function, is increased by HPV viral protein E6/E7 overexpression. These results indicate HPV might induce carcinogenesis through UHRF1-mediated TXNIP promoter methylation, thus suggesting a possible link between CpG methylation and cervical cancer.     

Mutually exclusive antiproliferative effect of cell line-specific HOX inhibition in epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines: SKOV-3 vs RMUG-S

We aimed to discover cell line-specific overexpressed HOX genes responsible for chemoresistance and to identify the mechanisms behind HOX-induced cell line-specific chemoresistance in EOC. Ten HOX genes and eight EOC cell lines were tested for any cell line-specific overexpression that presents a mutually exclusive pattern. Cell viability was evaluated after treatment with cisplatin and/or siRNA for cell line-specific overexpressed HOX genes. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for HOXB9 was performed in 84 human EOC tissues. HOXA10 and HOXB9 were identified as cell line-specific overexpressed HOX genes for SKOV-3 and RMUG-S, respectively. Inhibiting the expression of cell line-specific HOX genes, but not of other HOX genes, significantly decreased cell viability. In SKOV-3 cells, cell viability decreased to 46.5% after initial 10 µM cisplatin treatment; however, there was no further decrease upon additional treatment with HOXA10 siRNA. In contrast, cell viability did not significantly decrease upon cisplatin treatment in RMUG-S cells, but decreased to 65.5% after additional treatment with HOXB9 siRNA. In both cell lines, inhibiting cell line-specific HOX expression enhanced apoptosis but suppressed the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers such as vimentin, MMP9, and Oct4. IHC analysis showed that platinum-resistant cancer tissues more frequently had high HOXB9 expression than platinum-sensitive cancer tissues. HOXB9, which is overexpressed in RMUG-S but not in SKOV-3 cells, appeared to be associated with cell line-specific platinum resistance in RMUG-S. Inhibiting HOXB9 overexpression in RMUG-S cells may effectively eliminate platinum-resistant ovarian cancer cells by facilitating apoptosis and inhibiting EMT.     

Atypical Protein Kinase C Zeta: Potential Player in Cell Survival and Cell Migration of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is one of the most aggressive gynaecological cancers, thus understanding the different biological pathways involved in ovarian cancer progression is important in identifying potential therapeutic targets for the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential roles of Protein Kinase C Zeta (PRKCZ) in ovarian cancer. The atypical protein kinase C isoform, PRKCZ, is involved in the control of various signalling processes including cell proliferation, cell survival, and cell motility, all of which are important for cancer development and progression. Herein, we observe a significant increase in cell survival upon PRKCZ over-expression in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells; additionally, when the cells are treated with small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting PRKCZ, the motility of SKOV3 cells decreased. Furthermore, we demonstrate that over-expression of PRKCZ results in gene and/or protein expression alterations of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) and integrin beta 3 (ITGB3) in SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells. Collectively, our study describes PRKCZ as a potential regulatory component of the IGF1R and ITGB3 pathways and suggests that it may play critical roles in ovarian tumourigenesis.     

An Outlook on Ovarian Cancer and Borderline Ovarian Tumors: Focus on Genomic and Proteomic Findings

Among the gynaecological malignancies, ovarian cancer is one of the neoplastic forms with the poorest prognosis and with the bad overall and disease-free survival rates than other gynaecological cancers. Ovarian tumors can be classified on the basis of the cells of origin in epithelial, stromal and germ cell tumors. Epithelial ovarian tumors display great histological heterogeneity and can be further subdivided into benign, intermediate or borderline, and invasive tumors. Several studies on ovarian tumors, have focused on the identification of both diagnostic and prognostic markers for applications in clinical practice. High-throughput technologies have accelerated the process of biomolecular study and genomic discovery; unfortunately, validity of these should be still demonstrated by extensive researches on sensibility and sensitivity of ovarian cancer novel biomarkers, determining whether gene profiling and proteomics could help differentiate between patients with metastatic ovarian cancer and primary ovarian carcinomas, and their potential impact on management. Therefore, considerable interest lies in identifying molecular and protein biomarkers and indicators to guide treatment decisions and clinical follow up. In this review, the current state of knowledge about the genoproteomic and potential clinical value of gene expression profiling in ovarian cancer and ovarian borderline tumors is discussed, focusing on three main areas: distinguishing normal ovarian tissue from ovarian cancers and borderline tumors, identifying different genotypes of ovarian tissue and identifying proteins linked to cancer or tumor development. By these targets, authors focus on the use of novel molecules, developed on the proteomics and genomics researches, as potential protein biomarkers in the management of ovarian cancer or borderline tumor, overlooking on current state of the art and on future perspectives of researches.Key Words: Ovarian cancer, borderline ovarian tumors, markers, genomics, proteomics, oncogenes.     

Leukotriene B4 receptor-2 promotes invasiveness and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells through signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)-dependent up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 2

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy in women. Despite the fact that the metastatic spread is associated with the majority of deaths from ovarian cancer, the molecular mechanisms regulating the invasive and metastatic phenotypes of ovarian cancer are poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that BLT2, a low affinity leukotriene B(4) receptor, is highly expressed in OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 human ovarian cancer cells, and that this receptor plays a key role in the invasiveness and metastasis of these cells through activation of STAT3 and consequent up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2). In addition, our results suggest that activation of NAD(P)H oxidase-4 (NOX4) and subsequent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation lie downstream of BLT2, mediating the stimulation of STAT3-MMP2 cascade in this process. For example, knockdown of BLT2 or NOX4 using each specific siRNA suppressed STAT3 stimulation and MMP2 expression. Similarly, inhibition of STAT3 suppressed the expression of MMP2, thus leading to attenuated invasiveness of these ovarian cancer cells. Finally, the metastasis of SKOV-3 cells in nude mice was markedly suppressed by pharmacological inhibition of BLT2. Together, our results implicate a BLT2-NOX4-ROS-STAT3-MMP2 cascade in the invasiveness and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells.