雌激素通过激活AKT通路产生的细胞因子增强子宫内膜癌细胞增殖能力

背景与目的：目前认为子宫内膜癌的发生可能与无拮抗的雌激素长期作用有关,但雌激素如何调节细胞增殖的作用机制尚不清楚。AKT信号转导通路是细胞生存和增殖的一个重要调节信号。本研究探讨在子宫内膜癌细胞HEC-1A中,雌二醇能否通过激活AKT通路产生细胞因子,以及其对细胞增殖能力的影响。方法：蛋白质印迹法(Western blot)技术检测雌二醇作用HEC-1A细胞后AKT活化情况,以及AKT抑制剂、ER抑制剂对AKT活化的影响。荧光定量PCR及ELISA技术检测雌二醇(E2组)作用于HEC-1A细胞30 min后;或雌激素受体抑制剂(ER组)、AKT抑制剂(AKT组)分别预处理细胞1 h后再加入雌二醇作用30 min后,细胞内血管内皮生长因子受体(VEGF)、bFGF、IL-8基因mRNA表达及细胞培养上清液中蛋白表达。细胞集落形成实验、流式细胞仪检测细胞周期的变化,CFSE法检测细胞增殖能力。结果：E₂组的AKT活化比值较对照组显著升高(P=0.006 2),ER组和AKT组的AKT活性比值较E2组显著降低(P=0.006 0和P=0.006 4),但不能完全抑制雌二醇作用。E₂组的VEGF、bFGF、IL-8 mRNA或蛋白的表达均明显高于对照组(P均<0.01);在ER组及AKT组中VEGF、bFGF、IL-8 mRNA或蛋白的表达均明显低于E2组(P均<0.05);雌二醇作用HEC-1A细胞后,细胞增殖数明显增多,细胞周期加快(P均<0.01)。结论：在HEC-1A细胞,雌二醇可能通过激活AKT信号通路产生VEGF、bFGF、IL-8因子,从而增强肿瘤细胞的增殖能力。     

雌二醇对子宫内膜癌细胞AKT通路中细胞因子的影响

通过17β雌二醇（E2）诱导人子宫内膜癌HEC-1A细胞产生不同细胞因子,探讨雌激素在子宫内膜癌发展中的作用。方法:以浓度为1×10-6 mol/L雌二醇（E2组）作用于HEC-1A细胞8h、12 h后,或1×10-6 mol/L雌激素受体抑制剂（ER组）、25×10-6 mol/L AKT抑制剂（AKT组）分别预处理HEC-1A细胞60min,各加入1×10-6 mol/L雌二醇作用8h和12h后;采用荧光定量PCR及ELISA技术,分别检测细胞内VEGF、bFGF、IL-8基因mRNA及细胞培养上清液中蛋白表达情况。Western Blot检测以1×10-6 mol/L雌二醇作用HEC-1A细胞15min后,细胞内AKT蛋白表达情况。结果:E2组的VEGF、bFGF、IL-8 mRNA及蛋白的表达均明显高于对照组（P<0.05）;ER组VEGF、bFGF、IL-8 mRNA和蛋白的表达,与E2组相比较,除了8h的VEGF蛋白和12 h的IL-8 mRNA表达无显著性差异及12 h的VEGF mRNA表达稍增加外,均明显低于E2组（P<0.05）;AKT组VEGF、bFGF、IL-8 mRNA和蛋白的表达,与E2组相比较,除了12 h的IL-8 mRNA表达无显著性差异外,均明显低于E2组（P<0.05）。雌二醇作用HEC-1A细胞15 min后,与对照组比较,细胞内p-AKT蛋白表达明显增强（P<0.05）。结论:雌二醇诱导子宫内膜癌产生细胞因子VEGF、bFGF、IL-8可能是通过激活AKT通路实现的。      

Expression of multiple angiogenic cytokines in cultured normal human prostate epithelial cells: predominance of vascular endothelial growth factor

The cytokines that regulate angiogenesis in normal and malignant prostate tissue are not well studied. Using an RT-PCR-based screen, we observed that cultured, low-passage normal human prostate epithelial cells (PrECs) express a variety of cytokines which have been shown to have angiogenic and/or endothelial cell-activating properties in various systems. These include vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Expression of VEGF, bFGF, GM-CSF, G-CSF, TGF-alpha and TNF-alpha in these cells was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Culture medium conditioned by normal human PrECs for periods of up to 96 hr were found to contain VEGF, GM-CSF, G-CSF, IL-8, TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 but not TNF-alpha or bFGF, as determined by ELISA. Of these, VEGF was by far the most prominently expressed angiogenic cytokine (approx. 2,500 pg/ml conditioned medium at 96 hr vs. 30 to 100 pg/ml conditioned medium for the other cytokines). PrEC-conditioned medium induced an approximately 2-fold stimulation of [3H]-thymidine incorporation in cultured human umbilical cord endothelial cells (HUVECs) deprived of the endothelial growth factors VEGF and bFGF; this stimulation was abolished by neutralizing antibodies directed against VEGF but not bFGF, IL-8, GM-CSF or TNF-alpha. VEGF expression by PrECs was not markedly altered by administration or deprivation of other angiogenic cytokines for which these cells have receptors, suggesting that there is not a hierarchy of cytokines controlling its expression; however, retinoic acid, a component of PrEC growth medium, was found to modestly suppress VEGF at physiological concentrations (0.1 ng/ml). These data suggest that normal PrECs express a variety of angiogenic cytokines, most prominently VEGF, to recruit a supporting vasculature, even in culture. Our data also suggest that the ability of malignant PrECs to stimulate angiogenesis may be intrinsic and does not need to be acquired during oncogenesis.     

胰腺癌中微血管新生及其生成因子的表达和意义

目的：以微血管密度（ microvessel density, MVD）及血管内皮生长因子（ vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF）和碱性纤维生长因子（ basic fibroblast growth factor, bFGF）为指标,探讨微血管新生及 VEGF、 bFGF的表达与胰腺癌生物学行为的相关性和临床意义。方法：采用免疫组化法,分别用抗 FⅧ因子多抗、 VEGF多抗及 bFGF单抗对 47例胰腺癌组织切片进行 MVD的测定,并观察 VEGF及 bFGF蛋白的表达。结果：胰腺癌组织中 MVD (10.32± 3.32)显著高于癌旁正常胰腺组织 (6.72± 1.73)(P< 0.01）。 47例标本中, VEGF阳性表达 27例 (57.44％ ), bFGF阳性表达 30例 (63.82％ ), MVD计数与 VEGF、 bFGF的过度表达呈正相关（ P< 0.05）。 MVD及 bFGF、 VEGF表达与胰腺癌的临床分期呈正相关（ P< 0.05）。癌组织中 MVD高者及 bFGF过度表达者术后存活率较低（ P< 0.05）。结论：瘤内 MVD与胰腺癌的生长、浸润及转移密切相关,并对判断预后有重要临床意义 ;VEGF与 bFGF的过度表达在胰腺癌微血管生成过程中起重要作用,提示两者及其受体可作为抗血管生成以治疗胰腺癌的靶点,或监测疗效的指标。     

An in vitro tumor model: analysis of angiogenic factor expression after chemotherapy

Tumor tissues include malignant cells and a stroma made up of mainly inflammatory cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. To differentiate the effects of treatment on angiogenic cytokine secretion in tumor tissue, exponential and stationary phase human CaKi-1 renal cell carcinoma cells, human SW2 small cell lung carcinoma cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), murine NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, and murine RAW264.7 macrophages were exposed to gemcitabine, paclitaxel, carboplatin, and the protein kinase Cbeta inhibitor LY317615, and secretion (24 h) of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta was determined by a Luminex FlowMetrix assay. After 72 h of exposure, exponential RAW, 3T3, and SW2 cells were sensitive to gemcitabine; exponential and stationary SW2 and HUVECs were sensitive to paclitaxel; and exponential and stationary HUVECs were most sensitive to LY317615. None of the cells secreted detectable tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Generally, exponential cells secreted higher levels of cytokines than stationary cells (stationary cells secreted approximately 10 times less TGF-beta). Only malignant cells secreted VEGF (80-300 pg/10(6) cells). VEGF secretion by exponential SW2 cells decreased in an anticancer agent concentration-dependent manner. Every cell type secreted TGF-beta (40-700 pg/10(6) cells). Exponential 3T3, RAW, CaKi-1, and SW2 cells secreted the most TGF-beta, and levels did not decrease with treatment. Only CaKi-1, SW2, and HUVECs secreted bFGF (0.5-50 pg/10(6) cells). CaKi-1 cells increased secretion of bFGF with therapy. Although malignant cells alone secreted VEGF, stromal cells secreted TGF-beta and bFGF at levels comparable with or greater than malignant cells and thus may be important contributors to tumor growth and progression.     

Highly metastatic human prostate cancer growing within the prostate of athymic mice overexpresses vascular endothelial growth factor.

Angiogenesis is essential for tumor progression and metastasis. It is mediated by the release of angiogenic factors by the tumor or host. We analyzed the expression of angiogenic factors by the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP and two derived variants, in vitro and in vivo, to determine whether metastatic cell lines express higher levels of these factors. The production of three angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and interleukin 8 (IL-8), by LNCaP and its variants, LNCaP-LN3 (highly metastatic) and LNCaP-Pro5 (slightly metastatic), was measured by ELISA. VEGF, bFGF, and IL-8 mRNA expression was determined in vitro by Northern blot analysis. VEGF mRNA expression was determined in vivo by in situ hybridization. VEGF and flk-1 protein expression and microvessel density of LNCaP cell tumors were quantified by immunohistochemistry. In vitro, VEGF production by LNCaP-LN3 (3.15+/-0.04 pg/ml/10(3) cells) was significantly higher than those of both LNCaP (2.38+/-0.34 pg/ml/10(3) cells) and LNCaP-Pro5 (1.67+/-0.37 pg/ml/10(3) cells; P = 0.049 and 0.001, respectively). None of the three cell lines produced detectable levels of bFGF or IL-8 in vitro. In vivo, LNCaP-LN3 tumors exhibited higher levels of VEGF mRNA and protein (152.2+/-28.5 and 200.5+/-28.3) and of flk-1 protein (156.5+/-20.6) and had higher microvessel density (16.4+/-4.2) than either LNCaP tumors (89+/-17.5, 173.3+/-23.0, 124.6+/-21.6, and 12.4+/-3.5, respectively) or LNCaP-Pro5 tumors (63+/-14.7, 141.2+/-38.1, 126.1+/-20, and 5.8+/-2.2, respectively). In conclusion, metastatic human prostate cancer cells exhibited enhanced VEGF production and tumor vascularity compared with prostate cancer cells of lower metastatic potential. Thus, VEGF may play an important role in prostate cancer metastasis.     

Protease-activated receptor-2 regulates cell proliferation and enhances cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expression in human pancreatic cancer cells

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) is a G protein-coupled receptor that is activated by trypsin. Recent studies have suggested that PAR-2 activity correlates with inflammatory processes and cell proliferation and that PAR-2 activation in non-neoplastic cells induces expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). In the present study, we examined whether PAR-2 activation regulates cell proliferation and COX-2 expression by pancreatic cancer cells. METHODS: We analyzed PAR-2 expression immunohistochemically in 40 intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and 73 invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs) of the pancreas. We used four pancreatic cancer cell lines (Panc1, T3M4, BxPC3, and MIApaca2) to measure cell proliferation and COX-2 mRNA expression after PAR-2 activation. RESULTS: PAR-2 protein was detected immunohistochemically in 85.0% of IPMNs and 65.8% of IDCs. Trypsin and a PAR-2 agonist peptide, SLIGKV, stimulated proliferation of each cell line in a dose-dependent manner. Exposure of cells to anti-PAR-2 neutralizing antibody prior to PAR-2 activation suppressed cell proliferation. In COX-2-positive cell lines (T3M4 and BxPC3), PAR-2 activation significantly increased COX-2 mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that PAR-2 activation is associated with cell proliferation and COX-2 expression in pancreatic cancer cells. Blockade of the PAR-2 signaling pathway may be a novel strategy for suppressing pancreatic tumor growth.     

Interleukin-8 increases vascular endothelial growth factor and neuropilin expression and stimulates ERK activation in human pancreatic cancer

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is associated with tumorigenesis by promoting angiogenesis and metastasis. Although up-regulation of IL-8 is indicated in many cancers, its function in pancreatic cancer has not been well characterized. In this study we examined the expression of IL-8 on pancreatic cancer cells and clinical tissue specimens, and investigated the effect of exogenous IL-8 on gene expression, and signaling in human pancreatic cancer cells. We found that pancreatic cancer cells expressed higher amount of IL-8 mRNA than normal human pancreatic ductal epithelium cells. IL-8 mRNA was also substantially overexpressed in 11 of 14 (79%) clinical pancreatic-adenocarcinoma samples compared with that in their surrounding normal tissues. Exogenous IL-8 up-regulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor₁₆₅, and neuropilin (NRP)-2 in BxPC-3 cells, one of human pancreatic cancer cell lines. IL-8 expression was inducible by hypoxia mimicking reagent cobalt chloride. In addition, IL-8 activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 signaling pathway in BxPC-3 cells. Our studies suggest that IL-8 might be a malignant factor in human pancreatic cancer by induction of vascular endothelial growth factor and NRP-2 expression and ERK activation. Targeting IL-8 along with other antiangiogenesis therapy could be an effective treatment for this malignancy. ( Cancer Sci 2008, 99: 733–737)     

Tumor stroma interactions induce chemoresistance in pancreatic ductal carcinoma cells involving increased secretion and paracrine effects of nitric oxide and interleukin-1beta

Pancreatic ductal carcinoma is characterized by a profound chemoresistance. As we have shown previously, these tumor cells can develop chemoresistance by interleukin (IL)-1beta in an autocrine and nuclear factor-kappaB-dependent fashion. Because pancreatic ductal carcinoma contains many mesenchymal stromal cells, we further investigated how tumor-stroma interactions contribute to chemoresistance by using a transwell coculture model, including murine pancreatic fibroblasts and the chemosensitive human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines T3M4 and PT45-P1. If cultured with fibroblast-conditioned medium or kept in coculture with fibroblasts, both cell lines became much less sensitive toward treatment with etoposide than cells cultured under standard conditions. Furthermore, the secretion of IL-1beta in T3M4 and PT45-P1 cells was increased by the fibroblasts, and IL-1beta-receptor blockade abolished the resistance-inducing effect during cocultivation. This stimulated IL-1beta secretion could be attributed to nitric oxide (NO) released by the fibroblasts as an IL-1beta-inducing factor. Although both tumor cells secreted only little NO, which was in line with undetectable inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, fibroblasts exhibited significant iNOS expression and NO secretion that could be further induced by the tumor cells. Incubation of T3M4 and PT45-P1 cells with the NO donor S-Nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine up-regulated IL-1beta secretion and conferred resistance toward etoposide-induced apoptosis. Conversely, the resistance-inducing effect of the fibroblasts was significantly abolished, when the specific iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine was added during coculture. Immunohistochemistry on tissue sections from human pancreatic ductal carcinoma also revealed iNOS expression in stromal cells and IL-1beta expression in tumor cells, thus supporting the in vitro findings. These data clearly demonstrate that fibroblasts contribute to the development of chemoresistance in pancreatic carcinoma cells via increased secretion of NO, which in turn leads to an elevated release of IL-1beta by the tumor cells. These findings substantiate the implication of tumor-stromal interactions in the chemoresistance of pancreatic carcinoma.     

TGF-beta induced RBL2 expression in renal cancer cells by down-regulating miR-93

Purpose

TGF-beta can induce G1 arrest via many mechanisms including up-regulating p21, p27, and Rb. However, as the member of Rb family, whether RBL2 is induced by TGF-beta treatment remains exclusive.

Methods

The expression of RBL2 and miR-93 after TGF-beta treatment was determined by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot. The growth of renal cancer cells was determined by CCK-8 assays and cell cycle was determined by PI staining. The binding of miR-93 on RBL2 3′-UTR was determined by double luciferase system.

Results

In renal cancer cells, TGF-beta treatment induced expression of RBL2 in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, and RBL2 mediated TGF-beta induced growth inhibition and cell cycle arrest in renal cancer cells. Furthermore, we found that miR-93 directly targeted RBL2 by binding to its 3′-UTR in renal cancer cells. Over-expression of miR-93 significantly reduced the expression of RBL2, whereas knock down of miR-93 up-regulated the expression of RBL2. More importantly, TGF-beta treatment inhibited miR-93 expression, which resulted in up-regulation of RBL2 after TGF-beta treatment.

Conclusion

TGF-beta induced RBL2 expression through down-regulating miR-93 in renal cancer cells. The newly identified TGF-beta/miR-93/RBL2 signal pathway reveals a new mechanism of TGF-beta induced growth arrest in renal cancer.     

Bone marrow immunohistochemical studies of angiogenic cytokines and their receptors in myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia

Bone marrow specimens from 11 patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM) and seven normal controls were studied immunohistochemically to determine expression of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and corresponding receptors. Staining distribution and intensity for TGF-beta, PDGF, VEGF, TGF-beta type II receptor, a receptor for PDGF, and receptors for VEGF and bFGF were similar in patients and controls. Bone marrow from 10 MMM patients showed increased TGF-beta type I receptor (TGF-betaRI) expression in small vessel endothelial cells. Eight patient specimens had bFGF overexpression in megakaryocytes. Increased microvessel density and decreased concentration of bFGF-staining stromal cells accompanied these changes. Microvascular TGF-betaRI upregulation and bFGF overexpression by megakaryocytes may cause bone marrow microenvironmental changes in MMM patients.     

Elevated expression of TGF-beta1 in head and neck cancer-associated fibroblasts

Head and neck cancers are characterized by a vigorous desmoplastic response, but the contribution of stromal-derived growth factors to the tumor microenvironment is poorly understood. We evaluated the expression of stromal growth factor expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in normal and tumor-associated stromal cells. Stromal tissue was isolated from epithelial cells with laser capture microdissection (LCMD) and analyzed by cDNA array for the expression of TGFalpha, TGF-beta1, HGF, PDGF-alpha, IGFII, bFGF, aFGF, VEGFC, and VEGF. Primary fibroblasts were isolated in vitro from HNSCC tumors, adjacent histologically normal mucosa, and skin in vitro. Fibroblast populations were assessed for TGF-beta1 expression by ELISA and luciferase reporter assay to assess protein expression. We identified TGF-beta1 and IGFII overexpression in normal and tumor-associated stromal cells; however, only TGF-beta1 was significantly overexpressed (3.4-fold) in tumor-associated stroma. Assessment of carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), normal dermal fibroblasts (NDFs), and normal mucosal fibroblasts (NMFs) in propagated fibroblasts demonstrated persistently elevated levels of TGF-beta1 in CAFs compared to NMF and NDF populations. Elevated levels of TGF-beta1 were identified in the stromal compartment of HNSCC tumors compared to normal mucosa by immunohistochemical analysis. These results suggest that TGF-beta1 mRNA and protein is specifically upregulated in CAFs in vitro and in vivo.     

Potential involvement of IL-8 and its receptors in the invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells

The purpose of the present study was to examine the expression of interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-8 receptors and to evaluate the effects of IL-8 on human pancreatic cancer. We examined the expression of IL-8 and its two receptors (CXCR1 and CXCR2) in 40 surgically resected human pancreatic cancer tissues and in three different human pancreatic cancer cell lines (PANC-1, MIAPaCa-2 and Capan-2). The immunohistochemical analysis using specific antibodies demonstrated that positive staining for IL-8, CXCR1 and CXCR2 in surgically resected human pancreatic cancer was 50, 55 and 65%, respectively. Moreover, 40% of these cases were positive for both IL-8 and IL-8 receptors. In contrast, immunoreactive signals for those proteins were extremely suppressed in normal pancreatic tissues. All of the pancreatic cancer cell lines expressed IL-8 and IL-8 receptors at the RNA and protein levels. Receptor binding experiments using 125I-labeled IL-8 showed that PANC-1 cells had specific binding sites for IL-8. The cell proliferation assay demonstrated that IL-8 did not affect the growth of the three cell lines. However, treatment with IL-8 enhanced the invasiveness into Matrigel and increased the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 in supernatants of the PANC-1 cells. These results demonstrate that IL-8 and IL-8 receptors are over-expressed in pancreatic cancer, and suggest that IL-8 regulates MMP-2 activity and plays an important role in the invasiveness of human pancreatic cancer.     

Rosmarinic acid inhibits angiogenesis and its mechanism of action in vitro

Rosmarinic acid (RA), a water-soluble polyphenolic compound with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, inhibited several important steps of angiogenesis including proliferation, migration, adhesion and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in a concentration-dependent manner. RA also reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, H2O2-dependent VEGF expression and IL-8 release of endothelial cells. These findings suggested that the anti-angiogenic potential of RA might be related to its anti-oxidative activity, which further resulted in the inhibition of ROS-associated VEGF expression and IL-8 release.     

Differential expression of progression-related genes in the evolution of superficial to invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

It is generally accepted that there are dichotomous biologic pathways that lead to the development of either: i) superficial papillary (Ta) transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) or ii) precursor lesions to muscle-invasive (CIS, T1) TCC and muscle-invasive (> or =T2) TCC. We investigated the expression of several progression-related genes to characterize the phenotype of these tumors within these divergent developmental pathways. Using a colorimetric in situ hybridization technique, we examined the expression of mRNAs of several progression-related genes in archival, pathologic specimens from 77 patients with bladder TCC. These genes included basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-8, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Relative gene expression was quantified using image analysis. Gene expression was normalized using poly (dT) and the expression of each factor in a panel of specimens of normal urothelium. Patients were stratified according to disease stage, and the level of gene expression among the stratified groups was compared. VEGF, bFGF, IL-8, and MMP-9 expression was increased in muscle-invasive compared with superficial papillary tumors, (p<0.05) and VEGF expression was increased in muscle-invasive tumors compared with CIS specimens (p<0. 05). bFGF, IL-8, and EGFR expression was increased in CIS specimens compared with superficial papillary tumors (p<0.05). The pattern of expression of bFGF, VEGF, IL-8, MMP-9, and EGFR represent the divergent developmental pathways in the pathogenesis of bladder TCC, which characterizes superficial or invasive bladder cancer. bFGF, IL-8, and EGFR appear to be upregulated in early precursor lesions (CIS), whereas VEGF appears to be upregulated at later stages in the development of muscle-invasive TCC.     

Coordinated expression of integrin subunits,matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), angiogenic genes and Ets transcription factors in advanced-stage ovarian carcinoma: a possible activation pathway?

The events that mediate tumor progression in ovarian carcinoma are poorly understood to date. This review summarizes our results studying metastasis-associated molecules in advanced-stage ovarian carcinomas, details the co-expression of mRNA of these genes, and discusses their prognostic role. Fifty-five primary and metastatic FIGO stage III-IV ovarian carcinomas were analyzed for the expression of alpha v and beta1 integrin subunits, the matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2, MMP-9, and MT1-MMP, the MMP inhibitor TIMP-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), interleukin-8 (IL-8), PEA3 and Ets-1 using mRNA in situ hybridization. Tumor and adjacent stromal cell expression was scored. The association between integrin subunit expression and the expression of MMP, TIMP-2, angiogenic genes, PEA3 and Ets-1 was statistically analyzed. Alpha v integrin subunit mRNA expression in carcinoma cells showed significant association with that of MMP-2 and IL-8 in this cellular compartment, while the presence of beta1 integrin subunit mRNA showed similar association with that of PEA3, Ets-1, IL-8, bFGF and MMP-2. Expression of beta1 integrin subunit mRNA in stromal cells was associated with that of TIMP-2 and Ets-1 in this compartment. In addition, significant intercellular associations were found between alpha v integrin subunit mRNA expression in carcinoma cells and stromal cell expression of Ets-1, as well as between stromal cell expression of alpha v integrin subunit and labeling for IL-8 in carcinoma cells. The presence of beta1 integrin subunit mRNA in carcinoma cells showed a significant association with that of Ets-1, IL-8 and bFGF in stromal cells, while the presence of beta1 integrin subunit mRNA in stromal cells was associated with tumor PEA3 mRNA expression. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first evidence for coordinated autocrine and paracrine expression of members of these four families of metastasis-associated genes in human cancer. The results of this analysis support experimental data regarding cross-talk between carcinoma cells and peritumoral fibroblasts. They also suggest the existence of a putative activation sequence of metastatic genes, involving the beta1 (and possibly alpha v) integrin subunits, IL-8, PEA3, Ets-1 and MMP in ovarian carcinoma.     

TGF-beta1 secreted by gastric fibroblasts up-regulates CD44H expression and stimulates the peritoneal metastatic ability of scirrhous gastric cancer cells

Gastric fibroblast-derived conditioned medium and TGF-beta1 stimulated the adhesion ability of scirrhous gastric cancer cells to mesothelial cells, but not that of well-differentiated gastric cancer cells. The CD44H expression of scirrhous gastric cancer cells was significantly up-regulated by gastric fibroblast-derived CM and TGF-beta1. The stimulated adhesion ability and CD44H expression was significantly inhibited by anti TGF-beta1 neutralizing antibody. These findings suggested that TGF-beta1 secreted by gastric fibroblasts up-regulated the CD44H expression of scirrhous gastric cancer cells, which resulted in the stimulation of the adhesion ability of scirrhous gastric cancer cells to the mesothelium, and increased the peritoneal dissemination potential. These results might explain one of the reasons why scirrhous gastric carcinomas develop frequent peritoneal dissemination.