Ascitic fluid from ovarian cancer patients contains a unique growth factor which stimulates ovarian cancer cells: Characterization, purification, and mechanism of action

1988 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 136
Author(s):  
G.B. Mills ◽  
C. May ◽  
M. McGill ◽  
R. Oorne ◽  
B. Rosen ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 2343
Author(s):  
Kenny Chitcholtan ◽  
Dianne Harker ◽  
Bryony Simcock ◽  
Peter Sykes

Background: advanced ovarian cancer often presents with ascites. These ascites contain small clusters of cancer cells, which may contribute greatly to the metastatic potential of ovarian cancer in the peritoneal cavity. Therefore, understanding the unique protein expressions of this cell population will provide vital information for the development of tailored, targeted treatment. In this study, we isolate floating ovarian cancer cells from ovarian cancer patient ascitic fluid and use these cells to document that the expression of EGFR/HER-2 proteins may be essential for the growth and survival of these floating cancer cell clusters. Methods: ascitic fluid-derived cells were isolated from ascitic fluid by using Ficoll separation. Cells were cultured in a non-adherent condition for six days. The protein level of EGFR, HER-2, AKT, and ERK and their phosphorylation in ovarian cancer cell lines were determined by immunofluorescence. The immunofluorescent staining for proteins presented in ascitic fluid-derived cells determined the intensity profile of each protein using Carl Zeiss Blue software. Results: Isolated ovarian cancer cells from ascitic fluid have a measurable level of EGFR and HER-2 proteins. The inhibition of EGFR and EGFR/HER-2 positive cells with gefitinib and canertinib selectively disrupts cell viability and the protein level of EGFR, HER-2, AKT and ERK and their respective phosphorylation status. In addition, the dual EGFR/HER-2 inhibitor canertinib demonstrates greater anti-tumour effects than gefitinib in EGFR/HER-2 positive cells. Conclusion: These studies reveal an important role of multiple activation of receptor tyrosine kinases in floating ovarian cancer cells, as well as the importance of a dual EGFR/HER-2 inhibitor used as alternative adjuvant therapy in advanced ovarian cancer patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Qing Zhou ◽  
Qiongzi Qiu ◽  
Ling Hou ◽  
Mengting Wu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Emerging evidence has shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play essential roles in cancer biology and are potential biomarkers and targets for cancer therapy. However, the expression and function of circRNAs in ovarian carcinogenesis and its progression remain elusive. Methods RNA sequencing was performed to reveal circRNA expression profiles in ovarian cancerous and normal tissues. Single-molecule RNA in-situ hybridization was used to quantify circPLEKHM3 expression in tumor tissues. Cell-based in-vitro and in-vivo assays were subsequently conducted to support the clinical findings. Results CircPLEKHM3 was identified as one of the most significantly down-regulated circRNAs in ovarian cancer tissues compared with normal tissues. Its expression was further decreased in peritoneal metastatic ovarian carcinomas compared to primary ovarian carcinomas. Patients with lower circPLEKHM3 tend to have a worse prognosis. Functionally, circPLEKHM3 overexpression inhibited cell growth, migration and epithelial–mesenchymal transition, whereas its knockdown exerted an opposite role. Further analyses showed that circPLEKHM3 sponged miR-9 to regulate the endogenous expression of BRCA1, DNAJB6 and KLF4, and consequently inactivate AKT1 signaling. In addition, AKT inhibitor MK-2206 could block the tumor-promoting effect of circPLEKHM3 depletion, and potentiate Taxol-induced growth inhibition of ovarian cancer cells. Conclusions Our findings demonstrated that circPLEKHM3 functions as a tumor suppressor in ovarian cancer cells by targeting the miR-9/BRCA1/DNAJB6/KLF4/AKT1 axis and may be used as a prognostic indicator and therapeutic target in ovarian cancer patients. The new strategy for treating ovarian cancer by a combination therapy of Taxol with MK-2206 is worth further investigation, especially in ovarian cancer patients with loss of circPLEKHM3 expression.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 245
Author(s):  
N.-H. Kang ◽  
K.-C. Choi

Resveratrol (trans-3,4,5-trihydroxystilbene; RES) was adopted in this study as a novel phytoestrogen displaying antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and anticancer effects. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of RES on the cell growth induced by 17β-oestradiol (E2), a typical oestrogen, and bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) in BG-1 ovarian cancer cells expressing oestrogen receptors (ER) through down-regulating oestrogen receptor α (ERa) and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R). The EDC and oestrogen appear to promote the development of the oestrogen-dependent cancers. Thus, we need to develop therapeutic methods for EDC-dependent cancers. In in vitro experiments, we examined the cell viability and mRNA expression of ERa ± IGF-1R genes following the treatments with E2 or BPA in the presence or absence of RES or ICI 182 780, an ER antagonist, by MTT assay and RT-PCR, respectively. We also examined the protein level of ERa, phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), phosphorylated Akt1/2/3, p21, and cyclin D1 by Western blot analysis. Treatment with E2 or BPA remarkably increased the growth of BG-1 ovarian cancer cells, and their enhanced cell growth appeared to be mediated by ERa. In addition, the treatment of BG-1 ovarian cancer cells with E2 or BPA resulted in an increase in ERa and IGF-1R gene expressions. However, co-treatment of RES reversed E2- or BPA-induced ovarian cancer cell growth and mRNA expressions of ERa and IGF-1R. The protein levels of phosphorylated IRS-1 and Akt were upregulated by E2 or BPA, whereas these levels were downregulated by co-treatment of RES in the presence of E2 or BPA. Taken together, these results indicate that RES may effectively inhibit ovarian cancer cell growth via downregulating cross-talk between ERa and IGF-1R. This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) of Korea government (no. 2011-0015385).


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