scholarly journals Ovarian Cancer Cells in Ascites Form Aggregates That Display a Hybrid Epithelial-Mesenchymal Phenotype and Allows Survival and Proliferation of Metastasizing Cells

2022 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 833
Author(s):  
Sonia Capellero ◽  
Jessica Erriquez ◽  
Chiara Battistini ◽  
Roberta Porporato ◽  
Giulia Scotto ◽  
...  

Peritoneal metastases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in ovarian cancer. Cancer cells float in peritoneal fluid, named ascites, together with a definitely higher number of non neo-neoplastic cells, as single cells or multicellular aggregates. The aim of this work is to uncover the features that make these aggregates the metastasizing units. Immunofluorescence revealed that aggregates are made almost exclusively of ovarian cancer cells expressing the specific nuclear PAX8 protein. The same cells expressed epithelial and mesenchymal markers, such as EPCAM and αSMA, respectively. Expression of fibronectin further supported a hybrid epithelia-mesenchymal phenotype, that is maintained when aggregates are cultivated and proliferate. Hematopoietic cells as well as macrophages are negligible in the aggregates, while abundant in the ascitic fluid confirming their prominent role in establishing an eco-system necessary for the survival of ovarian cancer cells. Using ovarian cancer cell lines, we show that cells forming 3D structures neo-expressed thoroughly fibronectin and αSMA. Functional assays showed that αSMA and fibronectin are necessary for the compaction and survival of 3D structures. Altogether these data show that metastasizing units display a hybrid phenotype that allows maintenance of the 3D structures and the plasticity necessary for implant and seeding into peritoneal lining.

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. eabb0737
Author(s):  
Zhengnan Yang ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Linjie Zhao ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Ryan C. Gimple ◽  
...  

Ovarian cancer represents a highly lethal disease that poses a substantial burden for females, with four main molecular subtypes carrying distinct clinical outcomes. Here, we demonstrated that plasma cells, a subset of antibody-producing B cells, were enriched in the mesenchymal subtype of high-grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSCs). Plasma cell abundance correlated with the density of mesenchymal cells in clinical specimens of HGSCs. Coculture of nonmesenchymal ovarian cancer cells and plasma cells induced a mesenchymal phenotype of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Phenotypic switch was mediated by the transfer of plasma cell–derived exosomes containing miR-330-3p into nonmesenchymal ovarian cancer cells. Exosome-derived miR-330-3p increased expression of junctional adhesion molecule B in a noncanonical fashion. Depletion of plasma cells by bortezomib reversed the mesenchymal characteristics of ovarian cancer and inhibited in vivo tumor growth. Collectively, our work suggests targeting plasma cells may be a novel approach for ovarian cancer therapy.


Author(s):  
Wenwei Xu ◽  
Roman Mezencev ◽  
Byungkyu Kim ◽  
Lijuan Wang ◽  
John McDonald ◽  
...  

Cancer cells undergo a variety of biochemical and biophysical transformations when compared to identical cells displaying a healthy phenotypic state, cancer cells show a drastic reduction of stiffness upon malignancy[1, 2] and change of stiffness of single cells can indicate the presence of disease [3–6]. Besides, metastatic cancer has a higher deformability than their benign counterparts[7, 8]. Using atomic force microscopy, we demonstrated that cancerous ovarian cells (OVCAR3, OVCAR4, HEY and HEYA8) are substantially softer than the healthy immortalized ovarian surface epithelium (IOSE) cells. In addition, within the different types of cancerous ovarian cells, increased invasiveness and migration are directly correlated with increased cell deformability. These results indicate that stiffness of individual cells can distinguish not only ovarian cancer cells from healthy cells types, but also invasive cancer types from less invasive types. Stiffness may provide an alternative and convenient biomarker to grade the metastasis potential of cancer cells.


2020 ◽  
Vol 168 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Zhao ◽  
Aixia Wang ◽  
Zhiwei Zhang

Abstract Ovarian cancer has ranked as one of the leading causes of female morbidity and mortality around the world, which affects ∼239,000 patients and causes 152,000 deaths every year. Chemotherapeutic resistance of ovarian cancer remains a devastating actuality in clinic. The aberrant upregulation of long non-coding RNA succinate dehydrogenase complex flavoprotein subunit A pseudogene 1 (lncRNA SDHAP1) in the Paclitaxel (PTX)-resistant ovarian cancer cell lines has been reported. However, studies focussed on SDHAP1 in its regulatory function of chemotherapeutic resistance in ovarian cancer are limited, and the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that SDHAP1 was upregulated in PTX-resistant SKOV3 and Hey-8 ovarian cancer cell lines while the level of miR-4465 was downregulated. Knocking-down SDHAP1 induced re-acquirement of chemo-sensitivity to PTX in ovarian cancer cells in vitro. Mechanically, SDHAP1 upregulated the expression of EIF4G2 by sponging miR-4465 and thus facilitated the PTX-induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. The regulation network involving SDHAP1, miR-4465 and EIF4G2 could be a potential therapy target for the PTX-resistant ovarian cancer.


Tumor Biology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 101042831769430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenhua Du ◽  
Xianqun Sha

Curcumin is a natural agent that has ability to dampen tumor cells’ growth. However, the natural form of curcumin is prone to degrade and unstable in vitro. Here, we demonstrated that demethoxycurcumin (a curcumin-related demethoxy compound) could inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, IRS2/PI3K/Akt axis was inactivated in cells treated with demethoxycurcumin. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that miR-551a was down-regulated in ovarian cancer tissues and ovarian cancer cell lines. Over-expression of miR-551a inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells, whereas down-regulation of miR-551a exerted the opposite function. Luciferase assays confirmed that there was a binding site of miR-551a in IRS2, and we found that miR-551a exerted tumor-suppressive function by targeting IRS2 in ovarian cancer cells. Remarkably, miR-551a was up-regulated in the cells treated with demethoxycurcumin, and demethoxycurcumin suppressed IRS2 by restoration of miR-551a. In conclusion, demethoxycurcumin hindered ovarian cancer cells’ malignant progress via up-regulating miR-551a.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 340-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakshi Gera ◽  
Sandeep Kumar S. ◽  
Shalini N Swamy ◽  
Rahul Bhagat ◽  
Annapurna Vadaparty ◽  
...  

Abstract The association between the upregulated Notch and FSH signaling and ovarian cancer is well documented. However, their signaling has been investigated independently and only in the primary tumor tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the interactive effects of FSH and Notch signaling on ovarian cancer proliferation, formation, and maintenance of disseminated ovarian cancer cells. The roles of Notch and FSH in ovarian cancer pathogenesis were investigated with ovarian cancer cell lines and specific antibodies against Notch and FSH receptor (FSHR). FSH upregulated Notch signaling and proliferation in ovarian cancer cells. High levels of FSH were detected in the ascites of patients with serous ovarian adenocarcinoma. Spheroids from the patients’ ascites, as well as the spheroids from ovarian cancer cell lines under low attachment culture conditions, expressed FSHβ subunit mRNA and secreted the hormone into the medium. In contrast, primary ovarian tumor tissues and cell line monolayers expressed very low levels of FSHβ. Ovarian cancer cell spheroids also exhibited higher expression of FSH receptor and Notch downstream genes than their monolayer counterparts. A combination of FSHR and Notch antagonistic antibodies significantly inhibited spheroid formation and cell proliferation in vitro. This study demonstrates that spheroids in ascites express and secrete FSH, which regulates cancer cell proliferation and spheroidogenesis through Notch signaling, suggesting that FSH is an autocrine regulator of cancer metastasis. Furthermore, Notch and FSHR are potential immunotherapeutic targets for ovarian cancer treatment.


Planta Medica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 85 (01) ◽  
pp. 41-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vilawan Payon ◽  
Chanaporn Kongsaden ◽  
Wannarasmi Ketchart ◽  
Apiwat Mutirangura ◽  
Piyanuch Wonganan

AbstractCepharanthine (CEP), a medicinal product derived from Stephania cephalantha Hayata, possesses a potent cytotoxicity against several types of cancers. Recently, we have found that CEP could efficiently inhibit the growth of mutated p53 colon cancer cells, which are often resistant to commonly used chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxic effect and the underlying mechanisms of CEP on both chemosensitive CaOV-3 and chemoresistant OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cell lines. The present study demonstrated that CEP significantly inhibited the growth of CaOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. CEP arrested CaOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells in the G1 phase and S phase of cell cycle, respectively. Western blot analysis demonstrated that CEP markedly increased the expression of p21Waf1 protein and decreased the expression of cyclins A and D proteins in both CaOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells. Additionally, CEP triggered apoptotic cell death in OVCAR-3 cells. Taken together, the above results suggest that CEP is a promising anticancer drug for ovarian cancer.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yueying Liu ◽  
Rebecca Burkhalter ◽  
Jaime Symowicz ◽  
Kim Chaffin ◽  
Shawn Ellerbroek ◽  
...  

Ovarian cancer metastasizes via exfoliation of free-floating cells and multicellular aggregates from the primary tumor to the peritoneal cavity. A key event in EOC metastasis is disruption of cell-cell contacts via modulation of intercellular junctional components including cadherins. Ascites is rich in lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a bioactive lipid that may promote early events in ovarian cancer dissemination. The objective of this paper was to assess the effect of LPA on E-cadherin junctional integrity. We report a loss of junctional E-cadherin in OVCAR3, OVCA429, and OVCA433 cells exposed to LPA. LPA-induced loss of E-cadherin was concentration and time dependent. LPA increased MMP-9 expression and promoted MMP-9-catalyzed E-cadherin ectodomain shedding. Blocking LPA receptor signaling inhibited MMP-9 expression and restored junctional E-cadherin staining. LPA-treated cells demonstrated a significant decrease in epithelial cohesion. Together these data support a model wherein LPA induces MMP-9 expression and MMP-9-catalyzed E-cadherin ectodomain shedding, resulting in loss of E-cadherin junctional integrity and epithelial cohesion, facilitating metastatic dissemination of ovarian cancer cells.


2000 ◽  
pp. 665-670 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Emons ◽  
S Weiss ◽  
O Ortmann ◽  
C Grundker ◽  
KD Schulz

OBJECTIVE: More than 80% of human ovarian cancers express LHRH and its receptor. The proliferation of human ovarian cancer cell lines is reduced by both LHRH agonists and antagonists. This study was designed to further clarify the possible biological function of this LHRH system. DESIGN: As LHRH agonists and antagonists uniformly reduce proliferation of human ovarian cancer in a dose-dependent way, the effect of low concentrations of authentic LHRH was studied. In addition, longer periods of treatment (up to 9 days) were analyzed. To assess the physiological role of LHRH produced by ovarian cancer cells it was neutralized by adequate concentrations of a specific LHRH antiserum. METHODS: Human ovarian cancer cells EFO-21 and EFO-27, which express LHRH and its receptor, were incubated for 1-9 days with increasing concentrations (1pmol/l to 10 micromol/l) of authentic LHRH or with concentrations of LHRH antiserum capable of neutralizing at least 1nmol/l LHRH. Proliferation was assessed by counting cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Authentic LHRH reduced time- and dose-dependently proliferation (by maximally mean+/-s.e.m. 32.7 +/- 4.4%, Newman-Keuls, P < 0.001) of both ovarian cancer cell lines. At very low concentrations (1pmol/l) a marginal reduction of proliferation or no effect was observed. A mitogenic effect of authentic LHRH was never detected. Treatment of ovarian cancer cell cultures with antiserum to LHRH significantly increased (up to mean+/-s.e.m. 121.0 +/- 2.8% of controls, Newman-Keuls P <0.001) proliferation of EFO-21 and EFO-27 cells. These findings suggest that LHRH produced by human ovarian cancer cells might act as a negative autocrine regulator of proliferation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 950.1-950 ◽  
Author(s):  
SH Afroze ◽  
DC Zawieja ◽  
R Tobin ◽  
C Peddaboina ◽  
MK Newell-Rogers ◽  
...  

ObjectiveCinobufotalin (CINO), a cardiotonic steroid (CTS) or bufadienolide, is extracted from the skin secretions of the traditional Chinese medicine giant toads (Chan su). CINO has been used as a cardiotonic, diuretic and a hemostatic agent. Previously we have shown that CINO inhibits the cytotrophoblast cell function. Recently other study has shown that CINO inhibits A549, a lung cancer cell function. In this study, we assessed the effect of CINO on three different ovarian cancer cell lines; SK-OV-3, CRL-1978 and CRL-11731 to confirm whether the effect of CINO is cell specific.Study DesignWe evaluated the effect of CINO on three ovarian cancer cells SK-OV-3, CRL-1978, and CRL-11731 function in vitro. Each Cell lines were treated with different concentrations of CINO (0.1, 1, 5 and 10 µM). For each cell line cell proliferation, migration and invasion were measured by using a CellTiter Assay (Promega), Cytoselect Assay (Cell Biolabs) and by using a FluoroBlock Assay (BD) respectively. Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) was also evaluated in cell lysates of CINO treated these 3 ovarian cancer cells by western blot analysis. Cell Cycle arrest and Cell viability were determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. We also performed Annexin V staining on CINO treated these 3 ovarian cancer cell lines by immunofluorescence to evaluate the pro-apoptotic protein expression. In addition mitochondrial membrane potential has also been measured for all these 3 ovarian cell lines after CINO treatment using MMP kit, by FACS analysis.ResultsConcentration of CINO at 0.5 µM inhibit SK-OV-3, CRL-1978, and CRL-11731 ovarian cancer cells proliferation, migration and invasion without cell death and loss of cell viability but cell viability differs for each cell line. Each cell lines differ in response to CINO doses for PCNA expression as well as Annexin V pro-apoptotic protein expression. CINO decreases mitochondrial membrane potential for SK-OV-3 but for CRL-1978 and CRL-11731 increases in response to CINO treatment.ConclusionCINO is cell specific, as each cancer cell line responds differently. These data demonstrate that the mode of action of CINO is different on these 3 types of ovarian cancer cells.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document