Insulin-like growth factor 1 is a potent stimulator of cervical cancer cell invasiveness and proliferation that is modulated by alphavbeta3 integrin signaling

Carcinogenesis. 2006 May;27(5):962-71. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgi336. Epub 2006 Jan 7.

Abstract

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) has been implicated in promoting mitogenic, metastatic and antiapoptotic phenotypes in several types of cancer. But little is known about the signal interaction of IGF-1 and integrin in the regulation of cervical cancer development and progression. This study is to investigate the regulatory mechanism of IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling and its importance in cervical cancer formation. The growth and invasiveness of cervical cancer cells (SiHa and CaSki) were dose-dependently stimulated by IGF-1, whereas those of normal cervical epithelial cells were not. The immunoblot showed that IGF-1R proteins were abundant in cervical cancer cell lines. In contrast, IGF-1R protein was nearly undetectable in normal cervical epithelial cells. IGF-1-stimulated invasion and proliferation were abolished by functional-blocking monoclonal antibody against IGF-1R, whereas these cellular functions were unaffected by either IgG or monoclonal antibody to insulin receptor. Functional-blocking monoclonal antibody against integrins alpha(v)beta3, but not alpha2 alpha3, alpha4 alpha6 beta1, beta4 or alpha2beta1, inhibited the IGF-1-stimulated invasion and proliferation in cervical cancer cells. alpha(v)beta3 integrin modulated IGF-1R phosphorylation by altering the rate of Src homology 2-containing phosphotyrosine phosphatase (SHP-2) recruitment to the activated IGF-1R. The modulation of alpha(v)beta3 occupancy also affected the activation of IGF-1R downstream-signaling elements, including activation of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1/2 (Erk1/2). The treatment of blocking antibody of alpha(v)beta3 integrin or IGF-1R significantly inhibited tumor growth and caused tumor regression in SCID mice model. Immunoblots of tumor tissues confirmed that the phosphorylation of IGF-1R and downstream targets of Akt and Erk1/2 were remarkably decreased in SCID mice treated with blocking antibodies of alpha(v)beta3 or IGF-1R. Thus, these data suggest that the signal interaction between IGF-1R and alpha(v)beta3 integrin plays an important role in promoting the development and progression of cervical cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / physiology*
  • Integrin alphaVbeta3 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Phenotype
  • Phosphorylation
  • Signal Transduction
  • Time Factors
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Integrin alphaVbeta3
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I