Aberrant changes of Wnt2/beta-catenin signaling pathway induced by sodium nitroprusside in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines

Cancer Invest. 2010 Mar;28(3):230-41. doi: 10.3109/07357900903095698.

Abstract

Inhibition of Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is an attractive method for therapy of various tumors including breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer, etc. However, little is known about the role of Wnt2/beta-catenin pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Here we identify that Wnt2/beta-catenin signaling pathway is activated in ESCC cells, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and siRNA against beta-catenin not only inhibit the expressions of beta-catenin and its major downstream effectors including c-myc and cyclin D1, but induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, suggesting that Wnt2/beta-catenin pathway may be a potential molecular target for ESCC therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Nitroprusside / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Wnt2 Protein / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Wnt2 Protein / genetics
  • Wnt2 Protein / metabolism*
  • beta Catenin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • WNT2 protein, human
  • Wnt2 Protein
  • beta Catenin
  • Nitroprusside