Inhibitory effect of soluble EP2 receptor on ovarian tumor growth in nude mice and utility of TMPRSS4 as a combinatorial molecular target

Int J Oncol. 2013 Aug;43(2):416-24. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2013.1957. Epub 2013 May 24.

Abstract

We have previously reported that FuEP2/Ex2, a soluble decoy receptor for PGE2, suppresses tumor growth in an orthotopic xenograft model. To examine whether it has further uses, we examined the effect of FuEP2/Ex2 in an intraperitoneal metastasis model of ovarian cancer cells. We established FuEP2/Ex2-expressing ovarian cancer cells (SKOV/ip-FuEP2/Ex2) and injected them intraperitoneally into female nude mice. Mice injected with SKOV/ip-FuEP2/Ex2 had no ascitic fluid and showed smaller tumor lesions compared to mice injected with vector control cells, with decreased microvessel density and M2 macrophages. To identify molecular targets for combination treatment, we conducted cDNA microarray analysis and found three genes encoding enzyme [matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), transmembrane protease serin 4 (TMPRSS4) and cytocrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1)] to be upregulated in SKOV/ip-FuEP2/Ex2-derived tumors. Administration of TMPRSS4 inhibitor further reduced tumor weight and decreased the number of Ki-67‑positive cells in SKOV/ip-FuEP2/Ex2-injected mice. These data indicate a possible EP-targeting strategy using FuEP2/Ex2 in the treatment of ovarian cancer and suggest that dual targeting of EP-mediated signaling and TMPRSS4 may enhance therapeutic value.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / biosynthesis
  • Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / genetics
  • Ascitic Fluid
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Chemokine CXCL1 / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-8 / metabolism
  • Ki-67 Antigen / metabolism
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / biosynthesis
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype / genetics
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype / metabolism*
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Sulfones / pharmacology
  • Up-Regulation
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Chemokine CXCL1
  • Cxcl1 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-6
  • Interleukin-8
  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Ptger2 protein, mouse
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype
  • Serine Proteinase Inhibitors
  • Sulfones
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse
  • 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzenesulfonylfluoride
  • Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases
  • CYP1B1 protein, human
  • Cyp1b1 protein, mouse
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • Tmprss4 protein, mouse
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 7