title: Amphiregulin anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotides inhibit growth and transformation of a human colon carcinoma cell line.
abstract: Amphiregulin (AR) is a secreted heparin-binding growth factor that is structurally and functionally related to epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha). GEO cells are from a human colon cancer cell line that expresses high levels of AR protein and mRNA. To assess the role of AR in colon-cancer cell proliferation and transformation, 2 different anti-sense 20-mer phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (AR AS-1 and AR AS-2 S-oligos) complementary to the 5' sequence of AR mRNA were synthesized. Both AR AS S-oligos were able to inhibit the anchorage-dependent growth (ADG) of GEO cells. The 2 AR AS S-oligos were equipotent when used in equimolar concentrations. In particular, a 40% growth inhibition was observed at a concentration of 10 microM, while a mis-sense S-oligo used as control had no effect on GEO cell growth. The AR AS-1 S-oligo used at the same concentration also inhibited by 40% the 3H-thymidine incorporation by DNA of GEO cells. The anchorage-independent growth (AIG) of GEO cells was even more significantly affected by AR AS S-oligo treatment. In fact, up to 80% inhibition of the AIG of GEO cells was observed when cells were treated with 10 microM of both AR AS S-oligos. Finally, the AR AS S-oligos were able to specifically inhibit AR protein expression in GEO cells, as assessed by immunocytochemistry. These data suggest that AR is involved in colon-cancer cell transformation, and that AR may represent a suitable target for gene therapy in human colon carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Tumori Napoli, Fondazione Pascale, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Normanno
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Selvam
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Damiano
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Angelis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magliulo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tortora
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciardiello
mesh_terms: D066258:Amphiregulin; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007700:Kinetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C587848:AREG protein, human; D066258:Amphiregulin; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense