Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor gene expression of ovarian carcinoma does not correlate with G-CSF caused cell proliferation.
BACKGROUND
Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) is a growth factor commonly used to avoid leukopenia after chemotherapy. Endogenous G-CSF is produced by macrophages and granulocytes that infiltrate tumors. It has been reported that rhG-CSF stimulates the proliferation of several cell lines as well as bladder carcinoma cells. Conversely, in some hematopoietic cell lines such as U-937, WEHI-3B, and K-562 no effect or in some cases a differentiation pattern was found. Moreover, the role of rhG-CSF on the proliferation of solid tumors is not well understood.


METHODS
In this study, 10 ovarian carcinoma biopsies were characterized for the presence of G-CSF and G-CSF receptor by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical analysis. Proliferation was analyzed by ATP viability assays.


RESULTS
Performing RT-PCR, these biopsies and four ovarian carcinoma cell lines were analyzed for endogenous G-CSF production, which was found in some biopsies and in all cell lines. Despite the presence of the G-CSF receptor in all biopsies and cell lines, no proliferation was found after rhG-CSF incubation of the cell lines or the tumor samples for 3 and for 6 days, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Summarizing the authors' in vitro studies, rhG-CSF does not affect the proliferation of ovarian carcinoma cells in vitro.
Department of Biology II, University of Freiburg, Freiburg Germany. brandstetter@biochip.com
T
T
Brandstetter
E
E
Ninci
H
H
Bettendorf
G
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Perewusnyk
J
J
Stolte
D
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Herchenbach
D
D
Sellin
E
E
Wagner
O R
OR
Köchli
T
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Bauknecht
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D016188:Receptors, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D016188:Receptors, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate