title: Control by the endogenous cannabinoid system of ras oncogene-dependent tumor growth.
abstract: We investigated the effect of 2-methyl-arachidonyl-2'-fluoro-ethylamide (Met-F-AEA), a stable analog of the endocannabinoid anandamide, on a rat thyroid epithelial cell line (FRTL-5) transformed by the K-ras oncogene, and on epithelial tumors derived from these cells. Met-F-AEA effect in vivo was evaluated in a nude mouse xenograft model, where K-ras-transformed (KiMol) cells were implanted subcutaneously. Met-F-AEA (0.5 mg/kg/dose) induced a drastic reduction in tumor volume. This effect was inhibited by the CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A (0.7 mg/kg/dose) and was accompanied by a strong reduction of K-ras activity. Accordingly, KiMol cells and tumors express CB1 receptors. Met-F-AEA inhibited (IC50 ~5 mM) the proliferation in vitro and the transition to the S phase of KiMol cells and it reduced K-ras activity; these effects were antagonized by SR141716A. Met-F-AEA cytostatic action was significantly smaller in nontransformed FRTL-5 cells than in KiMol cells. Met-F-AEA treatment exerted opposite effects on the expression of CB1 receptors in KiMol and FRTL-5 cells, with a strong up-regulation in the former case and a suppression in nontransformed cells. The data suggest that: 1) Met-F-AEA inhibits ras oncogene-dependent tumor growth in vivo through CB1 cannabinoid receptors; and 2) responsiveness of FRTL-5 cells to endocannabinoids depends on whether or not they are transformed by K-ras.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Salerno, via Ponte Don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy. maubiful@unina.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bifulco
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laezza
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Portella
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Petrocellis
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Marzo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000077285:Rimonabant; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: C443759:2-methylarachidonyl-2'-fluoroethylamide; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D010880:Piperidines; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D011720:Pyrazoles; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D000077285:Rimonabant; C078814:anandamide