title: IFN-beta is a highly potent inhibitor of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor cell growth in vitro.
abstract: IFN-alpha controls hormone secretion and symptoms in human gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NET) but it rarely induces a measurable tumor size reduction. The effect of other type I IFNs, e.g., IFN-beta, has not been evaluated. We compared the antitumor effects of IFN-alpha and IFN-beta in BON cells, a functioning human GEP-NET cell line. As determined by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis and immunocytochemistry, BON cells expressed the active type I IFN receptor mRNA and protein (IFNAR-1 and IFNAR-2c subunits). After 3 and 6 days of treatment, IFN-beta significantly inhibited BON cell growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner. IC50 and maximal inhibitory effect on day 6 were 8 IU/mL and 98%, respectively. In contrast, the effect of IFN-alpha resulted significantly in a less potent effect (IC50: 44 IU/mL, maximal inhibition: 26%). IFN-alpha induced only cell cycle arrest, with an accumulation of the cells in S phase. IFN-beta, apart from a more potent delay in S-G2-M phase transit of the cell cycle, also induced a strong stimulation of apoptosis, evaluated by flow cytometry (Annexin V and 7-AAD) and measurement of the DNA fragmentation. Besides, only IFN-beta severely suppressed chromogranin A levels in the medium from BON cells after 6 days of treatment. In conclusion, IFN-beta is much more potent, compared with IFN-alpha, in its inhibitory effect on GEP-NET cell proliferation in vitro through the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Further studies are required to establish whether IFN-beta has comparable potent tumor growth inhibitory effects in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. vanni10@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: Wouter W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: de Herder
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: van Koetsveld
authors.forename: Marlijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waaijers
authors.forename: Wenda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schoordijk
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Croze
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colao
authors.forename: Steven W J
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lamberts
authors.forename: Leo J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Hofland
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; C507964:IFNAR1 protein, human; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a