Heparin increases human gastric carcinoma cell growth.
BACKGROUND
Heparin has been widely used to prevent cancer-associated thromboembolism in cancer patients. Recent evidence reveals that heparin could modulate cell proliferation in the stomach. The effect of heparin on gastric cancer growth, however, is unknown. The effect of heparin on the proliferation of a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line, BGC-823, was investigated.


METHODS
Cell proliferation was assessed by [3H]-thymidine incorporation. The expressions of several growth-related genes were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot.


RESULTS
Heparin significantly increased cell proliferation in BGC-823 cancer cells by 15.5% at the dose of 0.2 microg/ml. Heparin also up-regulated c-Myc protein expression by 14.4%. In contrast, mRNA and protein levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were, respectively, down-regulated by 12.7% and 8.2% with no effect on cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA or protein expression.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that heparin can promote the proliferation and up-regulation of c-Myc protein expression in gastric cancer cells.
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
William Ka Kei
WK
Wu
Vivian Yvonne
VY
Shin
Yi Ni
YN
Ye
Helen Pui Shan
HP
Wong
Fung Yu
FY
Huang
Marco King Cheung
MK
Hui
Emily Kai Yee
EK
Lam
Chi Hin
CH
Cho
D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006493:Heparin; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D066246:ErbB Receptors