title: Analysis of gene expression identifies PLAB as a mediator of the apoptotic activity of fenretinide in human ovarian cancer cells.
abstract: Fenretinide (4-HPR) is a synthetic retinoid with antitumor activity, which induces apoptosis in cancer cell lines of different histotypes. To identify genes contributing to its apoptotic activity in ovarian cancer cells, we monitored, by cDNA arrays, gene expression changes after 4-HPR exposure in A2780, a human ovarian carcinoma cell line sensitive to the retinoid. Among the differentially expressed transcripts, PLAcental Bone morphogenetic protein (PLAB), a proapoptotic gene, was the most highly induced. In a panel of ovarian carcinoma cell lines with different 4-HPR sensitivities, PLAB upregulation was associated with cellular response to 4-HPR, its overexpression increased basal apoptosis and its silencing by small interfering RNA decreased the ability of 4-HPR to induce apoptosis. PLAB induction by 4-HPR was p53- and EGR-1 independent and was regulated, at least in part, by increased stability of PLAB mRNA. PLAB up-modulation by 4-HPR also occurred in vivo: in ascitic cells collected from patients with ovarian cancer before and after 4-HPR treatment, PLAB was upmodulated in 2/4 patients. Our results in certain ovarian cancer cell lines indicate a role for PLAB as a mediator of 4-HPR-induced apoptosis. The correlation of increased PLAB in vivo with antitumor activity remains to be established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Appierto
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Villani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cavadini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gariboldi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Cecco
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pierotti
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tiberio
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Formelli
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D017313:Fenretinide / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15; D006801:Humans; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012176:Retinoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; C526140:GDF15 protein, human; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012176:Retinoids; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D017313:Fenretinide