Validation of TPX2 as a potential therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer cells.
OBJECTIVE
The targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) has recently gained attention as a putative oncogene possibly amplified in several human malignancies, including pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In this work, we sought to evaluate the copy number and expression of TPX2 in pancreatic cancer cell lines and tumor tissues and to further explore the potential of TPX2 as a therapeutic target.


METHODS
The DNA copy number and expression of the TPX2 gene were surveyed in pancreatic cancer cell lines and tumor tissues and compared with those of immortalized normal pancreatic ductal cells and normal pancreatic tissues. The cellular effects of TPX2 knockdown using small interfering RNA oligonucleotides in pancreatic cancer cells, such as growth in tissue culture, in soft agar, and in nude mice; apoptosis; and sensitivity to paclitaxel, were also investigated using various assays.


RESULTS
Low-copy-number TPX2 amplification was found in pancreatic cancer cell lines and low-passage pancreatic cancer tumor xenografts. TPX2 expression was upregulated in pancreatic cancer cell lines at both the mRNA and protein levels relative to the immortalized pancreatic ductal epithelial cell line HPDE6. Immunohistochemical staining of a tissue microarray showed that TPX2 expression was higher in pancreatic tumors compared with their normal counterparts. Treatment with TPX2 targeting small interfering RNAs effectively reduced pancreatic cancer cell growth in tissue culture, induced apoptosis, and inhibited growth in soft agar and in nude mice. Knockdown of TPX2 also sensitized pancreatic cancer cells to paclitaxel treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that TPX2 might be an attractive target for pancreatic cancer therapy.
Clinical Translational Research Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, USA.
Steven L
SL
Warner
Bret J
BJ
Stephens
Stanley
S
Nwokenkwo
Galen
G
Hostetter
Anastasia
A
Sugeng
Manuel
M
Hidalgo
Jeffery M
JM
Trent
Haiyong
H
Han
Daniel D
DD
Von Hoff
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D018628:Gene Dosage; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C122167:TPX2 protein, human; D017239:Paclitaxel