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Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
Induction of cell death by basic fibroblast growth factor in Ewing's sarcoma
L M Sturla1, G Westwood, P J Selby
1Candlelighter's Children's Cancer Research Laboratory, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Cancer Research
|November 21, 2000
Summary
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) surprisingly induces cell death in Ewing sarcoma cells, decreasing tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo. This finding offers a novel therapeutic strategy for this rare bone cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Ewing sarcoma is a pediatric bone cancer believed to originate from primitive neural cells arrested during embryogenesis.
- Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) plays a crucial role in embryonic development, regulating cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of bFGF and its receptors in the development and behavior of Ewing sarcoma.
- To determine the effect of bFGF on Ewing sarcoma cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival.
Main Methods:
- Immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to detect bFGF and FGF receptors in Ewing sarcoma cell lines.
- Cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, apoptosis, and necrosis were assessed after bFGF treatment.
- Tumor growth was evaluated in NuNu mice treated with bFGF, followed by histological analysis.
Main Results:
- All tested Ewing sarcoma cell lines expressed bFGF and FGF receptors.
- bFGF significantly reduced Ewing sarcoma cell proliferation and anchorage-independent growth.
- bFGF induced apoptosis and necrosis in Ewing sarcoma cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, contrasting its typical mitogenic effect.
Conclusions:
- bFGF decreases Ewing sarcoma growth in vitro and in vivo primarily by inducing cell death.
- This unexpected anti-cancer effect of bFGF suggests a potential new therapeutic strategy for Ewing sarcoma.
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