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Basic fibroblast growth factor mediated growth inhibition in breast cancer cells is independent of ras signaling

Eyal Fenig1, Martin Szyper-Kravitz, Rinat Yerushalmi

  • 1Institute of Oncology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqva 49100, Israel. efenig@clalit.org.il

Oncology Reports
|June 18, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) inhibits breast cancer cell growth. Combining bFGF with lovastatin, a ras pathway inhibitor, enhanced this effect, suggesting bFGF

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) inhibits MCF-7 human breast cancer cell proliferation.
  • bFGF signaling is understood to involve the ras pathway.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the combined effect of bFGF and lovastatin on breast cancer cell growth.
  • To determine if bFGF-induced growth inhibition is dependent on the ras signaling pathway.

Main Methods:

  • Treatment of MCF-7 cells with bFGF and/or lovastatin.
  • Assessment of cell cytotoxicity and protein levels (P21/WAF1/cip1).
  • Analysis of ras pathway signaling (membrane association) and MAPK activation.

Main Results:

  • Combined lovastatin and bFGF treatment resulted in greater cytotoxicity than individual treatments.
  • The protein level of P21/WAF1/cip1 was elevated when cells were exposed to both agents.
  • bFGF did not impede lovastatin's effect on ras membrane association, and lovastatin did not block bFGF-induced MAPK activation.

Conclusions:

  • The growth inhibitory effect of bFGF on breast cancer cells appears largely independent of the ras signaling pathway.
  • Further understanding of these pathways could lead to improved breast cancer therapeutics.

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