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Proliferation of human malignant melanomas is inhibited by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides targeted against basic

D Becker1, C B Meier, M Herlyn

  • 1Department of Tumor Biology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030.

The EMBO Journal
|December 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Human malignant melanomas can grow without basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Targeting bFGF mRNA with antisense oligonucleotides inhibited melanoma cell proliferation, suggesting bFGF gene activation is crucial for melanoma progression.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Normal melanocytes require basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for proliferation.
  • Human malignant melanomas exhibit autonomous proliferation, independent of exogenous bFGF.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the progression of malignant melanoma.
  • To determine if inhibiting bFGF gene expression affects melanoma cell proliferation and colony formation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized antisense oligodeoxynucleotides targeting human bFGF mRNA in primary and metastatic melanoma cells.
  • Assessed the effects of bFGF inhibition on cell proliferation and soft-agar colony formation.
  • Included control experiments with sense oligonucleotides and oligonucleotides targeting other growth factors (beta-nerve growth factor, insulin-like growth factor I).

Main Results:

  • Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides against bFGF mRNA significantly inhibited melanoma cell proliferation.
  • Inhibition of bFGF also reduced colony formation in soft-agar assays.
  • Control oligonucleotides targeting other growth factors or using sense sequences had no inhibitory effect.

Conclusions:

  • Activation of the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) gene is implicated in the progression of melanocytic lesions to malignant melanoma.
  • Targeting bFGF represents a potential therapeutic strategy for melanoma treatment.

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