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Enrichment for Chemoresistant Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells from Human Cell Lines
Published on: September 10, 2014
Transcriptional network in ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 treated with Pinellia pedatisecta Schott extract
Li Zhou1, Teng Xu2, Ying Zhang2
1The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China.
Abstract:
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal disease among the malignant tumors of female reproductive organs. Few successful therapeutic options exist for patients with ovarian cancer. The common therapeutic methods are surgical operation, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and combination of these treatments. In recent years, studies have indicated that Pinellia pedatisecta Schott (PPS), a traditional Chinese medicine, could inhibit tumor growth. In this study, we demonstrated that PPS extract could induce apoptosis in SKOV3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. We further conducted transcriptome sequencing on PPS extract-treated SKOV3 cells along with controls, and identified 1,754 transcripts whose expression differs at least 3-fold over the controls. These differentially expressed transcripts include the apoptosis-related genes such as the caspase family members, and were significantly enriched in steroid biosynthesis in the KEGG pathway database compared with the transcriptome background. Most of the differentially expressed transcripts from this pathway were upregulated in PPS extract-treated cell line, indicating that PPS extract-induced apoptosis was accompanied by increased steroid biosynthesis (e.g. zymosterol). These results suggest that PPS extract could be a new cytostatic therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer.
Insights
Pinellia pedatisecta Schott (PPS) extract induces programmed cell death (apoptosis) in ovarian cancer cells. This traditional Chinese medicine may offer a new therapeutic approach for ovarian cancer by affecting steroid biosynthesis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
Background:
- Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of gynecological cancer deaths with limited treatment options.
- Current treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, often with limited success.
- Pinellia pedatisecta Schott (PPS), a traditional Chinese medicine, shows potential for inhibiting tumor growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of PPS extract on ovarian cancer cells.
- To identify molecular mechanisms underlying PPS-induced anti-cancer activity.
Main Methods:
- Treatment of SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells with PPS extract.
- Dose- and time-dependent assessment of apoptosis induction.
- Transcriptome sequencing to analyze gene expression changes.
- Bioinformatic analysis, including KEGG pathway enrichment.
Main Results:
- PPS extract induced apoptosis in SKOV3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
- Transcriptome sequencing identified 1,754 differentially expressed transcripts (≥3-fold change).
- Apoptosis-related genes (e.g., caspases) were altered, and steroid biosynthesis pathway was significantly enriched, with most transcripts upregulated.
Conclusions:
- PPS extract demonstrates a cytostatic effect on ovarian cancer cells by inducing apoptosis.
- Increased steroid biosynthesis, including zymosterol, accompanies PPS-induced apoptosis.
- PPS extract shows potential as a novel therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer.
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