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Basic fibroblast growth factor and ovarian cancer
A M Di Blasio1, C Carniti, P Viganò
1Centro Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, University of Milano, Italy.
Summary
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) may drive ovarian cancer growth. This study found bFGF and its receptor present in ovarian tumors, suggesting an autocrine mechanism fuels cancer cell proliferation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The regulation of rapid ovarian epithelial carcinoma growth is largely unknown.
- Neoplastic cells may synthesize peptide growth factors and receptors for autocrine signaling.
- Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) exhibits angiogenic and mitogenic activity, implicated in other neoplasms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the role of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in ovarian epithelial carcinoma.
- To investigate the potential autocrine mechanism of bFGF in sustaining ovarian cancer cell proliferation.
Main Methods:
- Bioassay and radioimmunoassay to detect bFGF-like protein.
- Primary cell culture of dispersed ovarian cancer cells.
- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to assess gene expression for bFGF and its receptor.
Main Results:
- A bFGF-like protein was detected in seven ovarian epithelial neoplasms and primary cancer cell cultures.
- bFGF levels and bioactivity varied among the examined tumors.
- Genes for bFGF and its receptor were expressed in all studied samples, confirmed by RT-PCR.
Conclusions:
- Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is suggested to be a growth factor regulating ovarian cancer cell proliferation via an autocrine mechanism.
- Further investigation is ongoing to correlate bFGF expression with tumor histologic grade.