Secretion of cytokines and heat shock protein (HspA1A) by ovarian cancer cells depending on the tumor type and stage of disease

Cytokine. 2017 Jan:89:136-142. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2016.01.017. Epub 2016 Feb 8.

Abstract

Epithelial ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease comprising several tumor types that each have multiple histopathological features and different biological behaviors. Recent morphologic and molecular genetic studies have allowed for the categorization of various types of ovarian cancer into two groups: type I and type II. Type I tumors are low-grade and are genetically more stable, while type II tumors are high-grade and genetically unstable. The determination of the type of ovarian cancer may have implications in terms of the appropriate therapeutic strategy because different prognoses and responses to chemotherapeutic agents are observed. Therefore, the current challenge is better recognition of the features of cancer cells, which may result in more individualized therapy. The aim of the current studies was to compare the ability of ovarian cancer cells isolated from tumors, which were classified as type I or type II ovarian cancer, to release pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokines and heat shock protein (HspA1A). These factors are known to facilitate tumor cell survival, invasion and metastasis. Our studies demonstrated that ovarian cancer cells isolated from patients with type II tumors released high levels of immunosuppressive cytokines (i.e., interleukin 10 and transforming growth factor β) and HspA1A in vitro. Conversely, ovarian cancer cells obtained from of type I tumors were significantly less active. We did not observe any difference in the ability of the isolated cancer cells to secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines, regardless of the type of ovarian cancer. In this study, we found that cancer cells from patients with type II tumors demonstrated more intense activity in regards to survival and metastasis, which should be considered during therapy.

Keywords: Cytokines; Heat shock protein; Ovarian cancer; Type I and II tumors.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / therapy
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism*

Substances

  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • HSPA1A protein, human
  • IL10 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Interleukin-10