Soluble type II transforming growth factor-beta receptor attenuates expression of metastasis-associated genes and suppresses pancreatic cancer cell metastasis

Mol Cancer Ther. 2002 Jan;1(3):161-7.

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly malignancy that frequently metastasizes and that overexpresses transforming growth factor-beta s (TGF-beta s). To determine whether TGF-beta s can act to enhance the metastatic potential of PDAC, PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells were transfected with an expression construct encoding a soluble type II TGF-beta receptor (sT beta RII) that blocks cellular responsiveness to TGF-beta 1. When injected s.c. in athymic mice, PANC-1 clones expressing sT beta RII exhibited decreased tumor growth in comparison with sham-transfected cells and attenuated expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), a gene associated with tumor growth. When tested in an orthotopic mouse model, these clones formed small intrapancreatic tumors that exhibited a suppressed metastatic capacity and decreased expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and the metastasis-associated urokinase plasminogen activator. These results indicate that TGF-beta s act in vivo to enhance the expression of genes that promote the growth and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells and suggest that sT beta RII may ultimately have a therapeutic benefit in PDAC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / prevention & control*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / secondary
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / metabolism*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II
  • Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / physiology*
  • Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transfection
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / drug effects
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / metabolism
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / metabolism

Substances

  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
  • Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Serine Proteinase Inhibitors
  • TGFB1 protein, human
  • Tgfb1 protein, mouse
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator