Exp Mol Med.  1997 Dec;29(4):203-208.

Stimulation of c-myc protooncogene expression by transforming growth factor a in human ovarian cancer cells

• Choi JY
• Hong YS
• Park HY

Abstract

To investigate whether transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) treatment of human ovarian cancer cells was associated with the induction of c-myc protooncogene, the expression of this gene in NIH:OVCAR-3 cells was examined. TGF alpha induced increase in c-myc mRNA level, with a peak after 1 h of treatment; this stimulation was dose-dependent, with an optimal concentration of 5 ng/ml TGF alpha. Its primary action is probably at the transcription level since the half-life of c-myc mRNA measured in the presence of actinomycin D was not modified by TGF alpha treatment. In addition, TGF alpha stimulation of c-myc mRNA did not require protein synthesis since it was not suppressed by cycloheximide treatment. Antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide to c-myc specifically inhibited the TGF alpha-stimulated c-Myc protein expression and growth of NIH:OVCAR-3 cells. Our results indicate that induction of c-myc expression by TGF alpha plays an important role in the growth of NIH:OVCAR-3 cells.

Keyword

c-myc; ovarian cancer cells; TGFalpha

MeSH Terms

Cycloheximide
Dactinomycin
Half-Life
Humans*
Ovarian Neoplasms*
RNA, Messenger
Transforming Growth Factor alpha
Transforming Growth Factors*
Cycloheximide
Dactinomycin
RNA, Messenger
Transforming Growth Factor alpha
Transforming Growth Factors