NFATc1 promotes vascular generation of epithelial ovarian cancer transplanted tumor by regulating CXCR2, FGF-2 and PDGF-BB

AIM: To investigate the role of NFATc1 in vascular generation in the nude mice transplanted with human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells. METHODS: NFATc1 expression was silenced by siRNA in SKOV3 cells. Human ovarian cancer transplantation nude mouse model was established by transplanting with SKOV3 cells in which the NFATc1 gene was silenced by siRNA technique. The expression of NFATc1, CXCR2, FGF-2 and PDGF-BB at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. The tumor growth, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis were also observed. RESULTS: Over-expression of NFATc1 was observed in human ovarian cancer tissues. The silencing of NFATc1 expression by siRNA decreased tumorigenesis of transplanted ovarian cancer cells in the nude mice, reduced tumor vascular generation and inhibited the expression of CXCR2, FGF-2 and PDGF-BB at mRNA and protein levels. CONCLUSION: NFATc1 is overexpressed in ovarian cancer. NFATc1 silencing regulates the tumor vascular generation. NFATc1 thus has potential as a therapeutic target and for use in the diagnosis and evaluating prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer.