E2F3a Is Critically Involved in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Directed Proliferation in Ovarian Cancer

• Published in: Cancer research (Chicago, Ill.) Vol. 70; no. 11; pp. 4613 - 4623
• Main Authors: REIMER, Daniel, HUBALEK, Michael, ALTEVOGT, Peter, ZEIMET, Alain G, RIEDLE, Svenja, SKVORTSOV, Sergej, ERDEL, Martin, CONCIN, Nicole, FIEGL, Heidi, MÜLLER-HOLZNER, Elisabeth, MARTH, Christian, ILLMENSEE, Karl
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA American Association for Cancer Research 01.06.2010
• Subjects: Antineoplastic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Growth Processes - physiology; Cell Line, Tumor; E2F3 Transcription Factor - biosynthesis; E2F3 Transcription Factor - genetics; E2F3 Transcription Factor - metabolism; Epidermal Growth Factor - pharmacology; Female; Female genital diseases; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Interferon Regulatory Factor-1 - metabolism; Interferon Regulatory Factor-2 - metabolism; Medical sciences; Ovarian Neoplasms - genetics; Ovarian Neoplasms - metabolism; Ovarian Neoplasms - pathology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Small Interfering - administration & dosage; RNA, Small Interfering - genetics; Signal Transduction; Transfection; Tumors; Up-Regulation - drug effects; Cell proliferation; Ovarian diseases; Growth factor receptor; Ovary cancer; Malignant tumor; Epidermal growth factor receptor; Cancer; Female genital diseases
• ISSN: 0008-5472; 1538-7445
• DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-3551

We describe for the first time a new integral molecular pathway, linking transcription factor E2F3a to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation in ovarian cancer cells. Investigations on the role of E2F family members in EGFR-mediated mitogenic signaling revealed that E2F3a was selectively upregulated following EGFR activation, whereas all other E2F family members remained unaffected. In contrast, EGF treatment of healthy ovarian surface epithelial and mesothelial cells yielded a selective upregulation of proliferation-promoting E2F1 and E2F2 without influencing E2F3a expression. In ovarian cancer cell lines, the extent of EGF-induced proliferative stimulus was closely related to the magnitude of E2F3a increase, and proliferation inhibition by E2F3a knockdown was not overcome by EGF exposure. Furthermore, the EGFR-E2F3a axis was found to be signal transducer and activator of transcription 1/3 dependent and the ratio of IFN-regulatory factor (IRF)-1 to IRF-2 was shown to be determinative for E2F3a control. In a pilot study on 32 primary ovarian cancer specimens, a highly significant correlation between activated EGFR and E2F3a expression was disclosed. This new integral pathway in the EGFR-driven mitogenic cell response, which through its key player E2F3a was found to be essential in triggering proliferation in ovarian cancer cells, provides new insights into EGFR signaling and could represent the basis for appealing new therapeutic approaches in ovarian cancer.