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Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology

Published in:

01-11-2004 | Original Paper

Antisense Tcf inhibits the neoplastic growth of liver cancer cells

Authors: Ying Jiang, Xin-Da Zhou, Yin-Kun Liu, Xiao-Wu Huang, Yan Zhao, Qiang Xue, Rui-Xa Sun, Jie Chen, Xin Wu

Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology | Issue 11/2004

Abstract

Purpose

T cell transcription factors are nuclear effectors of the Wnt signaling transduction pathway and play crucial roles in embryonic and malignant development. Our previous study showed increased expression level of Tcf mRNA in liver cancer. In the present paper, antisense Tcf RNA was used to explore the possible therapeutic effect on liver cancer cells by interrupting the abnormal Wnt pathway.

Methods

Antisense expression vectors containing the conserved sequence of Tcf cDNA were constructed and transfected into a human liver cancer cell line SMMC-7721. Tumorigenic potential was determined by cellular growth assay and tumor growth in nude mice.

Results

The stable transfection of antisense Tcf in SMMC-7721 cells significantly reduced Tcf expression at both mRNA and protein levels compared with parental and mock-transfected cells. Antisense-mediated suppression of Tcf inhibited the in vitro proliferation and in vivo tumor formation ability. Furthermore, the apoptosis rate of antisense transfected cells was significantly higher than that of control, indicating that antisense RNA suppressed malignant growth by induction of apoptosis.

Conclusion

Our studies demonstrate the critical role of Wnt signaling pathway in the neoplastic growth of liver cancer cells and suggest that inhibition of Tcf activity with antisense Tcf RNA may be a potential new gene therapy method for liver cancer.

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Title: Antisense Tcf inhibits the neoplastic growth of liver cancer cells
Authors: Ying Jiang
Xin-Da Zhou
Yin-Kun Liu
Xiao-Wu Huang
Yan Zhao
Qiang Xue
Rui-Xa Sun
Jie Chen
Xin Wu
Publication date: 01-11-2004
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology / Issue 11/2004
Print ISSN: 0171-5216
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1335
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-004-0580-9

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Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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