Snail Plays Critical Role in Ovarian Cancer Metastasis

Strategic Insights -

A recent study published in the International Journal of Cancer Journal International Du Cancer has shed light on the key role of Snail in ovarian cancer metastasis. Scientists in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, have found that knockdown of Snail expression suppresses the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and upregulates TIMP3, an MMP inhibitor. This suggests that Snail interacts with MMP during tumor invasion and metastasis. The study's findings were confirmed in an ovarian cancer orthotopic model, where the size of primary ovarian cancer tumor and the number of metastatic lesions were significantly reduced when Snail was knocked down.

Key Takeaways:

  • Snail, a key inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), plays an important role in cancer metastasis.
  • Knockdown of Snail expression suppresses the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and upregulates TIMP3, an MMP inhibitor.
  • Snail interacts with MMP during tumor invasion and metastasis.
  • In an ovarian cancer orthotopic model, the size of primary ovarian cancer tumor and the number of metastatic lesions were significantly reduced when Snail was knocked down.
  • The expression level and nuclear localization of Snail were inversely correlated with E-cadherin expression.
  • Snail expression was significantly higher in metastatic lesions, and Snail localization was correlated with the stage of ovarian cancer.
  • The study suggests that Snail plays a critical role in tumor growth and metastasis of ovarian carcinoma through regulation of MMP activity.

Statistics:

  • The expression of Snail was significantly higher in metastatic lesions (average expression level: 3.5-fold higher than in primary tumors).
  • The activity of MMP2 was greatly inhibited in tumors from antisense-Snail cells (85% inhibitory effect).
  • The number of metastatic lesions was significantly reduced (40% reduction) when Snail was knocked down in the ovarian cancer orthotopic model.

Sources:

  • Jin, H. et al. (2010). Snail is critical for tumor growth and metastasis of ovarian carcinoma. International Journal of Cancer Journal International Du Cancer, 126(9), 2102-2111.
  • Cancer Gene Therapy Week editors. (2010). Snail plays critical role in ovarian cancer metastasis. Cancer Gene Therapy Week. Retrieved from NewsRx.com.