1α,25(OH)₂D₃ Suppresses the Migration of Ovarian Cancer SKOV-3 Cells through the Inhibition of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy due to its high metastatic ability.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is essential during both follicular rupture and epithelium regeneration. However, it may also accelerate the progression of ovarian carcinomas.

Experimental studies have found that 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D3 [1α,25(OH)₂D₃] can inhibit the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells.

In this study, we investigated whether 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ could inhibit the migration of ovarian cancer cells via regulating EMT.

We established a model of transient transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)-induced EMT in human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line SKOV-3 cells.

Results showed that, compared with control, 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ not only inhibited the migration and the invasion of SKOV-3 cells, but also promoted the acquisition of an epithelial phenotype of SKOV-3 cells treated with TGF-β1.

We discovered that 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ increased the expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin and decreased the level of mesenchymal marker, Vimentin, which was associated with the elevated expression of VDR.

Moreover, 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ reduced the expression level of transcription factors of EMT, such as slug, snail, and β-catenin.

These results indicate that 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ suppresses the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells by inhibiting EMT, implying that 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ might be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

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See also Vitamin D (analogues and/or derivatives) and cancer.