Propofol affects the biological behavior of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells via ERK1/2-MMP-2/9 signaling pathway

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of propofol on the biological behavior of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells, and the mechanism of action involved.
 Methods: SKOV3 cells cultured in vitro were randomly divided into control group, fat emulsion group, low-dose propofol group (LDPG, 25 μmol/L), medium-dose propofol group (MDPG) (50 μmol/L) and high-dose propofol group (HDPG) (100 μmol/L). Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry, while Transwell assay was used to measure the migration and invasion abilities of the cells. The protein levels of ERK1/2, MMP-2, MMP-9 were assayed with Western blotting. Moreover, the cells were transfected with siERK, and the regulatory effect of propofol on ERK1/2-MMP-2/9 signaling pathway was determined.
 Results: Apoptosis in HDPG was significantly reduced, relative to MDPG, while migration and invasion were enhanced, relative to MDPG (p < 0.05). Moreover, MMP-2, ERK1/2, and MMP-9 proteins were significantly higher in MDPG and HDPG than in control, fat emulsion and LDPGs (p < 0.05), and were upregulated in HDPGs, relative to MDPG (p < 0.05). In contrast, propofol did not up-regulate these proteins in siRNA-treated cells.
 Conclusion: Propofol enhances the migration, proliferation, and invasive ability SKOV3 cells, and upregulates the expressions of MMP-2, ERK1/2, and MMP-9 in these cells, via a mechanism related to the activation of ERK1/2-MMP-2/9 signaling route. These properties provide novel leads for the development of new drugs for ovarian cancer
 Keywords: Propofol, ERK1/2-MMP-2/9 signal route, Ovarian cancer, Biological behavior

The Effect of Propofol on the Proliferation of Nephroblastoma Cells and the Underlying Mechanism

“…In addition to the advantages of various anaesthesia, the drug can also exert some nonanaesthetic effects. Relevant studies have shown that propofol has the ability to inhibit tumour proliferation and has a positive effect on the prognosis of surgically treated tumour patients [14]. In vitro, experimental studies have proved that propofol inhibits the invasion and migration of liver cancer cells in liver cancer cells [15].…”

Impact of anesthetics on oncogenic signaling network: a review on propofol and isoflurane

“…Propofol increased the migration of breast cancer cells when compared with a long‐chain triglyceride control [111]. Propofol also induced migration via upregulation of Snail family transcriptional repressor 1, an EMT‐inducing transcription factor [112], and via regulation of extracellular‐signal‐regulated kinase/matrix metalloproteinase signaling [113]. Isoflurane also enhanced metastasis and invasion in ovarian cancer [19] and cervical carcinoma [114].…”