Role of VEGF-C in Proliferation and Migration in a Cancer Model
Head and neck cancer ranks high among the most common cancers world wide. In addition, there is a high recurrence rate, as well as a high prevalence of loco-regional tumor spread. Among many factors contributing to metastasis is vascular endothelial cell growth factor C. VEGF-C is primarily an in...
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| Format: | Others |
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VCU Scholars Compass
2008
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| Online Access: | http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/1533 http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2532&context=etd |
| Summary: | Head and neck cancer ranks high among the most common cancers world wide. In addition, there is a high recurrence rate, as well as a high prevalence of loco-regional tumor spread. Among many factors contributing to metastasis is vascular endothelial cell growth factor C. VEGF-C is primarily an inducer of new lymph vessel formation, typically during embryogenesis; however, some advanced cancers show a significant increase in VEGF-C expression, suggesting a role in metastasis. In the current study, the effects of VEGF-C expression were tested in HN12 cells, which are highly metastatic and known to express high levels of the chemokine CXCL5. A connection between VEGF-C and CXCL5 expression was made in previous studies. VEGF-C expression was downregulated or upregulated in appropriate target cells, in order to test its effect on proliferation and migration. Downregulation of VEGF-C in HN12 cells resulted in a decrease in proliferation, migration and motility. Conversely, upregulation of VEGF-C in HN4 cells led to an increase in cell proliferation. In addition, downregulation of VEGF-C significantly lowered tumorigenicity in athymic mice. All results suggest VEGF-C is contributing to an increase in proliferation, migration and motility in this HNSCC model system. |
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