Abstract
Objective
To investigate the signaling pathways involved in insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-induced vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) up-regulation and lymphatic metastasis in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.
Methods
MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were exposed to IGF-1 with various concentrations. The expression level of VEGF-C was assessed by real-time PCR and Western blot. Akt and ERK1/2 phosphorylation was detected by Western blot. Signaling transduction inhibitors, LY294002 and PD98059, were used to block PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathways, respectively.
Results
IGF-1 increased the level of VEGF-C expression in a dose-dependent manner in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. In addition, phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2 was enhanced by IGF-1. Remarkably, inhibition of Akt phosphorylation by LY294002 completely blocked the effects on IGF-1-induced VEGF-C up-regulation. Inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation by PD98059 reduced IGF-1-induced VEGF-C expression.
Conclusion
This study identified that PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathways were involved in IGF-1-induced VEGF-C up-regulation and suggested their important roles in lymphatic metastasis in breast cancer.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by Grants from China National Science and Technology Commission Bureau, No. 30872521 and Science Foundation of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Science and Technology, No. 06DZ19506.
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Zhu, C., Qi, X., Chen, Y. et al. PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathways are involved in IGF-1-induced VEGF-C upregulation in breast cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 137, 1587–1594 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-011-1049-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-011-1049-2