Expression of angiogenic regulators, VEGF and leptin, is regulated by the EGF/PI3K/STAT3 pathway in colorectal cancer cells

• Published in: Journal of cellular physiology Vol. 221; no. 1; pp. 189 - 194
• Main Authors: Cascio, Sandra, Ferla, Rita, D'Andrea, Aleco, Gerbino, Aldo, Bazan, Viviana, Surmacz, Eva, Russo, Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-10-2009
• Subjects: Cell Nucleus - drug effects; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Colorectal Neoplasms - enzymology; Colorectal Neoplasms - genetics; Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - drug effects; Gene Silencing - drug effects; HT29 Cells; Humans; Leptin - genetics; Leptin - metabolism; Neovascularization, Physiologic - drug effects; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases - metabolism; Promoter Regions, Genetic - genetics; Protein Binding - drug effects; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; STAT3 Transcription Factor - metabolism; Up-Regulation - drug effects; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - genetics; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism
• ISSN: 0021-9541; 1097-4652
• DOI: 10.1002/jcp.21843

Both leptin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are growth and angiogenic cytokines that are upregulated in different types of cancer and have been implicated in neoplastic progression. Here we investigated the molecular mechanism by which leptin and VEGF expression are regulated in colon cancer by epidermal growth factor (EGF). In colon cancer cell line HT‐29, EGF induced the binding of signal transducer and activator transcription 3 (STAT3) to STAT3 consensus motifs within the VEGF and leptin promoters and stimulated leptin and VEGF mRNA and protein synthesis. All these EGF effects were significantly blocked when HT‐29 cells were treated with an inhibitor of the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) pathway, LY294002, or with small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting STAT3. Thus, our study identified the EGF/PI3K/STAT3 signaling as an essential pathway regulating VEGF and leptin expression in EGF‐responsive colon cancer cells. This suggests that STAT3 pathways might constitute attractive pharmaceutical targets in colon cancer patients where anti‐EGF receptor drugs are ineffective. J. Cell. Physiol. 221: 189–194, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc