SBF-1 preferentially inhibits growth of highly malignant human liposarcoma cells.

Frequent local recurrence and metastasis are generally involved in human liposarcoma, but the management is a challenge. There is an urgent need for improved effective therapy. In the present study, we reported that SBF-1, a steroidal glycoside, inhibited the growth of cultured highly malignant human liposarcoma SW872-S cells in vitro and in vivo. SBF-1 down-regulated the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT) and thus reduced cell adhesion to fibronectin and laminin. Then we found that SBF-1 inhibited the expression of oxysterol binding protein (OSBP) in SW872-S cells, indicating that OSBP may be involved in malignant liposarcoma cell survival. Cancer cell growth and AKT phosphorylation were inhibited significantly upon knockdown of OSBP in SW872-S cells in vitro. Taken together, these results suggest that SBF-1 causes an apparent loss of OSBP function in SW872-S cells, resulting in growth inhibition. Based on our findings, OSBP serves as a potential therapeutic target for human liposarcoma.