Integrin ß1 mediates epithelial growth factor-induced invasion in human ovarian cancer cells.

ABSTRACT

Integrins function as cell-extracellular matrix adhesion proteins and have been implicated in tumor progression. In ovarian tumors, elevated integrin ß1 expression correlates with high clinical stage and poor patient survival. In this study, we report that EGF treatment up-regulated integrin ß1 mRNA and protein levels in ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of MEK totally abolished EGF-induced integrin ß1 up-regulation and cell invasion suggesting that MAPK/ERK signaling is required for EGF-induced integrin ß1 up-regulation and cell invasion. Furthermore, we found that knockdown of integrin ß1 expression reduced the intrinsic invasiveness of ovarian cancer cells and the EGF-induced cell invasion. Finally, we found that overexpression of integrin ß1 was sufficient to promote ovarian cancer cell invasion. This study demonstrates that integrin ß1 mediates EGF-induced cell invasion in ovarian cancer.