Suppression of HMGA2 protein synthesis could be a tool for the therapy of well differentiated liposarcomas overexpressing HMGA2

Cancer Res. 2003 Nov 1;63(21):7423-7.

Abstract

Atypical lipomatous tumors (ALTs)/well-differentiated liposarcomas represent a distinctive subset of mesenchymal neoplasms featuring mature adipocytic proliferation. These tumors are characterized cytogenetically by the presence of supernumerary ring and/or long marker chromosomes that contain several copies of the chromosomal region 12q13-15, in which the HMGA2 gene is located. Deregulation of the HMGA2 gene is a common molecular alteration implicated in the development of a variety of benign tumors, such as lipomas, uterine leiomyomas, and pulmonary chondroid hamartomas. In this study, we observed HMGA2 overexpression in 7 of 12 ALT primary cell cultures examined. Subsequently, we generated an adenovirus containing the HMGA2 gene in the antisense orientation (Ad-A2as) to study the effect of HMGA2 protein suppression in ALT cells. The infection of six ALT cells, three of which were positive for HMGA2 expression, resulted in growth inhibition coupled with a significant increase in apoptosis. In addition, the growth of the ALT cells negative for HMGA2 expression was not affected by the infection with either the Ad-A2as or the control virus. On the basis of these findings, the targeting of the HMGA2 protein expression may represent a promising approach for treating the well-differentiated liposarcomas resistant to conventional therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviruses, Human / genetics
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Division / genetics
  • DNA, Antisense / administration & dosage
  • DNA, Antisense / genetics
  • Genetic Therapy / methods
  • HMGA2 Protein / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • HMGA2 Protein / biosynthesis
  • HMGA2 Protein / genetics
  • Humans
  • Liposarcoma / genetics
  • Liposarcoma / metabolism*
  • Liposarcoma / pathology
  • Liposarcoma / therapy*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transduction, Genetic
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • DNA, Antisense
  • HMGA2 Protein