Human erythropoietin increases the pro-angiogenic potential of A2780 ovarian adenocarcinoma cells under hypoxic conditions

Oncol Rep. 2013 Sep;30(3):1455-62. doi: 10.3892/or.2013.2566. Epub 2013 Jun 26.

Abstract

Erythropoietin (Epo) is a key regulator of erythroid cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. In the form of the recombinant protein, it is widely used to treat various types of anemias, including that associated with cancer and with the myelosuppressive effects of chemotherapy, particularly platinum-based regimens. Our previous studies confirmed the presence of Epo receptors (EpoRs) in ovarian adenocarcinoma cell lines and demonstrated that long-term Epo treatment of A2780 cells resulted in the development of a phenotype exhibiting both enhanced Epo signaling and increased paclitaxel resistance. In the present study, we carried out a series of experiments to analyze the pro-angiogenic potential of Epo-treated A2780 and SKOV-3 cells. Our studies revealed that conditioned media of Epo-treated A2780 cells had a stimulative effect on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). This effect was only seen when A2780 cells were incubated under hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, Epo increased the secretion of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, GM-CSF and interferon-γ by A2780 cells that grew in hypoxic conditions. In this regard, conditioned media of hypoxic and Epo-treated A2780 cells induced a significant phosphorylation of STAT-5 in HUVECs. Our results may have important implications for ovarian cancer patients receiving Epo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / blood supply*
  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / pharmacology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Epoetin Alfa
  • Erythropoietin / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / physiopathology*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / blood supply*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Erythropoietin
  • Epoetin Alfa