Recombinant expression of different mutant K-ras gene in pancreatic cancer Bxpc-3 cells and its effects on chemotherapy sensitivity

Sci China Life Sci. 2014 Oct;57(10):1011-7. doi: 10.1007/s11427-014-4724-0. Epub 2014 Sep 12.

Abstract

K-ras is a member of ras gene family which is involved in cell survival, proliferation and differentiation. When a mutation occurs in ras gene, the activation of Ras proteins may be prolonged to induce oncogenesis. However, the relationship between K-ras mutation and clinical outcomes in pancreatic cancer patients treated with chemotherapy agents is still under debate. In this study, we constructed five pAcGFP1-C3 plasmids for different types of K-ras gene (WT, G12V, G12R, G12D, and G13D) and stably transfected human pancreatic cancer Bxpc-3 cells with these genes. The wild type and mutant clones showed a comparable growth and expression of K-Ras-GFP fusion protein. The expression of some K-ras mutations resulted in a reduced sensitivity to gefitinib, 5-FU, docetaxel and gemcitabine, while showed no effects on erlotinib or cisplatin. Moreover, compared with the wild type clone, K-Ras downstream signals (phospho-Akt and/or phospho-Erk) were increased in K-ras mutant clones. Interestingly, different types of K-ras mutation had non-identical K-Ras downstream signal activities and drug responses. Our results are the first to reveal the relationship between different K-ras mutation and drug sensitivities of these anti-cancer drugs in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Survival
  • Cisplatin / therapeutic use
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use
  • Gefitinib
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genes, ras*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mutation*
  • Pancreas / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Quinazolines / therapeutic use
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • ras Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Quinazolines
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • ras Proteins
  • Cisplatin
  • Gefitinib
  • Fluorouracil