Human lymphatic endothelial cells contribute to epithelial ovarian carcinoma metastasis by promoting lymphangiogenesis and tumour cell invasion

Xie,Yihong; Zhong,Yanping; Gao,Ting; Zhang,Xinying; Li,Li; Ruan,Heyun; Li,Danrong

doi:10.3892/etm.2016.3134

Human lymphatic endothelial cells contribute to epithelial ovarian carcinoma metastasis by promoting lymphangiogenesis and tumour cell invasion

Authors:
- Yihong Xie
- Yanping Zhong
- Ting Gao
- Xinying Zhang
- Li Li
- Heyun Ruan
- Danrong Li
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Affiliations: Research Department, Affiliated Tumour Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China, Medical Scientific Research Centre, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
Published online on: March 9, 2016 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2016.3134
Pages: 1587-1594
Copyright: © Xie et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The microenvironment of a tumour is an important factor in ovarian cancer metastasis. The present study aimed to simulate the in vivo microenvironment of an ovarian carcinoma using a co‑culture system consisting of human lymphatic endothelial cells (HLECs) and human ovarian carcinoma cells with directional high lymphatic metastasis (SKOV3-PM4s) in order to investigate the role of both cell types in ovarian carcinoma metastasis. The SKOV3-PM4s cultured in the HLEC-conditioned medium exhibited increased numbers of pseudopodia and mitotic figures, proliferated at a faster rate and exhibited enhanced invasion and migratory abilities. Furthermore, the HLECs cultured in SKOV3‑PM4‑conditioned medium exhibited significant morphological alterations and vacuolisation of the cytoplasm, as well as increased invasion, migratory and tube forming abilities. In addition, spontaneous fusion of the SKOV3-PM4s and HLECs was observed in the co‑culture system using laser confocal microscopy. The gelatin zymography assay demonstrated that matrix metalloproteinase-2, which was downregulated in the SKOV3-PM4s, was upregulated in the co‑culture system. The results of the present study suggested that the invasion ability of the SKOV3‑PM4s was increased in the in vitro co‑culture system of SKOV3-PM4 and HLECs. Therefore, alterations in the cell microenvironment may represent a novel strategy for ovarian cancer therapy.

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