Abstract:Objective：To investigate the inhibitory effect of octreotide on transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α)-induced cell proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and its possible mechanism.
Methods ：The effect of octreotide on TGF-α-induced cell proliferation of the liver cancer cells (LCC) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry method. The effect of octreotide on TGF-α secretion and epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) expression in the cells was determined by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The effect of octreotide on extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) expression in the cells was measured by Western-blot and immunohistochemistry method.
Results：The TGF-α-induced expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in nucleus were obviously increased by TGF-α. TGF-αmRNA index of hepatocellular carcinoma cells was decreased by octreotide. Octreotide inhibited significantly the expressions of EGFR mRNA induced by TGF-α. Octreotide inhibited significantly the expressions of ERK protein induced by TGF-α. There was intense staining in the nucleus of the cells by TGF-α and weak staining in the nucleus of the cells treated simultaneously by octreotide and TGF-α.
Conclusions：Octreotide can inhibit the secretion of TGF-α, the expression of EGFR, and the signal transduction of EGFR of LCC, and consequently exerts an inhibitory effect on TGF-α-induced hepatocellular carcinoma cells proliferation.