Ipertermia e metastasi

Un lavoro clinico pubblicato sulla rivista internazionale Hepatogastroenterology afferma che l'ipertermia può modulare il potenziale metastatico delle cellule tumorali ed inibire la metastatizzazione.

Questa esperienza in vitro è stata condotta su cellule di epatocarcinoma studiando la capacità dell'ipertermia oncologica di modulare il fattore EMT (epithelial – mesenchymal transition) che gioca un ruolo essenziale nella metastatizzazione e nella crescita tumorale.

Dr. Carlo Pastore

Hepatogastroenterology. 2012 Jun 18;59(119). doi: 10.5754/hge12404. [Epub ahead of print]

Hyperthermia Inhibits Transforming Growth Factor Beta-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in HepG2 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.

Xu XM, Yuan GJ, Li QW, Shan SL, Jiang S.

Abstract

Background/Aims: EMT plays an essential role in tumor progression and metastasis. Hyperthermia is a potent approach for cancers with low side effects. However, the effect of hyperthermia on EMT of cancer cells is unknown. Methodology: Cells were treated with TGF-?1 and epidermal growth factor for 96h and then exposed to hyperthermia at 43°C for 0.5h. Cell morphology was observed. Expressions of E-cadherin and vimentin were determined by Western blot. The protein and mRNA expressions of Snail were detected with Western blot and RT-PCR. Cell migratory capacity was evaluated. Results: TGF-?1 induced EMT in HepG2 cells, which was evidenced by morphological, molecular and functional changes, including the formation of spindle shape and the loss of cell contact. The expression of E-cadherin was decreased but the expression of vimentin increased; also, the migratory capability was increased by 2.1±0.19-fold as compared with untreated cells. However, those effects were inhibited by the treatment of hyperthermia. Furthermore, the protein and mRNA expressions of Snail induced by TGF-?1 were also significantly inhibited by hyperthermia treatment. Conclusions: Hyperthermia can inhibit TGF-?1-induced EMT in HepG2 cells, suggesting that hyperthermia may alter the properties of metastatic potential in cancer cells and inhibit tumor metastasis.