Objective: To study the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression in ovarian tumor metastasis and associated mechanism.
Methods: The VEGF cDNA was transfected into ovarian tumor cell lines CAOV3 and COC1. Transfected and nontransfected cells were screened for VEGF, gelatinase A (MMP-2) mRNA and protein by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot and substrate zymography, respectively. The invasive ability of two ovarian tumor cell lines was analysed with Boyden chamber invasion assay before and after VEGF cDNA transfection.
Results: The expression of VEGF, MMP-2 mRNA and protein were increased (P < 0.05) after VEGF cDNA transfection, detected by RT-PCR, Western blot and substrate zymography. After VEGF cDNA transfection, the mean invasion percentage of two ovarian tumor cells [CAOV3: (42.5 +/- 4.1)%; COC1: (26.8 +/- 2.4)%] were higher than that before transfection [CAOV3: (24.7 +/- 1.9)%; COC1: (8.6 +/- 1.1)%, P < 0.05].
Conclusion: The expression of VEGF correlates to the in vitro invasion of ovarian tumor cell and induction of MMP-2 by VEGF is a key component of VEGF-induced ovarian tumor cell invasion.