Inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis of tamoxifen‑resistant breast cancer cells by ruxolitinib, a selective JAK2 inhibitor

  • Authors:
    • Ji Won Kim
    • Jaya Gautam
    • Ji Eun Kim
    • Jung‑Ae Kim
    • Keon Wook Kang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 20, 2019     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2019.10059
  • Pages: 3981-3989
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Abstract

Tamoxifen (TAM) is the most widely used treatment for estrogen receptor‑positive breast cancer patients. Unfortunately, the majority of these patients exhibit TAM resistance following treatment. We previously reported that proliferation and migration were greater in TAM‑resistant MCF‑7 (TAMR‑MCF‑7) cells than in parental MCF‑7 cells. Janus kinases (JAKs) are cytosolic tyrosine kinases that transduce signals from plasma membrane cytokines and growth factor receptors. JAK2 selectively phosphorylates signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)‑3, and the JAK2‑STAT3 signaling pathway is known as a crucial signaling pathway for the regulation of cancer progression and metastasis. In the present study, basal phosphorylation of STAT3 was revealed to be greater in TAMR‑MCF‑7 cells than in control MCF‑7 cells. Ruxolitinib, a potent JAK2 inhibitor, was demonstrated to attenuate STAT3 phosphorylation and the proliferation of TAMR‑MCF‑7 cells. Ruxolitinib also suppressed the enhanced cell migration of TAMR‑MCF‑7 cells through the inhibition of epithelial mesenchymal transition. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a representative target gene of the JAK2‑STAT3 pathway, functions as a key regulator of invasion and angiogenesis. Ruxolitinib significantly inhibited VEGF mRNA expression and transcriptional activity. The present study also performed a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay to assess tumor growth and angiogenesis in TAMR‑MCF‑7 cells. Ruxolitinib reduced tumor weight and the number of blood vessels produced by TAMR‑MCF‑7 cells in a concentration‑dependent manner. These results indicated that JAK2 could be a new therapeutic target for TAM‑resistant breast cancer.
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April-2019
Volume 17 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Kim JW, Gautam J, Kim JE, Kim JA and Kang KW: Inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis of tamoxifen‑resistant breast cancer cells by ruxolitinib, a selective JAK2 inhibitor. Oncol Lett 17: 3981-3989, 2019.
APA
Kim, J.W., Gautam, J., Kim, J.E., Kim, J., & Kang, K.W. (2019). Inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis of tamoxifen‑resistant breast cancer cells by ruxolitinib, a selective JAK2 inhibitor. Oncology Letters, 17, 3981-3989. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2019.10059
MLA
Kim, J. W., Gautam, J., Kim, J. E., Kim, J., Kang, K. W."Inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis of tamoxifen‑resistant breast cancer cells by ruxolitinib, a selective JAK2 inhibitor". Oncology Letters 17.4 (2019): 3981-3989.
Chicago
Kim, J. W., Gautam, J., Kim, J. E., Kim, J., Kang, K. W."Inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis of tamoxifen‑resistant breast cancer cells by ruxolitinib, a selective JAK2 inhibitor". Oncology Letters 17, no. 4 (2019): 3981-3989. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2019.10059