[Effect of blocking of ROCK-1, an effector of small G protein Rho, on the malignant behavior of ovarian tumor cells in vitro].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the possible role of ROCK-1 in ovarian cancer invasion and metastasis.

METHODS

ROCK-1 ASODN was transfected into SW626 and Caov-3 cell lines mediated by Lipofectamine 2000. The expressions of ROCK-1 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western-blot assay. Boyden chamber was used to assess the effect of ROCK-1 ASODN on the invasion and migration of the cell lines. The changes in the adhesion and proliferation of the transfected cells were detected by MTT assay.

RESULTS

The expressions level of ROCK-1 mRNA and protein in the cell lines were decreased significantly after transfection at doses of 10 micromol/L and 20 micromol/L ROCK-1 ASODN. When compared with the control group, the invasion capability of transfected cells was inhibited to an extent of 75.6% +/- 3.8% and 54.7% +/- 2.9%, respectively, for SW626 cell line, and 68.8% +/- 4.7% and 50.0% +/- 4.5% for Caov-3 cell line, respectively. The random migratory activity of these two cell lines was inhibited by 80.0% +/- 1.3%, 63.7% +/- 1.9%, 72.5% +/- 3.4% and 55.9% +/- 2.5%, respectively, and the inhibition of chemotaxis activity of the two cell lines was 83.9% +/- 1.4%, 64.1% +/- 1.3%, 72.5% +/- 3.4% and 54.5% +/- 1.9%, respectively. No significant difference was found in the adhesion and proliferation of the cells transfected with ROCK-1 ASODN and control cells.

CONCLUSION

The expression of ROCK-1 was closely related to the invasion capability and migratory activity of ovarian cancer cells. ROCK-1 may play a crucial role in invasion and metastasis of ovarian cancer.