Background: Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) is the precursor of several neuropeptides, such as corticotropin, melanocyte-stimulating hormone and the endogenous opioid (β-endorphin). Our previous studies have indicated that POMC gene delivery inhibited the progression and metastasis of B16-F10 melanoma via the α- melanocyte-stimulating hormone/melanortin-1 receptor (MC-1R) pathway.

Methods: In the present study, the therapeutic efficacy of POMC gene therapy was evaluated in mice bearing established Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) models both in vitro and in vivo. We also investigated the MC-1R-independent mechanism underlying POMC gene therapy.

Results: We found that POMC gene delivery significantly inhibited the growth and colony formation in MC-1R-deficient LLC cells. In addition, POMC gene transfer effectively suppressed the growth of established LLC in mice. The inhibitory mechanisms underlying POMC gene delivery were attibuted to be inhibition of proliferation and the induction of apoptosis. Moreover, POMC gene delivery attenuated tumor β-catenin signaling by reducing protein levels of β-catenin and its downstream proto-oncogenes, including cyclin D1 and c-myc. Lastly, POMC gene delivery induced a significant suppression of tumor vasculature.

Conclusions: These results support the existence of an MC-1R-independent pathway for POMC gene therapy, which further expands the therapeutic spectrum of POMC therapy for multiple types of cancer.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	POMC, MC1R, b-catenin, gene therapy, lung cancer
Research Division:	Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Research Group:	Medical biotechnology
Research Field:	Gene and molecular therapy
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Clinical health
Objective Field:	Clinical health not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Liu, GS (Associate Professor Guei-Sheung Liu)
ID Code:	120840
Year Published:	2012
Web of Science® Times Cited:	19
Deposited By:	Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Deposited On:	2017-08-31
Last Modified:	2017-11-03
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