The retinoid fenretinide inhibits proliferation and downregulates cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression in human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines

Cancer Lett. 2001 Mar 10;164(1):15-23. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3835(00)00714-x.

Abstract

Fenretinide [N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)retinamide, 4-HPR] (10(-10)-10(-6) M) treatment of HT-29 human colon cancer cells for 24-72 h significantly inhibited their growth. Using HCT-15 cells, 4-HPR had limited inhibitory effects on cell proliferation over the same concentration range and time period. The inhibitory effects of 4-HPR on cell growth in HT-29 cells were markedly reduced in the presence of exogenously added prostaglandins (PGs), suggesting a possible role for inhibition of PG synthesis as a mechanism for 4-HPR's antiproliferative effects. Inhibition of PGE(2) production was caused by 4-HPR in a concentration-dependent manner and decreased COX-2 but not COX-1 mRNA levels; this is the first indication that 4-HPR selectively inhibits COX-2 gene expression. Our findings suggest a possible mechanism for the chemopreventive and anti-proliferative effects of 4-HPR.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Cyclooxygenase 1
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Dinoprostone / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Down-Regulation*
  • Fenretinide / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Isoenzymes / biosynthesis*
  • Kinetics
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Phorbol Esters / metabolism
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / biosynthesis*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Retinoids / pharmacology*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Time Factors
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Isoenzymes
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Phorbol Esters
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Retinoids
  • Fenretinide
  • Cyclooxygenase 1
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS1 protein, human
  • PTGS2 protein, human
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
  • Dinoprostone