Integrin β1 mediates epithelial growth factor-induced invasion in human ovarian cancer cells

Integrins function as cell-extracellular matrix adhesion proteins and have been implicated in tumor progression. In ovarian tumors, elevated integrin beta 1 expression correlates with high clinical stage and poor patient survival. In this study, we report that EGF treatment up-regulated integrin beta 1 mRNA and protein levels in ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of MEK totally abolished EGF-induced integrin beta 1 up-regulation and cell invasion suggesting that MAPK/ERK signaling is required for EGF-induced integrin beta 1 up-regulation and cell invasion. Furthermore, we found that knockdown of integrin beta 1 expression reduced the intrinsic invasiveness of ovarian cancer cells and the EGF-induced cell invasion. Finally, we found that overexpression of integrin beta 1 was sufficient to promote ovarian cancer cell invasion. This study demonstrates that integrin beta 1 mediates EGF-induced cell invasion in ovarian cancer. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.