Luteinizing hormone upregulates survivin and inhibits apoptosis in ovarian epithelial tumors

Objective: Luteinizing hormone (LH) plays an important role in the development of ovarian cancer, and has been shown to inhibit apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. Similarly, survivin is a molecule that has been shown to inhibit apoptosis in other types of cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether survivin can be induced by LH in ovarian cancer, and whether this induction influences the sensitivity of ovarian cancers to chemotherapy. Study design: Survivin expression was monitored using western blot assays, and flow cytometry was used to detect the effects of cisplatin on the induction of apoptosis by LH. MTT assays were also used to analyze rates of cell proliferation. Results: Administration of LH in vitro induced survivin expression in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, this signaling was dependent on the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. LH also blocked apoptosis induced by cisplatin. Conclusion: These results suggest that LH influences the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to chemotherapy via signaling to inhibit apoptosis that also upregulates survivin. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.