Silencing of hTERT blocks growth and migration of anaplastic thyroid cancer cells. (15th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maggisano, Valentina; Celano, Marilena; Lombardo, Giovanni Enrico; Lepore, Saverio Massimo; Sponziello, Marialuisa; Rosignolo, Francesca; Verrienti, Antonella; Baldan, Federica; Puxeddu, Efisio; Durante, Cosimo; Filetti, Sebastiano; Damante, Giuseppe; Russo, Diego; Bulotta, Stefania
• Is Part Of: Molecular and cellular endocrinology. Volume 448(2017)
• Page Start: 34
• Page End: 40
• Publication Date: 2017-06-15
• Subjects: Thyroid cancer -- Telomerase -- siRNA -- Growth inhibition -- Migration -- Invasion; ATA American Thyroid Association -- ATC anaplastic thyroid carcinoma -- FF fresh-frozen thyroid tumour tissues -- FFPE formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded thyroid tumour sections -- FNAB fine needle aspiration biopsy -- TERT telomerase reverse transcriptase; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Hormones -- Periodicals; Endocrinologie -- Périodiques; Cytology; Endocrinology; Molecular biology; Periodicals; 573.4
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.03.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0303-7207

Abstract

Abstract: Mutations in the hTERT promoter responsible for constitutive telomerase activity are the most frequent genetic alteration detected in anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), and proposed as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in these tumours. In this study we analyzed hTERT expression in a series of human ATCs and investigated the effects of small-interfering RNA-mediated silencing of hTERT on viability and migration and invasive properties of three human ATC cell lines. Expression of hTERT mRNA resulted increased in 8/10 ATCs compared to normal thyroid tissues. Silencing of hTERT in CAL-62, 8505C and SW1736 cells did not modify telomere length but determined a significant decrease (about 50%) of cell proliferation in all cell lines and a great reduction (about 50%) of migration and invasion capacity. These finding demonstrate that hTERT may be considered as a molecular target for ATC treatment. Highlights: Overexpression of hTERT has been detected in ATCs. TERT silencing blocks proliferation of two ATC cell lines. TERT silencing reduces migration and invasion of ATC cells. hTERT as new molecular target for ATC treatment.