Abstract

Background and aims: Although peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonists have been implicated in differentiation and growth inhibition of cancer cells, the potential therapeutic and chemopreventive effects on gastric cancer are poorly defined. We examined the in vitro and in vivo effects of PPARγ ligands on growth of gastric cancer, and the effect of PPARγ activation on expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and cancer related genes.

Methods: Gastric cell lines (MKN28 and MKN45) were treated with two specific PPARγ ligands: ciglitazone and 15-deoxy-Δ^12,14-prostaglandin J₂. Cell growth was determined by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assay and apoptosis was measured by DNA fragmentation. Expression of COX-2 was determined by western blot and real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Expression profiles of cancer related genes were screened with cDNA array. In vivo growth of implanted MKN45 cells in nude mice was monitored after oral treatment with rosiglitazone.

Results: PPARγ ligands suppressed the in vitro growth of MKN45 cells in a dose dependent manner whereas prostacyclin, a PPARδ agonist, had no growth inhibitory effect. Growth inhibition was more pronounced in MKN45 cells, which was accompanied by DNA fragmentation and downregulation of COX-2. Screening by cDNA microarray showed that PPARγ ligand treatment was associated with upregulation of bad and p53, and downregulation of bcl-2, bcl-xl, and cyclin E1 in MKN45 cells, which was confirmed by quantitative real time PCR. In contrast, MKN28 cells with lower PPARγ and COX-2 expression levels had lower growth inhibitory responses to PPARγ ligands. Microarray experiments only showed induction of the bad gene in MKN28 cells. In vivo growth of MKN45 cells in nude mice was retarded by rosiglitazone. Mean tumour volume in rosiglitazone treated mice was significantly lower than controls at six weeks (p = 0.019) and seven weeks (p = 0.001) after treatment.

Conclusions: PPARγ ligands suppress both in vitro and in vivo growth of gastric cancer and may play a major role in cancer therapy and prevention.