The extracellular matrix (ECM) can induce chemotherapy resistance via AKT-mediated inhibition of apoptosis. Here, we show that loss of the ECM protein TGFBI (transforming growth factor beta induced) is sufficient to induce specific resistance to paclitaxel and mitotic spindle abnormalities in ovarian cancer cells. Paclitaxel-resistant cells treated with recombinant TGFBI protein show integrin-dependent restoration of paclitaxel sensitivity via FAK- and Rho-dependent stabilization of microtubules. Immunohistochemical staining for TGFBI in paclitaxel-treated ovarian cancers from a prospective clinical trial showed that morphological changes of paclitaxel-induced cytotoxicity were restricted to areas of strong expression of TGFBI. These data show that ECM can mediate taxane sensitivity by modulating microtubule stability.
Journal article
Cancer Cell
12/2007
12
514 - 527
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic, Cell Adhesion, Cell Death, Cell Line, Tumor, Centrosome, Drug Resistance, Neoplasm, Extracellular Matrix Proteins, Female, Fibronectins, Gene Silencing, Humans, Integrins, Microtubules, Mitosis, Models, Biological, Ovarian Neoplasms, Paclitaxel, Protein Transport, Recombinant Proteins, Transforming Growth Factor beta, Tubulin