Effects of ectopic HER-2/neu gene expression on the COX-2/PGE2/P450arom signaling pathway in endometrial carcinoma cells: HER-2/neu gene expression in endometrial carcinoma cells

OBJECTIVES To investigate the role of HER-2/neu-mediated COX-2/P450arom signal in estrogen-dependent endometrial carcinoma. METHODS The recombinant eukaryotic expression vector, pcDNA3.1-HER-2/neu, was constructed and transfect to Ishikawa endometrial carcinoma cells. The expression of COX-2 and P450arom in transfected cells were detected by real-time PCR and western blotting. The levels of estrogen in cell supernatants were detected by ELISA. RESULTS Over-expression of HER-2/neu in transfected cells was confirmed by real-time PCR and western blotting. The levels of autocrine estrogen in transfected cells was significantly increased which combination with the enhancement of COX-2 and P450arom expression in transfected cells. CONCLUSION HER-2/neu induced the improvement of autocrine estrogen in endometrial carcinoma cell through triggering the COX-2/P450arom signal.