Background: Calcineurin B homologous protein isoform 2 (CHP2) was identified to be expressed in various malignant cell lines including ovarian cancer, but not in the normal tissue counterpart. The biological function of CHP2 related to cancer progression is still unknown.
Materials and methods: A CHP2-negative human epithelial ovarian cancer cell line OVCAR3 was used for this study. CHP2 was analyzed before and after gene transfection. Cell proliferation, adhesion, motility, and invasion capacities were assessed in parental and transfected OVCAR3/CHP2 cell lines to explore the possible functions of CHP2 in ovarian cancer progression.
Results: With RT-PCR analysis, CHP2-transfected OVCAR3/CHP2 cancer cells showed high CHP2 gene expression, whereas non-transfected clones did not produce detectable CHP2 mRNA. CHP2-transfected OVCAR3/CHP2 cells showed increased proliferation rates and exhibited increased activities of cell adhesion, migration and invasion. The current study provides the first evidence that overexpression of the CHP2 gene affects the biological behavior of ovarian cancer cell line OVCAR3 and is one of key mechanisms for ovarian carcinoma progression, suggesting that CHP2 may be an attractive target for biological anticancer therapy.