Cisplatin targets the stromal cell-derived factor-1-CXC chemokine receptor type 4 axis to suppress metastasis and invasion of ovarian cancer-initiating cells

In ovarian cancer, CD44+/CD117+ stem cells, also known as cancer-initiating cells (CICs), are highly proliferative and invasive. Therefore, the CD44+/CD117+ subpopulation is thought to be an important target for novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, we investigated the effects of cisplatin (CDDP) on metastasis and invasion suppression of ovarian CICs by targeting the CXC chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4) signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. CD44+/CD117+ ovarian CICs were enriched from human primary ovarian tumor tissues and confirmed by flow cytometry sorting. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2.5-dipheny-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay revealed significant inhibition of proliferation of ovarian CICs with increasing CDDP drug concentrations. Moreover, colony formation and transwell migration assays indicated that CDDP significantly suppressed the invasive capacity of ovarian CICs in vitro. The expression levels of stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1, CXCR4, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, and MMP9 mRNA and protein levels were significantly reduced in CDDP-treated cells compared to untreated ovarian CICs. Furthermore, xenograft experiments confirmed that CDDP suppressed the growth of xenograft tumors formed by ovarian CICs in vivo. In addition, CXCR4 agonist (diprotin A) treatment of ovarian CICs weakened the effects of CDDP and enhanced SDF-1-CXCR4 axis expression in ovarian CICs. Thus, the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis is an important mediator of proliferation and invasion in CXCR4-overexpressing ovarian cancer-initiating cells (OCICs). Furthermore, CDDP inhibits invasion and metastasis of OCICs by targeting SDF-1-CXCR4 axis expression.