The role of the THY1 gene in human ovarian cancer suppression based on transfection studies

In our recent studies, the expression of the THY1 gene encoding a 25–28 kDa glycoprotein located at 11q23∼q24, was found to be associated with complete tumor suppression of the ovarian cancer cell line SKOV-3 after the transfer of chromosome 11. These studies raised the possibility that THY1 maybe a candidate tumor suppressor gene for ovarian cancer. To investigate this, the complete cDNA sequence for THY1 was cloned and transfected into SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells. The expression of THY1 in the transfectants was confirmed by Northern blot analysis, immunocytochemistry, and flow cytometry. Both SKOV-3–THY1 and SKOV-3–null cells were inoculated subcutaneously into severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice to determine in vivo tumorigenicity. THY1 transfectants formed tumors, but overall tumor growth rate and tumor size was significantly reduced compared with their null counterparts. To further correlate THY1 expression with tumorigenicity, the THY1 antisense was transfected into the nontumorigenic clone, 11(C)9-8, which resulted in restoration of tumorigenicity. These data indicate that THY1 expression alone cannot suppress tumorigenicity; however, abrogation of THY1 expression from nontumorigenic cells can restore tumorigenesis. Taken together, the data suggest that THY1 is necessary but not sufficient to suppress ovarian tumorigenicity. Therefore, THY1 can be designated as a putative tumor suppressor gene for human ovarian cancer.