oxytocin and Choriocarcinoma

Gestational trophoblastic disease cases encountered in 88 pregnant women during a period between January 1985 and June 1992 were retrospectively studied. During the same period we had 6800 deliveries. The incidence of gestational trophoblastic diseases was 12.9 per 1000 deliveries. Of these cases 72 (81.8%) were diagnosed as hydatidiform mole and 16 (18.2%) were diagnosed as choriocarcinoma in histopathological investigations. The preferred method of treatment for cases of hydatidiform mole was termination with suction curettage and oxytocin perfusion. Trophoblastic diseases were common in women with five or more pregnancies from rural areas and our incidence was higher when compared with similar studies. Moreover, our patients had low socio-economic and poor educational status. All these factors seem to be etiologic reasons, besides multiparity.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Choriocarcinoma; Female; Humans; Hydatidiform Mole; Middle Aged; Oxytocin; Parity; Pregnancy; Rural Population; Schools, Medical; Trophoblastic Neoplasms; Turkey; Uterine Neoplasms; Vacuum Curettage

Despite oxytocin receptors (OTR) being present in human chorio-decidual tissues, their expression and role in placental trophoblast cells in the context of tumor growth or physiological functions related to cell proliferation have never been examined. In the present study we demonstrate the presence and functionality of OTR in normal human trophoblast cell lines (ED77 and ED27) and a choriocarcinoma cell line (BeWo). RT-PCR and immunofluorescence analysis revealed the presence of OTR messenger RNA and protein in these cells. Binding studies using [(125)I]oxytocin ([(125)I]OT) antagonist confirmed the presence of specific binding sites in ED27, ED77, and BeWo cells. OTR functionality was demonstrated by measuring the OT-induced increase in the intracellular calcium concentrations. This effect was dose dependent and was blocked by the selective OT antagonist d(CH(2))(5)[Tyr(Me)(2),Thr(4), Tyr-NH(2)(9)]OVT (OT antagonist). Furthermore, two proteins with apparent molecular masses of 125 and 60 kDa became tyrosine phosphorylated in all of the cell lines after OT stimulation (and an additional protein of 45 kDa in BeWo choriocarcinoma cells), suggesting that this peptide can stimulate tyrosine kinase activity. Finally, we observed a dose-dependent OT stimulation of cell proliferation associated with OTR activation that was completely abolished by the selective OT antagonist. These findings provide the first evidence of the presence of functional OTR in normal trophoblast cell lines as well as in choriocarcinoma cells and show that a specific effect of OT on normal and neoplastic trophoblast is to promote cellular proliferation.

Topics: Calcium; Cell Division; Cell Line; Choriocarcinoma; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Intracellular Membranes; Oxytocin; Phosphorylation; Receptors, Oxytocin; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Trophoblasts; Tyrosine

Cystine animopeptidase (CAP) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) in choriocarcinoma cells grown in culture were assayed and characterized electrophoretically. The specific activity of CAP in choriocarcinoma was about 1.5-fold greater than the specific activity of term placenta. The extract of choriocarcinoma contained an enzyme which is similar to one of the pregnancy-specific serum aminopeptidases in electrophoretic mobility and in resistance to inhibition by 0.1M methionine. The CAP activity was not increased in either the cells or the medium by growing the cells in the presence of oxytocin, estrogen, progesterone, or prostaglandin F-2alpha. It was tentatively concluded that choriocarcinoma cells produce CAP and that it is not regulated by any of these hormones.

Topics: Aminopeptidases; Cells, Cultured; Choriocarcinoma; Culture Media; Cystine; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Estradiol; Female; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Leucyl Aminopeptidase; Methionine; Oxytocin; Placenta; Plasma; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Prostaglandins F; Spectrophotometry

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic; Choriocarcinoma; Culture Media; Diuresis; Female; In Vitro Techniques; Liver; Liver Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Neoplasm Metastasis; Oxytocin; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Pregnancy; Rats; Recurrence; Uterine Neoplasms; Vasopressins

Topics: Aminopeptidases; Choriocarcinoma; Colorimetry; Cystine; Female; Humans; Hydatidiform Mole; Oxytocin; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications

Topics: Choriocarcinoma; Female; Humans; Hydatidiform Mole; Hysterectomy; Mortality; Oxytocin; Pregnancy; Trophoblastic Neoplasms; Uterine Neoplasms

Topics: Cervix Uteri; Choriocarcinoma; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Diagnosis; Female; Gonadotropins; Humans; Hydatidiform Mole; Hysterectomy; Methotrexate; Mortality; Oxytocin; Pregnancy; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Uterine Neoplasms