Cancer-associated mesothelial cells promote ovarian cancer chemoresistance through paracrine osteopontin signaling

J Clin Invest. 2021 Aug 16;131(16):e146186. doi: 10.1172/JCI146186.

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecological malignancy-related deaths, due to its widespread intraperitoneal metastases and acquired chemoresistance. Mesothelial cells are an important cellular component of the ovarian cancer microenvironment that promote metastasis. However, their role in chemoresistance is unclear. Here, we investigated whether cancer-associated mesothelial cells promote ovarian cancer chemoresistance and stemness in vitro and in vivo. We found that osteopontin is a key secreted factor that drives mesothelial-mediated ovarian cancer chemoresistance and stemness. Osteopontin is a secreted glycoprotein that is clinically associated with poor prognosis and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer. Mechanistically, ovarian cancer cells induced osteopontin expression and secretion by mesothelial cells through TGF-β signaling. Osteopontin facilitated ovarian cancer cell chemoresistance via the activation of the CD44 receptor, PI3K/AKT signaling, and ABC drug efflux transporter activity. Importantly, therapeutic inhibition of osteopontin markedly improved the efficacy of cisplatin in both human and mouse ovarian tumor xenografts. Collectively, our results highlight mesothelial cells as a key driver of ovarian cancer chemoresistance and suggest that therapeutic targeting of osteopontin may be an effective strategy for enhancing platinum sensitivity in ovarian cancer.

Keywords: Cancer; Cytokines; Oncology; Signal transduction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Epithelium / drug effects
  • Epithelium / metabolism
  • Epithelium / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Organoids / drug effects
  • Organoids / metabolism
  • Organoids / pathology
  • Osteopontin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Osteopontin / metabolism*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Paracrine Communication / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects
  • Tumor Microenvironment / physiology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • SPP1 protein, human
  • Spp1 protein, mouse
  • Osteopontin
  • Cisplatin